At launch, a squadmate and I made a video. The prompt was ‘Why The World Race In One Word or Sentence’.The twenty-something squad mates all were featured in the film. I said ‘to grow’ and another, Isabel said ‘obedience’. This concept was mentioned some at training camp but I had not given it much thought.
Later in Colombia, I began to. My name was comically drawn out of a hat. My four-year-old sister at the time put ‘Stacy’ in crayon after her Barbie’s little sister, the oldest put ‘Jennifer’ which she eventually named her own daughter ‘Jenna’ being as that name was not picked, my other sister insists she put ‘Stephanie’ from Full House but doesn’t really remember, and my Mom said she suggested ‘Defiance’. Now that would have been a bold name. Defiance Frank. Woah. Way better than ‘Elvi’ that my Grandfather suggested since I was born on the same day as Elvis Presley or ‘Annie’ because my Grandparent’s wedding anniversary also fell on that day.
To me, both obedience and defiance require some trust. When you are obedient to someone you have to feel as though they have your best interests at heart, the same can be said when someone wants you to disobey, you have to trust that the risk will be worth the punishment. Although, whether one chooses either thing they usually work out anyway. And, of course, some people are better at one than the other.
Defiance
According to the Merriam- Webster Dictionary, one of the definitions of the word is a ‘disposition to resist: willingness to contend or fight’. This means you can resist anything or anyone, including yourself. I am most reminded of my defiance to trusting in God when unfortunate things happen or a situation that should work out well doesn’t. Often I make things work by ignoring the obvious signs from above. It can not always be a bad thing. If our founding fathers had no willingness to contend would we be the America we are today? No, I don’t think disobedience or defiance is awful at all. However, when things do not ‘feel’ right they are more than likely wrong.
Obedience
The definition of the word is ‘an act or instance of obeying’. What is obeying? To be obedient one is ‘submissive to the restraint or command of authority: willing to obey’ according to the dictionary. To do this we must know right from wrong but you can be obedient to both. This is why it is okay to be defiant because to blindly obey authority can be harmful at times. When we can clearly see that obeying is for the better of a community it feels good to submit to it. Submitting to authority when it is appropriate also can set a good example for others.
At Ciudad Refugio in the rehabilitation program a girl named Caroline who is fourteen willingly participates, not because she did drugs, but because she wanted to become more obedient, and learn home- economical skills. She voiced this in the bible study the squad and I put on right after I had shared a part of my testimony.
Not long after some girls were given an opportunity to also join the women’s rehab program. Sweet Isabel whom I can’t say whether she remembers Caroline also speaking on obedience volunteered to be a part of the program.
This has inspired me to continue to ‘grow’ more in ‘obedience’ this past month. Just as reading the Bible to understand and become closer to Jesus, I am sure not only being more observant of his will, but being more obedient to it will also bring me closer to God, and set a better example to those who are taking note of my actions.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient toChrist”(2 Corinthians 10:5).
