A Good Name

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1
There have been instances in my life when I chose to keep a good name no matter what the consequences. One incident that comes to mind was in the summer of 93. I had a habit of burning paper trash and as I got done especially in the summer time when it was dry and hot, I would wet the area down after the fire was. out. On this particular day I received a telephone call as I was watering plants in the yard. As I made the way around the yard I would go back to the area where I burned the trash and wet it down. The telephone call interrupted my routine. I forgot to go back and finish watering.  In the middle of the night, I heard metal noises in the yard and as I looked out the window I could see the reflection of a fire. I got up and went outside to see what was burning. My pump house and shed  and the wood shed next to it were burning. We called the fire department and I ran to get the water hose and spray the side of the house to keep it from catching on fire. The water would not turn on. The fire had already destroyed the wire to the well pump and a composite water line into the well had already burned. I ran to the pond with 5 gallon buckets and splashed water onto the side of the house to keep the fire from spreading. Soon the fire department got there and put the fire out. The Fire Chief came up to me after the fire was out and asked question if I had any idea what happened. I thought I am going to jail, because I knew it was my fault. I told him what I thought had happened. I had burned paper trash over beyond the pump house and I forgot to come back and wet the area down. I believe it had continued to burn unseen by me and made its way through dry grass to the pump house.  I just knew I was going to jail, a policeman was there also. I decided I need to be honest what ever the consequences.  I could have lied and said I didn't know. The Fire Chief said they would call it an accidental fire because of that. It would save them a lot of time investigating because there had been a rash of arson fires further south and this didn't fit the pattern for those fires. There was another time I chose to keep a good name, and it cause me a lot of heartache, but I got through it. I saw someone or rather came across the knowledge that a co-worker had been stealing time and materials from the company we worked for. I chose to report it. I could have ignored it and continued just doing m job, but I felt as a Christian, I had to report it. I went through hell on the job for a period of time because my co-workers found out I had reported it. I was a snitch and they didn't feel they could trust me. They could trust each other as they stole from the company but not a snitch. Sometimes being a Christian and standing for what I believed was right has cost me something. I do not regret the actions that I took on that day. It hurt and eventually I moved to another department. God blessed my efforts and protected me. I am very thankful. Through the years I have tried to witness to others and feel I have not been effective. I see the results in my life, how God has protected me in many situations. I see others going through life and I think if only they knew the God that I know. Life still happens, bad things happen, but God has brought me through it all. I remember a difficult time when all three cars I owned were broke, and I was broke. I lived six miles into the country and there was no bus line. I didn't know what I was going to do. A friend brought one of his cars out to me and let me use it until I got on my feet again.  I got one car running and took it to the auction and sold it. I used that money to buy a beater pickup truck and an engine to put in my other car. Once I bought a $50 dollar car and it got me through to better times. Being a Christian has not made my life perfect. but I found God has stood with me through every trouble I have been in and helped me through it. I remember one time in a difficult marriage, I prayed God help me, to know what to do. In that instance God answered as I was still praying. I have not led a perfect life, but I am thankful to know God. He has helped me through so much of life's difficult times. I do not regret being a Christian. It has cause me trouble at times when I chose to have a good name above other things. I wish others could see what I see.  They have to find God on their own.  I see people going through life's troubles and I wish they could know the God I know.  God is faithful.  God bless, LVZ.