Would I Have Done The Same Thing?
Back in November, at ExcelinEd’s National Summit on Education, Angela Duckworth told us we should all either read for the first time or reread Viktor Frankl’s seminal book, Man’s Search for Meaning. Because I always do as I’m told (you can laugh now), I am reading it now. Frankl’s work is a profound memoir and psychological exploration that recounts his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose in life, even amidst suffering and adversity. Man’s Search for Meaning remains a powerful testament to human resilience and the transformative power of purpose.
I have taken a lot of notes already and am only about half way through the book. As I was reflecting on my notes, I continued to be moved by the statement Frankl made, “No man should judge unless he asks himself in absolute honesty whether in a similar situation he might not have done the same” (p. 48). These are pretty good words to live by. It doesn’t necessarily make what happened right, but it certainly helps give some context. Frankl provided us with an important life lesson with this statement on the importance of humility, empathy, and understanding in judging others.
The statement reminds us that we should be cautious before condemning or judging someone’s actions, especially in extreme circumstances. Instead, we should reflect on our own potential responses in similar situations, recognizing that humans are complex and capable of a range of behaviors depending on circumstances. It also reminded me of the Bible verse in Matthew 7: 1-2, NIV: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Continuing in chapter seven, Jesus called us hypocrites for noticing in others what we fail to notice in ourselves.
Ultimately, asking ourselves if we might have done the same thing in a given situation fosters compassion, encourages non-judgmental empathy, and promotes a deeper appreciation for the resilience and moral dilemmas faced by individuals facing unimaginable hardships. It underscores the idea that true understanding comes from self-awareness and honest reflection.
Leadership Outcast
The lyrics from Dorothy’s great song “Black Sheep” convey a powerful message of resilience, individuality, and unwavering self-acceptance. The first verse in “Black Sheep” goes like this: “Call me an outcast, call me a freak; Watch those bullets ricochet straight off of me; ‘Cause I belong; Where right is wrong; No lost cause like the good book say; Don’t give a damn what people think; I march alone; To a different song.” As a person who relates to being a black sheep at times, I was intrigued to dig in on the lyrics.
The song embraces the identity of an outcast or “freak,” rejecting societal judgments and criticisms symbolized by the “bullets” that bounce off them. I love that line because in my education policy life I have joked at times that it was time to put on the Kevlar jacket.
The lines “I belong where right is wrong” suggest a defiance of conventional norms and an affirmation of personal truth. By stating “No lost cause like the good book say,” they acknowledge the biblical notion that hope and redemption are always possible, reinforcing that even those perceived as outsiders can find their place and purpose.
As a Christian I did a little digging on exactly what the Bible has to say. So, the Bible doesn’t explicitly say “there is no lost cause,” but it does contain themes that suggest hope and redemption are always possible, regardless of how dire a situation may seem. Here are three of those themes:
- Luke 15:4-7 (The Parable of the Lost Sheep), in the NIV version it goes like this:
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Jesus emphasizes that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, indicating that no one is beyond God’s mercy. - In Romans 8:38-39, Paul writes that nothing can separate us from God’s love, reinforcing the idea that hope remains even in difficult circumstances. The NIV version says,
38 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Jeremiah 29:11 says,
11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.God declares plans to give hope and a future, reassuring believers that hope persists despite setbacks.” Here, God declares plans to give hope and a future, reassuring believers that hope persists despite setbacks.
While the phrase “no lost cause” isn’t directly in the Bible, these passages reflect a core biblical principle that redemption, hope, and restoration are always within reach for those who seek them.
This all reminded me of the great show from the 1970’s, Black Sheep Squadron. I loved that show because it was inspired by a highly effective South Pacific World War II fighter squadron led by Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, played by Robert Conrad. Boyington was an outcast and unconventional, but effective leader who, along with his squadron were known as “black sheep.” Kind of interesting how any time we don’t fit the conventional and societal norms (who gets to pick those, anyway?) we are considered a “freak” or “black sheep.”
Finally, the last line of the first verse of “Black Sheep,” “I march alone; to a different song” emphasizes independence and the courage to follow one’s unique path despite opposition. Overall, the verse celebrates strength, individuality, and the idea that standing firm in oneself aligns with a deeper sense of hope and personal sovereignty.
Work From The Heart
I am amazed at how one football game is now prompting a third blog post from me. The game was the amazing 38-3 win of the New Orleans Saints over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night. Posts are already out there from me entitled Spreading The Wealth and Catch Me and Prop Me Up inspired by this game. This post is inspired by Terron Armstead, who was really the inspiration for the latter mentioned post as well, and his posting of Colossians 3:23 on his twitter landing. When someone posts a Bible verse, if I don’t remember it, I always look it up and reflect on it. Here is the verse from The Message Bible:
“Work from the heart for your real Master, for God,” ~ Paul to the Colossians
Colossians 3:23 The Message Bible
So this immediately meant working from passion and purpose. I also went ahead and read the whole chapter (3), and verse 17 (Colossians 3:17 The Message Bible) jumped out. Here it is:
“Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” ~ Paul to the Collosians
Colossians 3:17 The Message Bible
Does this speak to character, or what? This is all about walking the talk! Our conduct should extend to all aspects of our life, not just a small set of rules. Then for me I need to put verses 22-25 all together. Here is how it reads in The Message Bible:
“22Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. 23 Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, 24 confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. 25 The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.” ~ Paul to the Colossians
Colossians 3:22-25 The Message Bible
In other words we are to work heartily, giving it our best every day. I believe this why Terron picked this as the Bible verse to put on his landing page. In his case he must give of his all whether it be working out, studying film, practicing in order for him to be able to show up as a positive role model on one of the world’s largest stages NFL game day. This is all about enthusiasm and passion. We may not be on as big a stage as Terron, but we do have influence on others. Demonstrating a good work ethic and attitude makes a tremendous difference on our personal life and on the influence we have on others. Thanks Terron Armstead for posting Colossians 3:23 on your Twitter landing so we could be inspired in the influence we have on others.
Out Of All People
While doing some heavy tweeting during the World Series, I came across Bible verses on Major League Baseball Players’ Twitter landings. I would then quiz myself to see if I remembered the verse and look it up when I didn’t. I did a lot of looking up. When I was tweeting out to Brett Phillips after that great Tampa Bay Rays win in Game4, I noticed he had Isaiah 41:10 listed. This Bible verse shows up a lot for athletes. It goes, “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you” (Isaiah 41:10 | MSG).
Basically, God is telling the children of Israel, of which we are a part, that he has our backs. If God talked like me, the verse would sound like this: “Chill, I’ve got your back,” or “Dude, you’ve got this.” Then, a couple of days ago I noticed on a great Twitter connection of mine, Alain Dizon, that verse 9 was added to the Twitter landing with Isaiah 41:10. So, I looked up verse 9, which says, “I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side. I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you’” (Isaiah 41:9 | MSG). This verse is profound – we are all picked; we’re certainly not going to get dropped from the picture. This verse might be a bigger deal than verse 10.
In other words, out of all people, God has a calling for each of us – a mission – a reason to live and something to accomplish. He has chosen you and me, and not cast us away. Each of us has an individual purpose in life and God will help us accomplish it. We should never be afraid it’s too late to accomplish our purpose, of physical challenges, or any other obstacles. God won’t leave us hanging. We have no reason to be afraid that we can’t live up to expectations and live with purpose. Whatever the challenge, God will offer his help, and his hand. Verse 10 then ties the whole thing together and brings to mind the strong image of God as our good, best, and perfect friend. He will take our hand to help us through the challenges that we face.
So, what’s your individual purpose in life? Out of all people, it is up to you to carry out that life’s mission and purpose. We all need you!
Byron's Babbles 
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