Today while waiting for my lunch hour to arrive, a little hungry, a little cranky, I heard my co-worker Anna take a call from her daughter. Here’s what Anna said:
“You’re kidding! Where are you?”
“No, stay where you and do what they tell you to do.”
“I’ll stay on the phone with you.”
My antenna was up. I was afraid it might be what so many parents–and others without children–fear: a shooter on campus. It turned out I was close in what I’d been thinking. There’d been no gunfire, but police confiscated a gun from a student who’d brought it to school and was showing it to friends. He’d made no threats. He just was stupid about show-and-tell.
Anna, my co-worker, was calm throughout the entire conversation. Fortunately it didn’t take long for things to cool down, although students were told to stay in place for awhile after they’d arrested the boy. That got her daughter agitated, but Anna assured her there are procedures in place and while we may not understand them, we need to follow them.
Procedures in place. How many times have we questioned those in authority about one thing or the other, simply because we didn’t understand the whys of what they were doing? Or maybe we don’t question them per se, but get frightened because something seems to be taking too long.
Doctors order tests with certain symptoms simply to rule things out, but they’re also protecting themselves. What if they didn’t check it out and it resulted in lifelong consequences, or even death, for a patient? Yes, the tests can be expensive, but I don’t believe the doctors are doing it to make money. I believe they’re covering their you-know-whats, emotionally and financially. And it’s the responsible thing to do.
It pays to question those in authority if we’re wondering what’s going on rather than surmise what they’re doing. A lot of people would prefer to gossip and moan instead of getting the truth. Don’t be one of them. Trust those who have proven themselves worth of that trust, and ask questions when you can about why they do what they do.
And pray that your school campuses are safe. Procedures can save lives.
Image Credits: Woman on phone © Malik/peopleimages.com–stock.adobe.com; Doctor/Patient © sebra–stock.adobe.com
My World With Words 
I certainly question why legislators aren’t doing more to enact manditory gun control.
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Especially for young men. It seems so many of these shootings and other incidents come from them.
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That must have been a most stressful conversation for both mother and daughter. And some people are still against gun control. Mind boggling.
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Anna held it together. I’m proud of her. As for the gun control question, I hear that even many gun owners are in favor of some gun control. So what’s the hold up? I don’t get it.
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Lots of great lessons here Belinda, question, but give people the benefit of the doubt and, most importantly, listen. Thanks for the reminder.
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You’re welcome 🙂 It frustrates me no end when people cast judgment on others or situations they can’t possibly understand.
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Love this post. We need to always ask question, and not expect everything will be alright. How many people lost their lives because they remained at their desk when told by their bosses everything would be okay in the World Trade Center catastrophe? If something doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to overstep authority. Thanks for this wonderful post.
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“Trust those who have proven themselves worth of that trust, and ask questions when you can about why they do what they do.” This summed the post up perfectly, Belinda. Great advice indeed. Questions are welcome!
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