While going through some old papers I came across this article by Dr. Jim Moore.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< There is a big difference between *responding* and *reacting*. I'm using the word RESPOND here in a positive way, and the word REACT in a negative way. We react when we are scared. We react when we feel insecure. We react when we feel pressed against the wall and we think we have to swell up to giant size to show everybody we can handle the situation.

A response is when we give this wonderful miracle we have inside our heads, called a brain, time to compute and to assess what is happening, and time to figure out what is the appropriate, positive, constructive, creative Christian thing to do in light of the circumstances.

We react out of self-centered personal feelings. We respond our of self-giving concern for others. We react out of littleness, we respond out of bigness.

When I react, I'm thinking of MY rights, my position, my place, my feelings, my interest. When I respond I'm thinking of others, or I'm thinking of a great cause or a dream or a commitment. When I react, I'm thinking of my wants; when I respond, I'm thinking of God's will.

Conversion can be easily defined as moving from *reacting* to *responding.* Or as Bishop Kenneth Shamblin once put it: "Conversion means moving from *That belongs to me* to *I belong to that.* You see, it's the difference between responding and reacting.

General William Booth, who was the founder of the Salvation Army summed it up graphically some years ago when he said: "Damnation comes from mirrors, salvation comes from windows!" That's just another way of saying destruction and heartache and misery come from reacting; but life, creativity and happiness come from responding.

So, the message is very simple: "Be responders!" We have enough reactors in the world. Go out into the world today, and the rest of the days of your life, and be responders. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

-- Anonymous, October 03, 1999