{"id":37602,"date":"2024-04-18T08:17:51","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=37602"},"modified":"2024-04-18T08:17:51","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:17:51","slug":"le-petit-voleur","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/le-petit-voleur\/","title":{"rendered":"Le Petit Voleur"},"content":{"rendered":"

My phone kept ringing and ringing. Multiple calls from multiple unknown numbers kept showing up on my \u201cmissed calls\u201d screen. I turned my phone on silent and was only answering calls from known friends. Friday night. All day Saturday. On Sunday one of the callers left a voicemail message, then another one, and still another found me on WhatsApp and sent me a message\u2014finally, clarity to these random calls. \u201cBonjour Madame. C\u2019est le p\u00e8re du petit voleur que vous \u00eates mis en fer.\u201d[1]<\/a> It was the father of the robber who broke into our house a couple of days prior. The other numbers were from random family members of the thief also trying to get ahold of me. The family was asking me to ask the police to drop all charges filed against him. The reasons given were because he was young, the mother was very attached to him, and because he was caught before he stole anything of value. In the message there was regret for \u201cwhat happened to [me]\u201d but no responsibility was put on the thief for his actions. The reason given that he was in jail was because I \u201cput him there,\u201d rather than him choosing to break into my house and therefore was caught by the police. As the legal proceedings continued, I learned this was not the robber\u2019s first offense and he was known for using drugs. At the advice of legal counsel, the US Embassy, and the police, I released the legal proceedings to the justice system. I asked that they consider the safety of the neighborhood and the young man\u2019s need for help. The robbery was hard. Our privacy was invaded. Our property was damaged. Our emotional and physical safety was threatened. And God protected us and provided the resources we needed for the restoration and rehabilitation of our home and our well-being. For me, the biggest challenges were the calls, messages, and face-to-face confrontations we had with his family. The main issue was the responsibility of the robber was being deflected by the robber and the family.<\/p>\n

In his book, Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results, <\/em>Shane Parrish speaks to the need for personal responsibility. The book looks at ways to enhance one\u2019s critical thinking and decision-making. He provides practical methods and frameworks to thrive in an unpredictable world. In section two of the book Parrish addresses four areas of \u201cstrength\u201d to work on to help improve one\u2019s capacity to make decisions from a place of clarity rather than out personal defaults. He addresses four strengths:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Self-accountability: holding yourself accountable for developing your abilities, managing your inabilities, and using reason to govern your actions.<\/li>\n
  2. Self-knowledge: knowing your own strengths and weaknesses\u2014what you\u2019re capable of doing and what you\u2019re not.<\/li>\n
  3. Self-control: mastering your fears, desires, and emotions.<\/li>\n
  4. Self-confidence: trusting in your abilities and your value to others.[2]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I was particularly intrigued by the section on self-accountability, as the robbery had happened only a few days prior. Neither the robber nor his family took responsibility for his actions. According to Parrish, they were responding with their \u201cego default.\u201d This default is an immediate response to guard, protect, and endorse one\u2019s reputation and image.[3]<\/a>\u00a0 On a personal note, I majorly struggle with taking personal responsibility for my actions, especially in moments when my emotions are strong. My default is to blame and deflect what I should be responsible for myself.<\/p>\n

    Parrish provides several logical points in this section that I want to remember and apply to my own life and leadership. The following are some of those takeaways.<\/p>\n