“Hi, I’m Dave.”
“Hi, I’m Rich”, he replied.
“Hey Rich, I don’t know if you are aware, but nudity is not permitted on this beach.”
“How long has that been the case?”, he asked.
“A few years now. It used to be, but not now. This is a family neighbourhood and a family beach – kids come to this beach. So, I would appreciate it if next time you came here you kept your shorts on.”
Rich seemed amenable to by request and agreed he would do so. I pointed out the sign at Cedar Creek Beach indicating that nudity is not permitted nor condoned.
I thanked him and left.
Whew! I can’t believe I just did that…
Benjamin and I had walked down to the beach to take a little dip on a hot August afternoon. There were a number of people at the far end of the beach, but there was one guy at the farthest end of the beach sitting between a berm of rocks and an umbrella on its side. I could see a couple of bare feet sticking out from the umbrella. However, it wasn’t until we swam out and looked back that I could see “Rich” in all his glory.
At one point he got up and went for a swim, wearing only his birthday suit.
That’s when I felt the nudge…”You need to go talk to him.”
“I don’t want to go talk with him. He’s discreet enough. He’s at the far end of the beach. It’s probably only this one time this happens and he’ll soon be gone…”
I came up with a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t confront this man, but at the end of it all I was simply scared. I did not want to confront him because I was scared, but I believed it was the right thing to do. I thought of that old expression, “Silence is golden, but sometimes it’s just plain yellow.” I didn’t want to be cowardly so I saddled up, faced my fear, marched down the beach to introduce myself and confront the naked guy.
We actually ended up walking up the path from the beach at the same time – after he got dressed. He said to me, “If you’re not a diplomat you should be. Most people would have sworn at me, called me a pervert and been very angry.”
“Well, I wanted to be firm but friendly so I’m glad that’s the way it came across to you. Thanks for your response. Have a good night”, I offered and we parted ways.
This whole interaction got me thinking that we need to be willing to stand up for what’s right. We need to be willing to put words to our convictions in a respectful way. Each of us has a voice and we need to be willing to graciously speak up and share our perspective, even if it may not be that popular.
We are not called to be Mr. Nice Guy. We need to be men who are bold and brave as well as compassionate and kind. Men who can catch a lightning bolt in one hand and a tear in the other. Daring, not demure; tenacious, not timid – yet both gallant and gentle, heroic and humble.
Now I know there are some men who need to learn to reign in their opinions and their bravado, but there are many who need to show up, stand up and speak up.
We need to show up: be present, informed and engaged. We need to understand what is wise and what the heart of God is.
We need to stand up: take a stand on issues. We need to have convictions based on a biblical world view. We need to understand what the Truth is, what we believe and where we stand on a wide range of issues relevant to our world.
We also need to speak up with grace and respect. Don’t be afraid to share what is right and good. I am not talking about preaching at people, but I am saying we need to say what needs to be said and not shrink from sharing the Truth even if it isn’t that popular.
Show up, stand up and speak up – you have a voice that needs to be heard.
Galatians 4:5,6
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”