Acts 7:58-59
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
St Stephen was the first martyr - that might not be the path you would like to blaze, but really, when you think about it - what an honor. In this story, there are so many players. The ones who felt wrath toward him, the ones who refused to listen, the ones who actually threw the stones and the ones who looked on and did nothing.
We have the same opportunities to participate in the negative and in the positive. We can stand up for what is right or we can stand by and watch a wrong or maybe even throw a stone. We can participate in making the world a better place or we can sit back and wait for someone else to do it.
I know I've been on both sides of the negative and the positive. I've defended, but I've also executed. I've given of myself, but I've also sat on my hands and waited for others to step up so I didn't have to. I know the times that I've done the right, I've never regretted it.
