Cost of Complacency
On April 11, 2017, Marty Dale Whitmire of Greenville, South Carolina, died from a “freak accident,” as labeled by the company. The “accident” occurred when a live powerline was clipped and fell on Whitmire while he was working on a paving truck. However, shortly after the news broke, Marty Whitmire’s nephew, Melvin Whitmire, commented that his “accident” was neither “freak” nor an “accident.”
Melvin stated many factors contributed to the “accident.” For example, the company prematurely promoted Marty to his then-current position. Furthermore, Melvin said that Marty didn’t have the proper training on the machine and didn’t receive additional training for the foreman on the job. Melvin also claimed that the power lines were lower than required by the national code, the pole was not up to national codes, the spotter was out that day, and the attitude of a passive SCDOT inspector.
Melvin also said that the power company took almost a half hour to arrive to shut down the 7200-volt line, continuing to electrocute Marty. In the end, Melvin said that it was “NOT A ACCIDENT. A FAILURE TO PREVENT this from happening is what is so “FREAKY” and unbelievable.” He ended with, “COMPLACENCY killed my “brother”!!!!”
This tragic story is a reminder of the dangers of complacency as extremely dangerous not only in the workplace but also in our personal and spiritual lives. Unfortunately, many men tend to get so used to doing things the same way and aren’t always aware of the potential dangers. After all, if nothing “bad” has happened so far, it must be “O.K.”
However, Scripture tells us we must stay vigilant and constantly aware. We must also keep our personal and spiritual lives in check, ensuring we’re not “cutting corners” and always striving to be better. After all, complacency has a cost, whether or not we realize it.
Daily Directive:
Answer and Journal the Following
Read:
1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Pray:
Pray to remain vigilant, always aware and constantly striving to be the man God created you to be.
Meditate / Make It Real:
Contemplate and meditate on or memorize the passage. What is God saying to you? Then, determine what you will do with what you’ve learned.
Share / Show:
Share and show what you’ve learned with someone else.