A Suspicious Eye

A few years back my friend, a lawyer, was working on some huge project in his office with all the other attorneys and nobody had a chance to get out for lunch. So Dave* left to pick up some sandwiches for everyone. The office manager went with him to help carry the heavy load. The sandwich shop was literally across the street. They walked across the street, bought the sandwiches, and walked them back to the office together. When he got home from work that night his wife asked, "Who were you with at lunch?"



Dave's wife had driven through the area at the exact moment he walked across the street for lunch. There wasn't a whole lot of suspicion in her voice. After all, the office manager was 60+ years old and she would never suspect her 30-year-old husband of having an affair with the grandmotherly type.

He was stunned at the question. He hadn't thought twice about it. He explained the situation and his wife was more than understanding. However, he felt uncomfortable for having put the thought of infidelity into her head in the first place.

On one extreme you have my former bishop. Were he driving through the neighborhood in a blizzard and noticed a woman from his ward trudging through the snow, he would kindly wave as he drove by, never offering a ride.

On the other hand, I have co-workers who are married and don't think twice about going to lunch with someone of the opposite sex. Alone.

Do you practice 1 Thessalonians 5:22? "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

I know what I think. What is your opinion?



(*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)