CONSEQUENCES

Susan and Bill were married for four years and were trying to conceive a child from the beginning. Finally, Susan decided to seek medical advice. What a shock it was to discover that some obscure sexually transmitted disease she probably contracted as a teenager left her permanently infertile. Her tubes were irreparably scarred. What was she to do now? She had long changed from her promiscuous lifestyle when she first met Bill. Ten years ago, she thought that her life was her own. No one could tell her what to do or how to live her life. Her sexuality was her own business and no one else's. But she was wrong. Although she did not know it at the time, her sexuality was also her future husband's. How can she now tell him that because of some stupid act she decided to do ten or twenty years ago he may never be a father? How unfair it is! How difficult it is to break the heart of the one you love.

As it was the fate of Susan to marry Bill, was she acting unjustly against Bill when she was promiscuous?

Should Susan tell her husband about the injury to her reproductive organs? Is it his right to know?

Should she tell him how her injury came about?

Is it right for Bill to now suffer the consequences of his wife's actions so long ago?

Is there any man who does not bear the consequence of his own actions and those of others in the past?

How will the things we do today affect the future?

What could you be unwittingly responsible for in the future?

How will the things others do today affect you in the future?

Are we really only accountable to ourselves for what we do?

They labelled Errol a confirmed bachelor and one of the most eligible at that. As marketing manager in a prestigious corporation, amiable and good looking, all the single women in his department secretly hoped to be the one to "land him" as they say. But he was content to devote most of his time and money on his sports cars, partying and generally indulging his many other fancies.

The time did come, however, when Errol married and settled down. Soon he was the happy father of two boys. Then his life suddenly changed. It became apparent that his younger son had a serious congenital heart problem. Sometime after that Errol himself developed a medical problem which made it impossible to continue working. With the mounting medical and other bills, he thought of the millions of dollars he spent on such trivial things when he was younger. It all seemed such a waste to him now. Mindful of the uncertainty of life, Errol has now become a lot more frugal and careful with his finances.

Is there anything wrong with spending money on the things which bring you joy?

Should it be said that Errol wasted his money enjoying himself in his younger years?

Even if there is nothing wrong in a particular action, could it still have unpleasant consequences?

Is there a consequence to everything one does?

Is it immoral to waste things? Can you think of anything you have wasted?

If you can change your past, what would you change?

Everybody knew Stephenson was a natural when coming to football. Time and again he was the one to carry the team to victory. But they all took for granted and relied on his abilities too much. Many players would miss training often and did not seem committed to the team. Perhaps it was frustration, or maybe Stephenson just felt like taking it easy as some of the others. But one year, for two weeks before a crucial match, Stephenson missed training. Some say they saw him partying till the morning of the match. That day saw the team's worst performance ever. They lost to one of the weaker sides in the league.

Was Stephenson obligated to keep training and give his best at all times?

Are we obligated to always give the best we can?

Is it morally wrong to neglect one's physical health?

Do we have a responsibility to keep in good health?

How important is it to be in good spiritual health? If we fail to study the wisdom of our religion, or advice of wise men and women who have gone before us, can that hinder us from helping others who may be in need of council?

How important is it for you to pray? Could it help strengthen you in times of distress?

What would be the consequences of having a prayerful life?

A single mother had four children whom she tried her best to raise in a good and upright manner. When she saw her eldest girl associating with people of dubious character, she warned her and pleaded with her to be careful of her lifestyle. The mother laboured the point of how easy it was to get AIDS or worse if she lived too reckless a life. The girl's three siblings all heeded their mother's advice concerning such things, but the eldest daughter did not. Inevitably that reckless and disobedient daughter contracted the HIV virus and began to suffer the symptoms of AIDS. Everyone was heartbroken to see her suffering so much, and although the cost of drugs and other medical services she needed was exorbitant, the whole family pooled together to make her as comfortable as possible. Needless to say, life for every member of that family changed quite a lot. There was so much they had to sacrifice, so much they did without. It was very difficult.

Tragic as the situation was, it did have one good effect. The sick girl’s best friend took note of all that happened and decided to change her lifestyle. She was determined that the same thing would not happen to her.

Were the three younger sisters obligated to help their oldest sibling?

Was the eldest sister guilty of creating hardships on her family?

The friend of the sick girl decided to change to a healthier, less dangerous lifestyle. Was that a good consequence of the tragic situation?

Do you agree that a tragedy would be worse if nothing is learnt by it?"

Can there be at least one good consequence of even the worst action? Can something be learnt from it? Is not even this a consequence of one being open and humble enough to learn?

Can you think of occasions where you acted in a different way from how you should have acted?

After these occasions, do you get a second chance at them? Can you in any way make up for them?

What do you think will be the consequence of a person smoking, and drinking alcohol in excess over a long period of time?

What might be the consequences of someone addicted to cigarettes or drugs seeking help to give them up?

What do you think would be some consequences of being convicted of a crime, even if one should get only a suspended sentence? Would that person ever be able to obtain a certificate of good character from the police? (This certificate is necessary to obtain employment in many different fields of work.) Would that person find many opportunities which are open to others, simply non-existent to himself or herself?

How dangerous is it to have anything to do with illegal drugs? How damaging could it be to run afoul of the law?

Which is the greater error, doing things with bad consequences or not doing the thing which brings good consequences?

How often are other people affected by choices we make?

Do our actions make the world a better place or a worse place?

Can anyone live a life that has no effect on any other person?

Activity: Create a graphic design depicting the theme "Consequences."