It never occurred to me that by trying to change the world, I would cause huge debate and unrest. It never occurred to me that something so simple would result in harsh words and raised voices. What seemed clear and simple was really ambiguous and complicated.

In my column last month I talked about undemanding ways I could change the world. I said it was not a grandiose idea to change the world. Merely by being nice to someone or by putting condoms in the restrooms of my business I could start a revolution.

I had forgotten a fundamental truth about revolutions; it is very likely that someone will lose their head.

I didn’t ask permission to put the baskets in the bathroom; I didn’t think I needed to. I had my assistant place condoms and educational brochures in the men’s and women’s restrooms. A local AIDS awareness and education group supplied them to us free of charge. My customers are primarily college age, and therefore tight on money.

We couldn’t keep the baskets full. In both rooms the baskets were empty all the time. Both the baskets with the condoms and the brochures. It seemed obvious that we had made a right decision by offering this service of safety.

I was concerned about what some of our other customers (the older, more conservative type) would say and think. On the third day of having the baskets up, a middle-aged businessman told me he thought it was very admirable what we were doing. He said that no one should ever find himself or herself in a bad situation because they were too embarrassed or broke to go to the store to buy the things we had in the bathroom. On another occurrence, a woman told me she hoped her teenage son didn’t have sex yet, but was glad there was a place he could get them hassle-free.

Both of these people shared the same opinion I do. This is not about condoning or encouraging sexual activity outside of marriage. It is about encouraging safety. It is not about right or wrong, it is about life or death. The brochures we chose were explicit about abstinence being the safest and best choice for prevention. But they also gave alternatives for those who didn’t make that particular choice.

Knowledge is the key; one must know all the options and all the facts to make smart choices. Our schools are not providing this accurate information, most homes are not providing it, churches are too scared to provide it. SOMEONE needs to.

My Board of Directors felt that it was not our business to be the one to provide that information and assistance. I can’t really disagree with that; I run a business, not a clinic. Yet, I feel that it is the right thing to do. They felt it was encouraging sin.

To make a very long story short, we couldn’t agree. And since I work at the pleasure of the Board, I had no choice but to remove the condoms. They did let me continue supplying the educational literature.

I returned to my office after the meeting and sat in silence for a long while. Then I began to cry.

I thought I was crying because I felt so passionate about providing this protection. Or maybe it was because I didn’t get my way (which I am not really used to). But much later I realized what was so sad.

I had decided before the meeting that this was a particular ditch I would chose to “die” in. I believe in choosing my battles carefully, and never choosing one that I know I will lose, unless losing is in actuality winning.

Now that I found myself in that ditch, I quickly scrambled out. Losing a battle over other people’s lives seemed less important than losing my job.

I tried to comfort myself in the fact that I was “living” to fight another day. That was not soothing enough, though.

I am madder about my own cowardliness than the Board’s narrow-mindedness. I had given up on an ideal that I think is fundamental, providing safety to those in need.

“When did we see you hungry, thirsty...?”

I wonder if He were to say it today He would add, “You saw me under-educated and unsafe, and you did not provide me with knowledge and protection.”

Maybe not, but it is something I have thought about a lot since then.

I consider the time when I’ll ask benignly, “When did I see you ignorant to smart choices and unprotected, Lord?”

He won’t have to answer, I’ll know.

Steve can me reached at x-ersizing@yahoo.com.

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