What’s So Wrong About That?
by Deacon Randy Kiel | November 26, 2025
So, you find yourself caught in the middle of a dilemma and are struggling with what to do. I’d like to begin by paying you a compliment: One who struggles is strong. The struggle with right and wrong is a sign of strength within one’s mind; it is the conscience. To struggle with anything is a sign of strength, not weakness. Knowing this helps us battle the inner voices of criticism and condemnation when personal struggles arise.
The tension between right and wrong is a discerning process that becomes particularly challenging when facing a moral dilemma. A moral dilemma exposes itself when the internal questions pose “both” sides of the dilemma at the same time. For example: “What should I do?” “You know what to do.” “No, I don’t.” “Yes, you do, do the right thing.” ‘But I’m not sure.” “Yes you are.” It can go on and on.
Recently, I found myself in the midst of a moral dilemma. One day I saw a magazine on our kitchen table that I occasionally buy. I don’t buy it often because it comes with a hefty price. So, at first glance, I thought my wife must have bought this treat for me. Then I realized that I had already read this particular edition while I was in the lobby of my doctor’s office just days before. I was glad to now own it because I didn’t have time to finish a certain article when my name was called by the nurse for my appointment. While I leafed through the magazine, something else caught my eye. On the back cover was the address of my doctor’s office. It was then I realized that I had walked out of the clinic with that magazine in my hand. I was in a moral dilemma. I was caught between “What’s so wrong about taking a little old magazine?” and “Yikes, I’m a thief.” Was I going to justify this or face what was right to do? My internal conversation began to wreak havoc within my mind. Only I could end this dilemma. Either keep the magazine because I wanted it or return it to the clinic and have a clean conscience. Which did I value more? Sounds silly now, but every dilemma that we find ourselves in is difficult in those few moments. I decided to do the RIGHT thing; I returned to the clinic to “face the music” even though this music sounded like a dirge.
I made the twenty-minute drive to the clinic while rehearsing “my confession” the whole way. I opened the door, and the receptionist recognized me from being there earlier in the week. “Well, what are you doing back here so soon?” she asked. I hesitated for maybe only 1.5 seconds, just long enough to hear my inner self speak a silent lie. So, I grabbed my inner self and pushed him toward the receptionist’ counter and said as fast as I could, “Ma’am, I walked out of the office with this magazine and mistakenly took it home, so I’m returning it to you.” I could hear an inner defensive voice screaming to protect me, just as a child would fight for his innocence, ”But I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”
The receptionist responded kindly, “Oh, you didn’t have to bring that back, most people never do.” I playfully responded, “Well, thank you, but you see, if I didn’t bring it back, I’d have to tell my priest all about it in confession, and I don’t want to have to do that.” She looked stunned and then said, “You mean, people really do that? They actually go to confession?” At this point I internally giggled because I had not expected that my recompense for thievery (accidental as it may have been) was about to turn into a spiritual joy. I said, “Oh yes, and we actually look forward to it. Forgiveness feels great.” She responded, “Well, I’ve been a Christian my whole life, but I’ve never heard Catholics talk like that”. So, I encouraged her to listen to some YouTube teachings about Catholicism and reconciliation and then I invited her to attend a Mass sometime. She asked, “ Which church has the best mass?” I answered, “They are all the best! A miracle happens every time!” We both laughed.
As I left the clinic, through the double glass lobby doors I watched the receptionist carefully place the magazine back on the lobby coffee table as she smiled and slightly shook her head. I smiled as I opened my car door and said to myself, “Jesus, You made my day” It was as though I could hear him respond. “Randy, you made my day.”
As we face spiritual and relational dilemmas, may we always choose the right responses such as saying, “I’m sorry” and “I forgive you” and “Lord, please forgive me” while we lean on God’s strength to listen to that inner voice of conscience that will tell us to always do the right thing.