The Gadarene Swine Law

I didn't work in Corporate America for very long. I was a lowly publishing intern tasked with catching minute typographical errors while obsessed with thoughts of the man who would one day become my husband. Let's just say it was hard to concentrate on work sometimes. Though I soon left my job to go back to school and marry Austin, I did leave with a few new insights into life and other people. (Mostly from eavesdropping on Marketing and reading crazy manuscipts that people would send in.)

 Today I was reading through some notes I had jotted down during my days there, and came across the Gadarene Swine Law. The "Gadarene Swine" part is, of course, in reference to Jesus casting devils into pigs, who promptly committed suicide by flinging themselves into the ocean. The GSL goes something like this: Just because a group is in formation does not mean that the group is going in the right direction. I think this could easily apply to family life or work. Don't get swept along into the ocean with the pigs, even if you all look like you know what you're doing. People might assume that you're going the wrong way because you're not jumping into the ocean with everyone else. Ignore them. Etc.

I'm sure there are lots of deep metaphors hidden in the Gadarene Swine Law, but the most important reason to remember it is so you can impress people by throwing it into your next conversation. "I think this is a classic example of the Gadarene Swine Law. You don't know what the Gadarene Swine Law is?" Then you get to shake your head and look superior. Trust me, it'll make your day.