Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa contributor and 101.7 The River co-host "Brother" Scott McCown has a few thoughts on how there is more than one way around a big puddle.

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Credit: DC Daniel/TSM

So, Brother Scott, what do you have to say?

Ye'll tak’ the high road and I'll tak’ the low road, and I’ll be in Scotland a’fore ye . . .”

Many think the song is about a Scotsman headed to the Battle of Culloden on April 16, 1746, who did not expect to come home. This was the battle in which English loyalist troops, commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, defeated the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart near Inverness. In that battle, between 1,500 & 2,000 Jacobites were killed or wounded in less than one hour.

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Ignoring that history, that ancient song came to mind one early morning as I walked my then-young son to school. A couple of places where the rain from the last few days had created puddles on the sidewalk—right in our path. As I recall this event, I confess most were easily avoidable; a simple step to the right or left let your foot find dry ground. The last puddle, however, took up the sidewalk; it was too large to step over, and the only way around was to circle through the wet grass or to step up on the curb next to the highway and traffic. My son was in jeans and cross-trainers and took to the grass; I had on business attire (I had a funeral to attend later that day) complete with dress shoes and light-colored dress slacks -- no puddle or wet grass for me -- I took to the curb and tried to keep my balance so as not to fall into the puddle on either side. Did I mention the traffic on the highway? I started singing (much to my son's distaste) the song as soon as we cleared the puddle. My loud singing garnered a look of "Dad, you are embarrassing me, again!"

I hear people talk about "taking the high road" in situations of conflict. If taking the "high road" means considering the other party's feelings and point of view and making an effort not to injure them, then that is what scripture recommends. Paul says in Philippians 2:3-7, "... doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men.”

In today's world of misguided "looking out for self" and misunderstandings of "respect," Paul's statement may seem weak. But it is not a weak man who considers others; it is the strong and meek man who practices self-control.