Potholes Ahead
The lead story on our local news this morning was about
potholes. After the rough winter we have experienced already, the roads are a
mess — with auto-damaging potholes on all the main thoroughfares. It reminds me
of the way human life works.
Life is a journey. We map our roads to success and
happiness. There are curves along the way, and we must not give in to the
temptation just to coast. Okay. You've got it. Right? The notion of life as a
road to travel has been used in the Bible, by Scott Peck, and in the
vocabularies of practically all of us.
There are no roads without potholes. So the people who get
the most joy out of life are the ones who learn early how to deal with
discouragement.
Temperament appears to predispose some people to see the
dark side of situations and to incline toward pessimism. There are external
circumstances over which one does not have control. There are people who can
make life harder for you as critics or enemies. But you are not helpless in the
face of your disposition, circumstances, or critics. There is at least one
thing you can control.
Your attitude toward life is a choice you alone can make.
There have been days when I have had to have a pretty stern conversation with
myself. "Do what is right," I said. "Do it well. Do it with
passion. And leave the outcome to God." Do you recall having some version
of that conversation with yourself?
Adopting a helpless posture in the face of challenge
practically guarantees a sorry outcome. Unless someone rescues you from
yourself — an unlikely option in most situations — you are going to lose the
job, the relationship, or the dream.
Did you hear about the jilted bride who placed an ad?
"Hope Chest for Sale: brand new, half price, long story."
That's quite different from the little boy playing right
field for his Pee Wee League team. A latecomer leaned against the fence and
asked, "What's the score?" When the boy answered that his team was
trailing 8 to 0, the kindly fellow said, "Don't be too discouraged. Maybe
your team will do better next time." The kid didn't
even look up. He just
said, "It's okay. We ain't been to bat yet!"
The issue here isn't to encourage you to be naïve or
foolish. But a layoff, illness, divorce, bankruptcy, or moral failure doesn't
have to be the end. Believe it or not for now, the truth is that life needs to
work the way it does. Apart from setbacks, we don't develop character traits
such as strength, courage, and endurance. Without challenge, we never
experience the sweet taste of victory or joy. Apart from our own
discouragement, compassion likely could not exist.
[The LORD said,]"Don't be afraid, for I am with you.
Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen and help
you..." - Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Written by Rubel Shelly
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