I realized this last month that the weight of this world we live in can crush the spirit.  Now, I bet when you were in your “young adult” years you thought that the only weights dropped were more like Wile E. Coyote dropping an Anvil on the Road Runner.   One big heavy massive weight, coming out of nowhere and SPLAT.   I kept my eye out for that anvil and one day, when I was 45, realized the odds of the ANVIL splatting me are actually worse than the odds of my winning the lottery.  What I did realize is that darn coyote was pelting me with tiny pebbles every time I passed by until one day, my “beep-beep” was almost nonexistent and my legs were no longer moving in speedy circles.   Then it hit me, why did I keep taking that same path, just taking on those pebbles as if it was just a part of life that I had to tolerate.   It was at that moment that I remembered a Scott Anderson talk from my youth, where he comically (but all too truthfully) characterized Satan as the little imp on our shoulders, spraying us with those little pebbles.  I also remembered how Bro. Anderson humorously told us to turn and face the little imp and in no uncertain terms just flick him off your shoulder!  That still now applies to all of us “oldies” too.  It was just as simple!  It was just as easy!  I wanted the attitude of that happy, joyful, optimistic 26-year-old back!  Right there and then I decided I had the power to do it.  Hey, its not like my life hasn’t been filled with stuff that others would say entitled me to an attitude of life-weariness and I let myself own that entitlement for a few years too many!   Abigail Adams had it right (that was one smart woman for her time) when she said of her trials in life, “I will not forget the blessings which sweeten life”.  

So my point today, life is full of lots of pelting, from the big anvils to the little, constant pebbles.  BUT, we do not have to let it bruise and batter us.  We do not need to walk around lamenting of our pain or fate.  We have been given the most hopeful message of peace and it is ours to embrace.  I know for me, that this promise is what gives me the armor that protects me from the assault on my spirit.  I cant change the attacks coming my way, but I can change how I dodge them, deal with them and when possible, avoid them.   

Tags: Happiness Joy Hope

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