Gentle
Spirit/Bad Attitude
Charlie Earl
Despite my
curmudgeonly demeanor, I am a cuddly type of guy. Violence isn’t my thing
although I’m not afraid to ferociously respond when my loved ones are
threatened. I’d rather get along with people and talk things out even though I
can be rather pig-headed at times. My family tells me that I am a verbal
bully….not abusive, but so self-assured in my beliefs that I discourage
dissent. In addition, I am a bigot. I detest people who act as if thinking is
too difficult. I loathe people who see their life’s mission as telling me how
to live mine. I abhor thoughtless clowns who perceive government as the final
arbiter for all questions of morals and policy. I hate those who believe my
previous statements are “hate speech.” In our present politically-correct
climate I am an outlier…a fossil… persona
non grata….and an anachronism. But I am lovable although not universally
beloved.
Although I
cannot cite the exact physiological ratio, I seem to recall a statement that
smiling requires fewer muscles than frowning. That may be true, but it causes
me to cheerfully ask, “What about scowling?” By now you have detected an
element of schizophrenia in this column. I simultaneously am happy and
despairing. Giddy with joy and fuming at the social and political mayhem that
surrounds me. It seems impossible to be happy and filled with rage at the same
time. But yet….that’s where I am. I know there are skeptics who suspect that
believers in Christ are delusional and misguided. I shared their views once
upon a time, but since my conversion some thirty years ago, I have truly
experienced and enjoyed the happiness of eternal hope while anguishing about
the state of the “world” … and our nation.
Any
evangelist can tell you about the internal struggle between glorious happiness
and utter despair. Certainly… Christian evangelists and secular proponents of
political liberty share similar ebbs and flows. For example the evangelist
moves through earthly life with a conviction or certitude that is a mystery for
most people while at the same time, the preacher yearns for others to share the
promise. When they reject it, deny it or demean it, his heart is broken, but
his personal joy remains intact. The true evangelist for liberty has a nearly
intuitive understanding of the happiness that engulfs the unfettered life.
Liberty’s advocates share a similar fate with the warriors of the Gospel. They
know the power of freedom, but are saddened by the failure of others to
understand. Simultaneous joy and pain.
Anyone who
fervently believes in a noble cause has been gifted with a purpose. Too many
people drift through life seeking “meaning.” Those who have repented and
accepted the gift of salvation cherish the life-altering moment.
Similarly….those individuals who are obsessed with a meaningful purpose are
driven to achieve their goals. It is the unfocused person who traipses from one
guru to the next, from one panacea to another seeking something to live for and
to die for. It may seem contradictory, but if something isn’t worth dying for,
it rarely is worth living for. Even though many seek to institute a valueless
society here, the people who have made value judgments to go “all-in” for a
worthy cause are the happiest among us.
They are the
saddest as well because they are often ridiculed, shunned and ignored. The Word
of God informs believers that they will persecuted for their faithfulness. At a
somewhat different level so, too, will be the zealous advocate for liberty….or
any worthwhile endeavor. People generally prefer to slide through life without
too much resistance, but once someone has discovered a worthy purpose,
opposition is sure to arise. So it is possible to possess a gentle spirit and a
bad attitude at the same time. In fact if one believes in something strongly
enough, it is inescapable. If you are one who has a noble purpose that will not
be denied, you will be identified by your caustic tongue when you utter with
love, “Stick it up your a$$. I’m moving on and you can take it or leave it.”
Just remember to say it with a warm smile.
Charlie Earl
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. — Romans 8:18
ReplyDeleteYes, you are correct, but evangelical timidity is the result of being driven by worldly concerns more than eternal ones. It is the essence of faith. While many may have the hope of glory, too few have the enduring faith to withstand persecution. This sad scenario explains the need for Christ because left to our own devices and desires, we'd rather please the world than God.
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