Why….not me?

Philippians 3:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

I try to not follow the news these days.  First of all it is depressing and I don’t like to corrupt the already fragile committee in my head with more crap and secondly I find it takes me back to the old days where I spent most of my time living in the problem instead of the solution. 

This morning, during a long run, the good Lord was feeding me with all kinds of thoughts.  But the one thought that kept recurring was the fact that as human beings it seems as though we find comfort in our crap and/or the world’s crap and in turn get sucked into a victim-mentality which turns into a serious case of “why me’s” and prolonged visits to the “pity pot.”  I happen to believe the devil gets much joy from those of us who spend time with him on the pity pot.

Back on the night of July 12, 2003, I was standing at the bedside of my sponsor and mentor, Vic.  He had decided it was time for him to quit battling the emphysema that had all but taken away his ability to breath.  Vic told us at 12 midnight he was turning off his oxygen in order to pass into eternity.  Prior to the “fatal” hour Vic sat in his bed in the hospital and told stories and laughed and joked about his life.   He had a peace about him that was so divine on that night.

Although those of us in the room knew Vic had a relationship with Jesus and could conclude that was the primary reason for the peace we felt that night, I knew there was more to it.  Vic had shared something with me a few weeks earlier when I visitied him at the assisted living facility he was staying in.  He said to me, ” Jay, you know, once I finally figured I was going to die from this disease I spent a  few days on the pity pot and kept asking God why me?  But then it finally came to me when I said to myself why not me-God?”  He went on to tell me that the key to living and making a difference in God’s world is to not spend time living in the problem, but to invest time by living in the solution.   Vic had decided, even though his days were numbered, he could still be a witness to the power that a personal relationship with Jesus provides.   And a powerful witness Vic was on his final night on earth.

If you find yourself having a case of the “why me’s?” try tapping into the power I just mentioned above, one day at a time.  Your challenges will not go away but inner turmoil will slowly be replaced by peace and slowly but surely you will begin viewing life through a different set of glasses.  

• The power provides you with the ability to quit focusing on your problems so you can focus on making a difference in the world around you.
• The power provides you with the ability to have your outward focus exceed your inward focus.
• The power provides you with the ability to forgive someone you once thought unforgiveable.
• The power provides you with the ability to seek forgiveness from someone you’ve harmed.
• The power provides you with people who will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear, and in-turn the ability to listen to these people.
• The power provides you with the compassion to first choose to understand a situation and then the courage to be understood…in that order.
• The power provides you with the ability to take charge of your own life and not be dependant upon other people, places and things for your welfare and happiness.
• The power provides you with the ability to have peace in the face of horrible challenges…even death.  (As I witnessed with Vic on July 13, 2003)
• The power provides you with dozens of other abilities…

But, last, but not least…

• The power provides you with the ability to change your beliefs and your thinking and do things you once thought impossible, like changing your mindset from a victim mentality of “why me” to a solution mentality of “why not me” and to pass into eternity with no regrets, knowing you made a difference in the world…just like my buddy Vic.

P.E.A.C.E.

jay@eaglelaunch.com