“Labour not for the
meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,
which the Son of man will give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.”--John
6:27 (KJV)
“Give me...” “I want…” “I don’t like…” Young
children say words like these-- often. Adults don’t usually speak or act on
them as much. That’s what you call “maturity”. As we leave our childhood
behind, we learn to be more patient, realistic, and understanding (hopefully).
Our prayers
also transform as we grow up. They may become more complicated.
My latest
writings show that a comprehensive viewpoint can keep hope and gratitude
alive in trying times. It can also show us the distinction between necessities and
wishes. See articles about:
- Praying with gratitude even when our desires don’t get fulfilled here
- Having long-range vision here
- Gaining victory after difficult processes here
The bottom line is this: what we want
is not always what we need. Here are some examples:
King David
This
towering biblical figure began as a shepherd boy. He might not have considered
it the most exciting job around. David likely worked for free, too, since he
tended his father’s flocks. He probably didn’t plan on a career of guarding
sheep.
What he Learned
He became
proficient at using a slingshot to guard the animals. He fought off predators
with his bare hands, too. This training came in handy when he conquered
Goliath, didn’t it? One rock brought down the champion of the Philistines.
The Karate Kid, 1984 (starring Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki [Pat] Morita)
Note: I highly recommend this
inspirational movie.
Macchio’s character, Daniel, was bullied in
his new high school. He wanted to defend himself. The young man didn’t know
karate, so he asked Mr. Miyagi (Morita) to teach him.
Reluctantly,
the older man agreed. The student was confused when his sensei (teacher) assigned
him three handyman-type jobs at his own home.
Hello? What
about karate coaching?
After some
days and plenty of pain, Daniel finally broke down and refused to do anymore “menial”
work. That’s when the wise Miyagi demonstrated the true lessons of the duties.
What he
Learned
The sensei
had been showing Daniel karate forms (kata). This is essential defense training.
- Washing and waxing the cars taught him circular motions with his arms.
- Painting the fence trained him in fluid up and down movements.
- Sanding the deck clarified low, circular gestures to block kicks.
Talents, Sports, and Hobbies
Some individuals
make sports, dancing, singing, playing music, writing, and the list goes on…look easy.
It isn’t. None
of it is. Behind every expert, or masterpiece they’ve created,
are thousands of hours of grueling training and planning.
No, we don’t
ask for the difficulty. Exhaustion isn’t glamorous. For example, I spend three
to five hours researching and putting together every article on my blog—for free.
My self-help
book, Accept No Trash Talk: Overcoming the Odds, is available here. My work is the culmination of countless
hours of self-editing, research, writing, consulting colleagues and friends,
and so forth.
What we
Learn/Earn
- Self-discipline
- Courage
- A sense of fulfillment
- Confidence
- (Maybe) fame and fortune
My Conclusion
Let’s face
it; most of us crave comfort. We don’t ask for painful, tedious training.
However, that preparation is often necessary for conquering giants, bullies, or
anything strenuous.
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