Day 15 - The Perfect Antidote
Scripture focus: So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. 1 Peter 5:6 NLT
"I need to run to the drugstore and get some Pepto-Bismol."
"Why? Is your stomach upset?"
"Well, no, but we're running low."
"Ok. " I say ok, but I'm really puzzled. My husband does not like to shop in stores of any kind. The only three things that I know he cares about running out of enough to go to the store for are: Ritz crackers, peanut butter and orange juice. Well, and computers, televisions if they break on the night prior to a big game AND anything that hinders reception of any and every sporting event. These passions I understand - but Pepto-Bismol? It turns out that Pete believes that Pepto-Bismol cures just about everything from upset stomachs to the common cold. Evidently this was a common medicinal staple in his medicine cabinet growing up. In my family, we weren't too keen on over-the-counter meds. If it didn't require a prescription, it wasn't worth having! But we did believe strongly in the power of peanut butter. And I can assure you that anyone in my family would travel through rain, sleet, snow or hail if that jar of peanut butter showed signs of depletion. I wonder what your family system counts on to cure suffering - whether physical, emotional or spiritual? Think about it - how does your family comfort itself when faced with suffering?
According to Stephen Arterburn in his book Reframe Your Life, neither Pepto-Bismol or Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter hold the power to heal. Arterburn says that the antidote for much of our suffering is found in true humility. Last week we considered three barriers to transformation (stubborn resistance, good intentions and arrogant entitlement). In this awesome book, he suggests that humility is absent when any of the three barriers are in place - especially entitlement. In a culture that prides itself on the "me first" mentality, humility may sound like a dirty word to lots of us. Listen to humility's description found in Reframe Your Life (and draw your own conclusions about its value).
"Humility has no steps to climb up and over others. It reaches out to connect with others, appreciating them for who they are, not just what they can do for you. A humble person is not using everything within himself to further his own cause, but rather there is a desire to use whatever power, strength, or position to help others and meet their needs. The result is a rich life full of valuable relationships with family and friends, amassing moments of wonder where others have been helped by the efforts of a humble heart reaching out." (p.42)
I know that many of us have experienced life and concluded that we have been climbed up and over one time too many to continue trusting mere mortals. Maybe you're one of those who decided to fight back with a little clever climbing of your own. I understand how you feel. You have a choice to make. Do you want the small satisfaction found in Pyrrhic victories won by squashing others on your way to the top? Or do you want more? People with big hearts can't afford the luxury of small-minded thinking.
Recommended reading: Genesis 32 and Proverbs 4 in the morning; Psalm 13 in the evening
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 TNIV
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