I pity the fool…
A famous line from an actor portraying a TV character. Mr “T” was all I’ve ever known him by. “I pity the fool…” and then he would add something to it so you would know who and what he was talking about
But he had a background. You should go check it out. Somewhere along the way, a toughness persona was created and even to this day, his hair, scowl and voice makes you hope you never get on his bad side.
Somewhere in the early morning hours, I started thinking about those who are negatively influenced by their “lot” in life, and then, on the obverse, those who are challenged and grow as a result of their dealt hand.
Why are some influenced in life to become something more than they thought they could be? Versus, why do some never achieve what their potential says they could do? Click To TweetWhy do some give up? Turn back? Quit? While others see the same situation and it forces them to buck up and fight back? Is it as simple as the “flight or fight” gene that we all have? What makes someone stand up to the situation, and another flee? Where does their intestinal fortitude come from to make them stand up instead of knocked down?
Here’s My Thought Today
No matter who you are, where you come from, you have a challenge to life that is unique to you. Yes. You may have a silver spoon life, and your challenges are different than others, but you can either slip through life as a failure, or a success!
Consider the lad, David, son of Jesse. God tells the prophet that the future king would be among the sons, so Jesse parades all his boys… Nope. Not here? Any others? Sure. He’s out taking care of the sheep. It seems that his family could not even consider him as a potential leader!
David faces challenges with aplomb. Lion attacks his flock. Killed. Bear takes a lamb. Slain. King Saul has an “evil spirit” fall upon him? David plays and soothes the king, even when the king desires to kill him. Bouncing highs, and despairing lows.
How could this man ever be anything favored by God?
In fact, when allowed to stand up to Goliath in a “winner take all” contest, David does not passively wait on the enemy. He challenges Goliath with an ancient form of trash talk and then?
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
(1 Samuel 17:48 NKJV)
He runs at the challenger! Could you charge the biggest problem you ever faced?
What was in the heart of David that did not allow him to back down from a fight? Youthful ignorance? A feeling of invincibility? With an almost Samson ability, this young man had something from his youth. The Spirit of the Lord.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward…
(1 Samuel 16:13 NKJV)
Notice the last few words. “From that day Forward.” How much of this did David understand? I’m not sure. Think about it like this.
From This Day Forward
What would you be like if you had God’s Spirit resting on you from today forward? Who would you become if you did not fear the challengers? You’ve proven yourself with the smaller problems, now, let’s face the large problems!
Over the past 40 something years of adult living, I have repeatedly seen people rise to the challenge of living above and beyond their given lot in life. Regardless of some gifting or silver spoon mentality, it seems that those who are most successful are those of have something on the inside that reflects outward on everything they do.
An internal toughness? Maybe. Lack of fear? Perhaps. Not willing to fail? Could be. Whatever it is, I will say that it is found early in their life and perseveres throughout their existence. Check out the Type A and Type B personality mindset. A’s are competitive, outgoing, ambitious, impatient and/or even aggressive. B’s are more patient and relaxed. A’s are often seen as the doer’s, while B’s are the glue that keeps everything flowing.
Regardless, each type are very successful facing challenges!
I am definitely a B personality… B’s need A’s but never want to replicate them. A’s are not sure if they care that a B personality even exists! Many studies suggest that an “A” tends to have coronary diseases, while B’s seldom experience a coronary event.
Think It Through
Well… What about you? What’s that internal piece of you that makes you not back down from a fight? Is there a genetic disposition that allows you to persevere till the end?
I think it truly has little to do with A’s or B’s… It’s who you are regardless of your personality. Selah.
Be an “A” or “B”, but know that there are opportunities to stand and fight, or roll over and play the fool…