The Nature of the Beast

Yesterday, I watched a video clip of a young lady who picked up a young “wild lion” creating a nuisance in a village and carried it off. It was squirming and swatting but never challenged nor hurt her. Was it fake? Maybe. Was it a pet? Perhaps. But it took me down a thinking path of considering how we handle life’s challenges. Sometimes we’ve made a pet of life, and when it becomes a challenge we are uncertain what to do. Other times, we respond to the moment and attempt to control the situation. Maybe we find success. Then, there are times we don’t know what to do except to react.

Here’s the nature of me reacting to life and becoming the beast I know how to be:

Step in, take charge, handle the moment, and move on.

Except. I only react strongly after a season of letting things percolate for a while. Since I like strong coffee, sometimes that is a long percolating period.

Driving home from a late-night working shift, I made up my mind to never be a police officer! (Later, I learned I had been accepted into the academy, but someone maternal hid the letter from me.) Houston Police were chasing a car down the feeder road next to I-10. Someone in the car was shooting at the police, but there was no return fire. Just a quickly moving chase scene that passed me with inches to spare.

I learned. You cannot control some moments, and the best you can do is take cover! If it’s not your personality to run into live fire, then recognize others thrive during those times.

In the ’80s, I became the supervisor of a support group. There was angst about the morning status meeting due to fiery tempers that included a slung stack of paper, name calling and brow beating. It got a little hairy. Since it was my meeting, I canceled it, told everyone to leave, and don’t come back until invited. Promptly, I took steps to make sure it never got close to violence again. Saner personalities can be involved. Profitable meetings can be the result.

Realization? You can be in charge and not lose your cool when everyone else is struggling not to go too far!

The nature of the beast is to realize how easily you can become like others, but you don’t have to!

The Beast Is Real

I’m not sure what brings some challenges to a sense of heightened emotions, and then other times, you’re cool as a cucumber. The kicker is that it can be different every time. When you’re tired, you react differently than when well-rested. Have too many challenges, and the bubble of control threatens to pop. We learn when to respond one way, or the other. It’s probably best when we learn this at a younger age.

It’s almost like the Beast brings out the Worst in Us!

On my back deck, right now, the German Shepherd puppies (Bear and Byrd) we kept from the previous litter are learning how to challenge each other in playful moments. Before you know it, those precious puppies become velociraptors and the teeth fly! For the next 24 months or so, they are in this middle phase! Watch Out! Don’t get between them!

Have you ever noticed the overnight change in someone? It’s not new; only what you see was kept hidden. Unless you tame the beast within, what’s in the heart will come out. Listen for the words as they portend the heart. (Matthew 12:34)

The Beast Can Be Tamed

Time heals all wounds. Not! Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. Not! You always hurt the one you love. Not! Watch out, the terrible two’s will be horrible. Well, maybe.

Our tendency is to “fly off the handle” or “lash out” or “give as good as is given.” We can also learn how we have reacted and change who we become. When someone knows how to goad you to a response, fool them and don’t accept the challenge. They will try harder. Resist the temptation. Finally, and prayerful, they will give up. You won the first time you refused to give in. Winning habits take on a new mantle of control. Tame the beast by better actions and reactions.

Equally, the beast within can be controlled externally. For this, a Biblical example came to mind.

Jesus and his disciples sailed across the Galilee to the Country of the Gadarenes. A man from the city met them at the shore. He was possessed with Demons, Legion was their name for they were many. Jesus met the man on his turf, but took control of the Demons and cast them out. When it was noised about, many came from the city to find the truth. What did they find?

Then they went out to see what had happened,
and came to Jesus,
and found the man from whom the demons had departed,
sitting at the feet of Jesus,
clothed and in his right mind.
And they were afraid.
Luke 8:35 NKJV

You cannot control every person like this! But I wonder if sometimes the problem we experience, in ourselves or others, is something we cannot control because we’ve not given it over to Jesus.

Here’s the Lesson

To thine ownself be true, but do not be controlled by the external circumstances, or the beast within. You can be better than the beast!

“You can be like a thermometer, just reflecting the world around you.
Or you can be a thermostat, one of those people who sets the temperature.”
~Via Many Voices!

Be a reflector of others, or a setter of the temperature you want and need! You can control the Beast!