They Decided Not To Be

Shakespeare once had one of his characters say: "To be or not to be, that is the question." There are some people who decide "not to be", and stop living.

But there is a not‑so‑negative thought here as well. The world around us often fills us with despair. There is sin, there is hatred and animosity. There is agony. And in this kind of world, it is easy to be overwhelmed. But we must decide not to be.

The early disciples give us a remarkable example here. They decided to live on a level where nothing could hurt them, where nothing could drag them down, because Christ had lifted them up.

We read about Paul and his followers, going from city to city. Some listened with respect, but others drove them out. They were beaten, imprisoned, stoned and left for dead. The early Christians could have been discouraged, but they decided not to be. They could have been hurt, but they decided not to be. They could have resorted to trickery, bribery, deceit, and to be mean or vindictive in return, but "they decided not to be."

There are two ways to be defeated. One is when others defeat you. But the second way is when you defeat yourself. The first often happens. We lose at a game. We lose in business to a superior salesman. We lose in love to a more charming Romeo. But this is not the really significant battle. When we throw in the sponge, and declare that the odds are against us, then people catch us in self‑defeat. One such character, in modern literature exclaimed, "Tricked by gad, that's what I was; tricked by life, and made a fool of." (Fosdick)

Robert Louis Stevenson, the great poet, was plagued with tuberculosis...but it didn't defeat him. Helen Keller, was blind, deaf and dumb from birth...but somehow it didn't defeat her.

Glen Cunningham, one of the fastest milers had been crippled in his boyhood in a schoolhouse fire. Doctors said he would never walk again. He could have been easily defeated, but he decided not to be.

The poet has said:

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or late the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.

The early Christians learned a divine focus of life. Paul said, "For me, to live is Christ." He could have been badly defeated...but he decided not to be.

Glad for your comments, if you decide
to make them. Also would be happy if
you decide to buy some of my books.
They are available on the Internet, or
you can call 1-888-280-7715 (free) and
order them.