A Life of Bull

Yesterday, I watched the animated movie, Ferdinand. The movie is about a bull named unsurprisingly after the title of the movie.

In this movie, all of the bulls have one goal in mind, to be the greatest fighter so they can go to the arena and defeat the bullfighters. That is, except Ferdinand. He would rather smell the flowers than fight. He is mocked about being different and is constantly reminded by the other bulls that the only thing he should want is to be a great fighter.  

A lot happens and eventually, Ferdinand finds out that no bull ever wins. He tries to warn all of the other bulls that they need to run. Valiente, the toughest and bravest bull of the herd, forces a fight with Ferdinand and has a horn broken off. Because of his broken horn, Valiente ends up at the slaughterhouse. 

When Ferdinand tries to help the stubborn Valiente escape, the following conversation takes place. 

V: Don't you get it? Look at me! I'm already done.

F: Oh, sure. That makes total sense. You're either a fighter or you're meat, right? 

V: That's right. 

F: It doesn't have to be that way. You're more than just a set of horns

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns.

 

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns.

 

Don't you get it? Look at me!

I'm already done.

Oh, sure.

That makes total sense.

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns.

 

Don't you get it? Look at me!

I'm already done.

Oh, sure.

That makes total sense.

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns. 

Valiente believed a bull with a broken horn has no destiny other than to fight or become meat because that is what bulls do. His identity was in his horns.

We need to realize that we are not only what we appear to be. Society may tell you what you should be, but only you know who you are. Appearance, ancestry, society, or the location of origin should dictate your destiny. Do not let others tell you what you are. 

People are complicated. They may look tough on the outside but may be very tender-hearted. Appearances can be deceptive. As the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover." There is more than meets the eye. 

Don't get caught in the trap of believing what others think about you. Learn to be you. Some people have trouble being themselves out of fear that they won't be accepted. People often choose to do things that they would naturally not do just because they want to be accepted. Don't accept anything less than being what you are. 

I am a Christian, though others would hardly call me religious. I choose to live the life that God has given me. I do not want to follow others because they seem more spiritual. Neither should you. 

Just be yourself. Do not accept a false destiny because it is what you were taught. Be the real you.  

Are You Willing?

A friend of mine from a different church works with the children at his church. He was putting together an Indiana Jones escape room. He needed some crafty volunteers to help him decorate, specifically to paper mâché a 6-foot boulder although there was more decorating that was required.

I happened to see his request for help on his Facebook page. I happened to be off work that day and replied that I was not crafty, but I was willing to help. So, after a forty-five-minute drive to his church, my wife and I were hands-deep in glue. My wife is a “crafty” person.

The paper mâché boulder took 3 – 4 hours to complete. It was not hard to do, it was just big. I am glad that I went out of my way to help a friend in need. What disappointed me was that no one from his church heeded the request to volunteer. My wife and I were the only volunteers to arrive to do the craft. Had we not helped, his room would not have been completed on time.

He said that the escape room turned out to be a success and the boulder came out great. I joked how being crafty wasn’t needed as much as just being willing. However, this “joke” has been in my thoughts ever since.

My work schedule is weird and does not allow me to volunteer for as many things as I would like. There are a lot of things and people that need assistance. Often, we think to ourselves that we are not skilled enough to do what is required. We have excuses that we are too old, too young, or even that someone else will do it. We may even think we are not good enough to help. The problem is not that we can’t. The main problem is that we are not willing.

It reminds me of the parable of the good Samaritan. A couple of people walked by who were able to help the injured man, but only one was willing to see that he received the help he truly needed. It was just the one man that even bothered to check on the man.

When Jesus called his disciples, he did not check their resumes to see if they could do what would be required. He merely said, “Follow me.” Those he called were willing to follow him.

Prayers are helpful, but workers are needed. You do not have to have a degree to do most of the necessary work. Many things need to be done. While some tasks are complex many more are more easily completed by someone just willing. What we need in this world is more willing people to help.

He told them, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Luke 10:2 (CSV)