Great Exploits

Josheb-Basshebeth killed eight hundred men with his sword in one encounter. Eleazar faced an army alone when the rest of his army ran away. He defeated that army with his sword. He fought so hard and long that his sword froze in his hand. Benaiah killed Moab’s two mightiest warriors, killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, and having only a club took the spear from a huge Egyptian and killed him with it. These are just three of those listed among David’s Mighty Men.

There are many recent exploits out there as well. Dean Karnazes is an endurance runner. He once ran 350 miles in 80 hours and 44 minutes without sleep in 2005. Mariusz Pudzianowski does a 640-pound bench press, 859-pound squats, and a 947-pound deadlift. He holds five titles as World’s Strongest Man.

We love to hear about great exploits. People all around the world doing extraordinary things of which most of us can only dream. I used to love reading the Guinness Book of World Records. I enjoy seeing exploits others have done that exceed my capabilities. Many of the records were oddities that most of us would never even attempt. However, many would be willing to try something odd just to see if we could do it. I once succeeded (depending on your definition of success) in drinking 1 gallon of whole milk in under seven minutes. No, I will not try that endeavor again.

These people did not start being able to do these things. They had to start from somewhere. Like the rest of us, Dean had to learn to crawl, then walk, and then run. He began running home from kindergarten and took up running for fun. He is just an ordinary man from California who does extraordinary things.

David’s mighty men may have been great warriors, but many, if not all of them came to David when he was hiding for his life in the Cave of Adullam. They were in distress, in debt, and/or discontented. They were ordinary people.

Most of us can relate to their problems. Stress may overcome us. Our debt may be overwhelming. We may have become bitter because of things that have occurred in our lives. These things can hold us down and imprison us from doing anything great with our lives.

Our past often holds us back. Sure, bad things will happen. However, you must decide to let it go.

These men put their trust in David as their leader. David chose God as his leader. When you trust God, nothing will be impossible for you. One of our biggest problems is that we do not want to let go. We grow comfortable in our misery. We may even like having something about which we can complain. How can we move forward if we stay in the past?

Regardless of where you have been, you have a bright future if you do not let the past hold you back. Let God take your pain. You must give it to him, never to take it back again. Trust God to get you through your problems. Follow his wisdom.

When you quit looking at your problems, you may be able to be a great warrior to save someone else. Look to see what good you can do. Feed the hungry, visit the lonely, or volunteer to make a difference in someone’s life.

Joy versus Happiness

While my grandson was still in the hospital after his birth, my wife and I had the privilege of babysitting my granddaughter.  At only two and a half years old, she is sweet, funny, and adventurous. She loves wearing dresses, fixing her hair and playing rough. She knows what she wants and is not bashful in telling you what she does not want. Any grandparent can tell you all about their grandchildren and are more than willing to do so. My favorite thing to see on her face is the joy.

Is there anything better to see on a child’s face than joy? They do not need a lot. The small things bring them joy. My granddaughter loves to swing. When I take her to the park that is the first thing she wants to do. She wants her G-Pop to push her on the swing. Her face lights up. Her mouth opens wide with a smile. That smile turns into a giggle and then a laugh as I joke and push her on the swing.

It is harder to see the joy on an adult’s face. We get so busy with the things in this world that we forget how to be joyful. We stress. We overwork ourselves. We focus on the big things. We spend money to find happiness only to find that joy cannot be purchased. Some people confuse happiness for joy, but they are not the same thing.

“Joy and happiness are wonderful feelings to experience but are very different. Joy is more consistent and is cultivated internally. It comes when you make peace with who you are, why you are and how you are, whereas happiness tends to be externally triggered and is based on other people, things, places, thoughts, and events.” - Psychologies

I remember times when I was happy because of things that were happening around me. Friends or family were gathered, the Saints won the Super Bowl, and the purchase of a new home or car all made me happy If and when these things happen again, I will be happy again.

 I remember when I truly gave my life to my heavenly Father by putting my trust in his son, Jesus. A joy came alive in me. This joy was something different from happiness. It was something that I would have regardless of what was happening around me. Joy is not dictated by my circumstances. Chaos can be happening all around, yet joy is still sustainable. I know who I am. I know to whom I belong. I am at peace and am full of joy.

I know that joy can be stolen from you. I ran into an old friend who had retired and told me I must have gotten married. I told him I had recently married my wife but asked how he came to that conclusion. He told me that it was because as we spoke, nothing used to bother me. Things would roll off my back. In the few minutes we spoke, he could tell that I was carrying stress. Something was stealing my joy. He was right. I had lost my joy. No, my wife did not steal it from me.  My focus on taking care of my family’s needs and responsibilities became a burden that took away my joy. I love my family. I love taking care of my family. The problem was not my family; it was my allowing the stress to overpower my joy.

I made a conscious effort to take back my joy. I realize that my responsibilities continue, and I will not allow hardships to overcome my joy. I have people that ask how I can still smile through all the hardships I have endured. It is because of my joy. My joy was a gift from God. I hold that precious gift dear. There are times I must remind myself of that joy, but when I do, it sustains me. 

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10 

Jury Duty Day

Some people enjoy fulfilling their civic duty with jury duty. However, I do not know any of them personally. My wife is definitely not one of those people. Nevertheless, it was her turn once again to serve.  

The problem with jury duty is that it throws everything out of whack. It puts your normal life and routine on hold. You are responsible for changing everything to accommodate the courts. Babysitters, transportation, and rearranging schedules are all a part of this civic duty. I have had jury duty in all three parishes in which I have lived. There seems to be nothing worse than sitting in a room for hours with complete strangers waiting for the clerk to call your number. Getting questioned means more than a one-day commitment is possible. Sometimes it could take weeks or even longer if selected to sit on the jury. 

Fortunately, this was not my turn to serve. It was my wife's service. 

However, I did have to make some changes. With only one car, I had to make sure she was able to get there. I took a vacation day from work and spent the day in the area the courthouse is located. My second job scheduled me to work that evening, so I made sure my son was available to pick her up if her time was longer than anticipated. 

I was not about to just sit there and do nothing. I also did not want to drive home in case she finished early. With jury duty, there is no timetable established for the day. Many feel like a hostage. 

While my wife served, I decided to explore the town. I ate breakfast at a nice coffee shop. I visited a historical general store, a trading post, and an interesting yet peculiar art museum. I brought lunch to my wife when she called. Shortly after lunch, she was free to go for this particular day. My day was in stark contrast to my wife's day. I was at peace. She was ready to escape. 

As I reflect, I see the simple things in life that make it enjoyable. It is easy to go through life and miss the fascinating things that are out there. Our minds get lost on the big things. Many times, the big things cause us stress. The simple things can bring us refreshment and relaxation.

We recently purchased some patio furniture. I forgot how calming it is to watch the birds, the squirrels, and the sunset. I enjoy the quiet. We all need to enjoy the things that are out there. Some work too hard and miss everything, including their children growing up. Step back. Smell the roses. Enjoy your favorite beverage while relaxing from the stress of this world.

Stress is always available, but so is peace if you take the time to search for it.