Thumbs Up!

In 2007, a movie came out called “Wild Hogs.” It featured a cantankerous bunch of middle-aged fellas who liked to ride Harleys and wanted to take a road trip to get away from reality and the cares of this world.  These four fellas decided to go on a road trip and try to recapture a little of the glory days they once had.

One of them, Dudley Frank, was quite the lovable guy.  His sunny disposition and ability to look for the good when things weren’t always going great endeared himself to the audience.  For instance, Dudley often found himself in scrapes or had things happen to him that most of us would have cried over.  But not Dudley.  He’d call out “I’m okay,” rub his tender part that had been jabbed, smile, and just keep going.

There’s another fella I know that has this type of personality.  When life hits him, he doesn’t rant and rail in response.  Nope.  Instead, he calls out “I’m okay” before the words “Are you alright?!” can even be spoken.  He even takes it one step further.  He holds up the universal thumbs up finger to let all know that he is indeed fine.

Oh sure.  He hurts.  He has scrapes, scars, and quite a few bruises.  He probably in all honesty has landed on his rear more times than Dudley did (remember this quote from him:  “It’s okay.  I hit my butt!”).  He also has been attacked more times from his brothers (whether blood ones or spiritual ones, I’ll let you ponder on that one) but because he has grown up in this atmosphere, this type of behaviour is not unusual for him.  Rather, it’s the norm.  He is used to being battered about, pushed aside, knocked over when he’s in the way (even though he had no clue he was impeding another’s progress).  Because his exposure to the ways of the world often include physical pain and unfair treatment, he goes on.  With a smile.  With a thumbs up gesture to let us know he’s okay.  It’s what he knows and while that does not make it right, he doesn’t know differently--yet.  

His response is such a testimony to me.  He doesn’t realize how his acceptance of bad things happening to good people touches my soul.  He has no clue that his happy demeanor makes me look inwardly and question my own often poor choice of responses when I am getting walked on and stomped on and kicked around.  I’m more of a milker; more of one who cries and lets the whole world know I hurt, that I’ve been done wrong, and that this situation is unjust and unfair.  Hopefully I’ll get to tell him one day.

In conclusion, our attitude determines our outlook.  We can cry over spilt milk or clean it up and get some more.  We can misuse the Golden Rule and do unto others as they first did to us and seek retribution and tell ourselves it’s the right thing to do.  We can burrow in our self-pity and make others beg for forgiveness for the slightest slight.  Or...or we can go on.  We can accept their poor behaviours.  We can acknowledge the pain we feel with a muttered “Ouch!” in disgust as my muse for today’s blog does.  And then, with our thumbs proudly held high, we can go on, determined to not let this thing get us down, to show before being asked that we’re fine, that we’re not defeated, not going down over a little infraction.  We can.  Will we?

Let’s pray!

2 Corinthians 4:17 tells me “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  Father?  Thank You for the reminders You send my way, the examples You show me through people that exhibit Your words.  Yes, life can hurt and some things are harder to get over than others.  Sometimes the hits just keep coming and it’s hard to stand, hard to not cry out, hard to not demand justice.  

Lord?  When those times come--especially out of nowhere!!--remind us that they are indeed temporary.  They won’t last.  They might leave their marks and yes, they might hurt for a while.  But just a while, Lord.  In the grand scheme of things, this life is a vapor.  May we Your children leave a sweet aroma behind rather than a stench of bitterness is my prayer for us all today.  In the sweet name of Jesus Christ I pray this.  Amen.