God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me (Colossians 1).
“still” from today’s video-post
Today’s post concerns the challenge of being consistently positive in a world full with disappointment, difficulty, heartache, pain, and strife.
Or, to put the subject line in the form of a question, “How can Derek Maul justify the consistently upbeat tone of his writing given the reality of life on planet Earth?”
There’s a concern – and it’s been expressed by more than one visitor to this site – that my writing fails to relate to readers who “live in the real world;” as if the way I engage life is somehow alien, or unattainable for “regular people.”
The implication (the ergo) is that “The Life-Charged Life” is either a fabrication, or that it is out of reach for “the average person.”
EXPLANATION: So I’d like to offer not so much a defense of The Life-Charged Life as a testimony to the truth of what I am experiencing, and then writing about in this space (see “This week’s Video-Post” above).
Jesus made the following observation:“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Paul pushed the idea a little further when he suggested that those of us who follow The Way are – essentially – God’s object lesson for those who need to find that kind of hope. “Christ in you…” he said, “equals hope for everyone else.”
“FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!” (LIKE THE STONES ALWAYS SAY): My conclusion is that I have to be honest about the peace, the joy, and the vitality that inhabit my experience of this “Life-Charged Life.”
Or, as Jesus put it when someone suggested his followers needed to pipe-down a little, “I say to you that if [my disciples] would be silent, the very stones along the side of the road would be crying out loud” (Luke 19:40).
Derek – I truly appreciate your “positiveness”. It reminds me that indeed, “Life is good”, even when it is not feeling so good. Your appreciation of the beauty of God’s creation gives me pause to turn from my keyboard and look up at the trees and the blue sky and the birds. Your tales about Scout remind me of the joy I get from my dogs buddy and Kylee. Your love affair with WFPC and Wake Forest remind me how blessed I am to be where I am. And your walk with God reminds me how thankful I am to be His child. I think I speak for many when I say how thankful I am God brought you and Rebekah to us.
I think positivity really has to do with mindset. The other day I was doing a sidewalk survey for one of the papers I write for. The question I asked people was “What are you thankful for in 2013?”
Of the 8 people I asked, 5 of them immediately answered with something negative and really had to think about something – ANYTHING – positive. One apologized for almost saying something negative before repeating the question as if he was speaking a foreign language. My favorite answer? One guy just smiled and said: “Played a great game of golf yesterday.”
Things may not be going well for someone, but I really do believe response is more about mindset than circumstances. Many of us spend far too much time filling our minds with the negative, so our attitude becomes a result of the “garbage in, garbage out” rule.
Growing up my mom used to say: “Very few things in life are fatal.” Dad used to say: “There’s no substitute for enthusiasm.”
Combine the two and that’s good enough to banish Eeyore to the corner on most days.
Derek I saw your video and it made me think about things going on in my life. I could complain to you about being unemployed for three years will not. I’m slowly building up a small business in my spare time since nobody will hire a 55 year old man. I attend 11am service on Sundays, on Wednesdays I go to the evening connect groups at church to learn God’s word and his purpose for my life and Thursdays I go to a H.U.G.G. meeting where a small group of Christians get together in a member’s home to study and go over the notes we took of our pastor’s Sunday morning message. By the way, many of the church members with 3 kids and a demanding boss at work are doing this too or I would be by myself alone attending church every Sunday and being at Wednesday night connect groups. Who would unlock the doors of the church for me just because I have so much time on my hands? I am blessed to have survived a horrific younger life as a street hustler and thief. Been shot, stabbed and overdosed on drugs and alcohol. I won’t complain because I now have the opportunity to leave a legacy behind for my grand children. They have to have leadership and mentors with God’s wisdom to carry them on. Your blogs give encouragement to me and others that it is possible to move out of our circumstances and into a grateful to God loving life and lifestyle.
Derek – I truly appreciate your “positiveness”. It reminds me that indeed, “Life is good”, even when it is not feeling so good. Your appreciation of the beauty of God’s creation gives me pause to turn from my keyboard and look up at the trees and the blue sky and the birds. Your tales about Scout remind me of the joy I get from my dogs buddy and Kylee. Your love affair with WFPC and Wake Forest remind me how blessed I am to be where I am. And your walk with God reminds me how thankful I am to be His child. I think I speak for many when I say how thankful I am God brought you and Rebekah to us.
Thanks, Trish. That’s a great comment!
Hey Derek,
I think positivity really has to do with mindset. The other day I was doing a sidewalk survey for one of the papers I write for. The question I asked people was “What are you thankful for in 2013?”
Of the 8 people I asked, 5 of them immediately answered with something negative and really had to think about something – ANYTHING – positive. One apologized for almost saying something negative before repeating the question as if he was speaking a foreign language. My favorite answer? One guy just smiled and said: “Played a great game of golf yesterday.”
Things may not be going well for someone, but I really do believe response is more about mindset than circumstances. Many of us spend far too much time filling our minds with the negative, so our attitude becomes a result of the “garbage in, garbage out” rule.
Growing up my mom used to say: “Very few things in life are fatal.” Dad used to say: “There’s no substitute for enthusiasm.”
Combine the two and that’s good enough to banish Eeyore to the corner on most days.
You nailed it, Adam. I love the “Very few things in life are fatal” observation!
Derek I saw your video and it made me think about things going on in my life. I could complain to you about being unemployed for three years will not. I’m slowly building up a small business in my spare time since nobody will hire a 55 year old man. I attend 11am service on Sundays, on Wednesdays I go to the evening connect groups at church to learn God’s word and his purpose for my life and Thursdays I go to a H.U.G.G. meeting where a small group of Christians get together in a member’s home to study and go over the notes we took of our pastor’s Sunday morning message. By the way, many of the church members with 3 kids and a demanding boss at work are doing this too or I would be by myself alone attending church every Sunday and being at Wednesday night connect groups. Who would unlock the doors of the church for me just because I have so much time on my hands? I am blessed to have survived a horrific younger life as a street hustler and thief. Been shot, stabbed and overdosed on drugs and alcohol. I won’t complain because I now have the opportunity to leave a legacy behind for my grand children. They have to have leadership and mentors with God’s wisdom to carry them on. Your blogs give encouragement to me and others that it is possible to move out of our circumstances and into a grateful to God loving life and lifestyle.
Thanks for your extremely thoughtful comment, Corky. I pray that many people read your words – DEREK
We need your positive words and enthusiasm, Derek. Your daily blog and videos increase my faith and I thank you. Janice