Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Defeated
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” ~ Maya Angelou
Last Tuesday’s derecho really took the wind out of my sails. I was breezing right along there briefly. I retired at the beginning of July and had a wonderful 13 night transatlantic cruise. I got back from the cruise and started to get settled into this new thing called retirement. And then the derecho changed everything.
None of us likes to be uncomfortable. The levels of uncomfortability I felt, though, really exceeded anything I have ever experienced before. I remember huge blizzards in my youth and hot, hot summers. But to be deprived of power for almost a week in heat and humidity, that really pushed my limits. Having had my heart damaged many years ago by a virus, the heat throughout the day and night really took its toll on me. Saturday night, I felt at the point of breaking.
We may encounter defeats, but Angelou reminds us that we should never be defeated. I have to admit that I came close to shouting “uncle!” It is in those times, though, that we have the opportunity to find God in deeper ways than when everything is going for us.
I have said in many a homily that when things go our way, we often act as if we don’t need God. We tell Him to go ahead and deal with someone else, we’ve got things taken care of on our own. How far from the truth can that be!
This past week’s experience has been incredibly painful for many of us. I can only hope that, in the process, you have had the opportunity to draw closer to God. He really is there. He really does care. We just need to turn to Him.
FAITH ACTION: Don’t let the world defeat you. Hold firm and stand tall knowing that God is always at your side.