Show All » 2009/08 » Lessons from my Weaknesses - Part 2 of 3
Sunday, August 16, 2009Lessons from my Weaknesses - Part 2 of 3
I would like to share with you a lesson I learned from the waves at the beach…
Three weeks ago, I was at the beach recording a video of the waves. While enjoying my Discovery Channel moment, I heard a voice telling me that the waves were similar to my problems. I paused for a while and looked around to make sure that I was still alive! I wanted to be sure that I wasn’t just hearing things.
After realizing that I was still breathing, I reset my camera to record more videos, but then I heard the same voice again. It said, "Allen, these waves are similar to your problems." I shook my head to make sure that I wasn't dreaming when I suddenly heard a loud voice behind me saying "picturan mo naman kami" (take a picture of us). This snapped me back to reality.
It was the voice of my lovely wife. I then realized that I was still very much alive.
After the photo shoot, I returned my camera to the shade and went back in the water. While enjoying the waves, I heard the same voice again. This time, I knew that God was telling me something that I would now like to share with you.
The waves of the beach are similar to our problems.
What are their similarities? Problems, like waves, come in different sizes. They also never seem to stop coming.
Playing in the waves, especially with my wife and my two boys, was a blast! When we saw a big wave coming, we warned each other. When the wave came, we either went over it, under it, or faced it with a big splash.
The big splash is the most fun of all three. However, a lot of balance and effort is required when you do the splash or else the wave can roll you over and knock you out of balance and before you know it, another big wave immediately follows to wash you out again.
Just like problems, when you know it's coming, you could give a heads up to the people closest to you so they also become aware that it's coming.
When it comes to you, you could either go over it, under it, or face it head on.
Some people prefer the first two options. These people want an easy way out. Don't get me wrong, but who doesn't?
If it is a life and death situation, the first two are probably the best option. Moses, when he was faced with a life and death situation after killing an Egyptian guard ran out of Egypt. (Exodus 2:15)
If it is not a matter of life and death, fleeing from the problem is not a solution. Ignoring the problem or placing the blame onto another person is not a solution, neither is hiding your problem. The only way to solve a problem is to face it head on.
Face it with courage and solve it with determination.
If your problem is too big for you, ask for help. Pray!
Some of us are scared to ask for help because others may think that we are weak. Do you think "others" will solve your problem?
Change your way of thinking. That is simply pride - the very last thing you need to solve your problem.
My friend, when we hide behind our pride, we become a victim of self-deception.
Do you think that if one of my sons tumbled after the wave washed him out and I saw that he was unable to get up, would wait for the second wave to wash him out before I helped him?
Of course not! Even if I don't hear him asking for my help, I would swim as fast as I could towards him and grab his hand to assist him.
Now, if a sinner and an imperfect father like me thought that way, what more would we expect our heavenly Father to do if he saw us being washed out by our problems?
Do you think that God would be far from us while we are being crushed by our problems?
Of course not! He is always there at our side extending His hand.
But the question is, are we willing to reach out for His hands? Do we acknowledge His presence when we are faced with problems?
Oftentimes, we think we know everything and we don't need anybody's help.
That was my third weakness!
Have you ever been in a situation where someone was trying to teach you something, or perhaps they wanted to extend their helping hand, but you turned your back, walked out and said, "Thanks but no thanks?"
These words were my favorite lines.
"I don't need advice" - too much stubbornness.
"I can handle this myself" - too much independence.
"I don't need your help, thank you" - too much self reliance.
Forget the easy way. Forget the best way. Forget God's way. I'll do it my way!... just like the national anthem of karaoke parties!
I always believed that experience was the best teacher. Unfortunately, your own experience is not enough to provide you with everything that you need to know. You will always learn new things from other people even from the ones you least expect it from.
How did I overcome this weakness? First, I taught myself to be humble. Second, I taught myself to allow myself to be taught by others.
In the old days, I loved to say to everyone, "Watch and learn." Now, I only say these words to myself especially when someone is trying to teach me. Believe me, it works like magic!
I develop my knowledge by reading inspiring and motivational books for personal, financial and spiritual growth. I make sure that the books I read give me a positive and balanced mindset thus developing a strong foundation for both my faith and finances in order to be able to face any obstacles in life; applying the wisdom and knowledge I acquired in both areas.
Let's move on to the next - Procrastination.
Maybe I'll do this on my next blog, or maybe my next, next blog.
I'm still young and I have plenty of time... gotcha!
We desire to be blessed with spiritual and material blessings, yet how often do we ignore opportunities when they are in front of us?
We always wait for an opportunity to come by but once it's here, we procrastinate.
Opportunity never waits for us.
When opportunity is here, it's here. You can't say, I'm busy right now, I have other business to attend to, or I'll think about it, I'm not yet ready and so on...
Even Jesus Christ was firm to his would be followers. In the scriptures, when the people decided that they wanted to follow him, they too had a way of trying to put off an opportunity by saying, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:61-62)
Procrastination urges us to delay our acceptance.
Procrastination is not difficult to conquer once we are aware that we have it.
I believe that none of you are willing to allow a robber to break into your house especially once you've caught them in the act of breaking in. You would do everything in your power to drive them away. Your action may be to call 911 immediately and lock your rooms so they couldn't escape.
The same goes with procrastination. At the first instance you become aware of this behavior and you start to feel that you are being robbed with the blessings that are meant for you, overcome it with determination! Call for help and isolate that behavior in your mind, then crush it!
Opportunity comes to all of us but it's up to us how we make them or break them.
Procrastination is often influenced by the opinions of other people. Most of the time, they are the people closest to you. I'm not saying the people closest to you always gives you the wrong advise but if you think about it, they think they are trying to help you by always giving you advice in whatever you do. Oftentimes, we fail to take opportunities because of their opinions. We allow gossip and the influences of others do the thinking for us.
Arriving at a decision is the hardest part.
If you need facts to arrive at your decision, acquire these facts quietly. Don't let others know your intention that way they cannot influence your decision. Listen to them as much as you can and let them talk or even brag about themselves, but remember your objective is to get information and not to compete with them. If you compete with them, you will loose the opportunity to acquire the information you need, or worst they will end up being your ultimate decision-maker.
This is why it is important to select the people whom you want to share your secrets.
Next week, I will share my last two weaknesses. I will tell you how I select my friends whom I want to share my secrets.
My wife is an exception... of course.
God is great!
Posted By: Allen Espejo @ 8:18:57 PMGo back to top to Post or View Comments
