Just A Few Words - Power

Just a Few Words - Power

I WONDER where today’s entry finds you. Are you enthusiastic about where you are, where you’re headed in life, and the legacy you’re writing for those you love? Or are you in a less-than-sunny place in your life right now?

Even the most optimistic of us have valleys in our lives when disappointments rain down. We all have failings and hurts—either self-imposed or caused by others. Either way, they can leave us wounded and sometimes very negative. I was in that state one evening when we ordered Chinese.

I had been hurt by someone I considered a very dear friend. Just a few days prior to placing my order with Hunan Express, a friend had said some very hurtful things to me. I don’t think he really intended for them to sound so biting, but nonetheless, they did. I was angry. I was hurt. I was insulted. Did I say I was angry? I was pretty much outraged. For seventy-two hours, my stomach churned as I replayed the tape of his words in my head.

With their quick delivery, Hunan Express is a favorite of ours, but honestly I wasn’t very hungry. I picked at my General Chow Chicken. I pushed my rice around. I gave my egg roll to Steve. But as I read these words of wisdom on a quarter-inch piece of paper folded inside my fortune cookie, I experienced a power shift:

Dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power. —

Hunan Express Fortune Cookie

Actually, it was more like a power surge.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:1-2)

I realized at that moment that I was feeding the power of negativity by stewing over the situation, rather than addressing what I could do to turn this unfortunate exchange into a positive one. Over the course of the next few days, I researched my facts; I gained others’ perspectives; I reflected on my position; I wrote it down; I committed it to heart; I practiced it; I refined it; and, I turned what I learned into a truth that I believe will serve me well for many years to come.

Have you relinquished your optimism for negativity? It’s a power struggle that only you control.