Life is like a motion picture. Before a movie show begins, the screen is blank. Then suddenly it comes alive and unfolds an interesting story with many characters. Then when the movie ends, all those characters and story vanishes. We should regard our life in this world like a movie show with full of obstacles; for it is a journey amidst all sorts of people. We have to live amidst slanderers, gossip mongers, cheats, charlatans, thieves and downright evil and wicked persons who persecute innocent individuals. We can choose to be victims or victors, succumb to setbacks or rise above them.
Christ had to face embarrassing, mortification, and humiliating situations: When Jesus’ crucifixion was plotted. Judas betrayed him to his persecutors for 30 pieces of silver (Mathew. 26:15); Peter denied him three times saying, “”I do not even know who you are talking about” (Luke 22:57). They let him down. Yes, often our best friends and close relatives let us down like these disciples.
Jesus healed the maimed, stood for the voiceless, forgave sinners and comforted the afflicted and even received a rousing welcome with ‘palms’ (a symbol of victory) shouting ‘hosanna’ as he entered Jerusalem. He did so much good for so many people. But at his trial and condemnation there were crowds shouting “crucify him, crucify him” (Mark 15:13). But all these people who praised him and sang ‘hosanna’ abandoned him. We come across such people whom we have done so much good, but they abandon us when we face difficult problems. We also come across ungrateful people who blame innocent individuals and punish them.
Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) pleaded with God to take away his ‘cup of suffering’. He also expressed it on the cross saying, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mathew 27:46). Sometimes, when everything seems to be going Topsy-turvy for us; we even feel abandoned by God; we find our trust in the Almighty, waning and faith in God extinguishing. We even doubt about the Lord’s existence, in such situations.
Our way of looking at things may be positive or negative. Positive attitude is advantageous than negative approach. It can make a difference between a success and a failure. Here is an often told example which I put it before my gentle readers in my own words: A manager, of a shoe manufacturing company, sent a salesman to sell shoes in Africa. The salesman came back saying, “African children do not wear shoes.” This manager sent another salesman to sell shoes in Africa. The 2nd salesman came back saying, “I was able to sell the entire stock of shoes because I explained to them the benefits of shoe wearing to protect their feet when walking in the forest.” This shows the interpretation of the same situation by two different persons of positive and negative attitude makes a great difference for the company’s profits and loss account.
In life we cannot always escape the storms that hit us. Our attitude shapes our personality and identifies our destinies.
