"Do not fear the winds of adversity. Remember: a kite rises against the wind rather than with it."B.J. Marshall Adversity knows no boundaries; It is no respecter of persons. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. When adversity comes, your response is the single best indicator of how you will come through it.
My hard drive crashed. I lost a lot of data. I spent the better part of two days getting my system operational again. Business backed up and I felt the stress. I remarked to my wife at the end of the day that there are many people in the world dealing with significant adversity – far greater than losing a hard drive – and I can’t imagine the level of stress and heartache they are experiencing. I wondered out-loud how they do it. They have health problems, death of loved ones, relationship challenges, political strife, war, famine, and the list goes on. A friend of my wife’s recently suffered a miscarriage. We did not see or hear from her for months – even though we made a multitude of attempts to contact her. My problems pale in comparison to the loss of life. And yet, I can cop a bad attitude right quick. And a bad attitude can drive your little kite straight into the ground – and depression can take root if you allow it to.
I’m not suggesting that you live in denial with regard to circumstances. Emotions are real and cannot often be denied. In fact, it is not healthy to not experience a true emotional response to pain. These tough emotions have to be experienced and processed in order to make sense of life. But in the midst of the harsh realities of life, we have choices to make. When the winds of adversity blow, there must be a foundation of belief that keeps your kite afloat and guides your choices.
1. How do you typically respond to everyday adversities? Like losing your car keys, losing a sale, your hard drive crashing, or a crash while driving?
2. How have you responded to significant adversity in your life? Do you have a tendency to deny or minimize? Do you tend to allow them to drive you in to a deep depression? How can you maintain a balanced response to adversity?
3. What does your belief system tell you about adversity?
4. How do you help those around you keep their kites flying high?
5. If you need to talk to someone about the trials in your life and your responses to them, please contact a counselor, a pastor, or a dear friend today. - Jeff Faulkner