Guts, by ACHUCKAllen
We tend to use the term GUTS when referring to an athlete, business leader or maybe even a politician.
But I’ve watched people endure horrific, Job-like pain in this life that would crush those same athletes, leaders or politicians.
I’ve watched a marriage collapse as a spouse has been “found out.”
I’ve seen, up close, the gut-wrenching pain of hearing the words “you have stage four cancer.”
I’ve been there and experienced the sting of children breaking their parent’s heart.
Those things require GUTS! I’ve found that GUTS are found in the day by day faith that the Divine is somehow carrying us through the pit of pain.
In my personal experience, and in the lives of folks that experience ultra-painful experiences, it takes GUTS to simply get out of bed and take a shower.
And then I turn on a radio or television and hear people with first-world problems screaming at each other in the most hateful ways imaginable. These aren’t just talk-show shock jocks. These are folks in some of our country’s highest offices. These are folks leading our country, and often leading our churches.
I want to scream STOP IT! But then I would simply join the chaotic chant of pitchforks and foolish rants.
I offer this simple thought.
Instead of getting sucked into the reckless rant that is intended on proving me right, what if I were to seek someone in the midst of their Job-like season of pain and served them, helped them, or offered grace and mercy to them?
By the way, if you are wondering if I am describing a job where you work or the biblical character Job, that experienced great sorrow, this might be exactly what you need to be reading today.
Faith-filled GUTS is required to walk away from the rant. A commitment to a better way of living takes GUTS. Showing our kids that loving people different that they are takes GUTS.
My friend, I am suggesting that the most GUTSY thing you will ever do is to allow the Divine to lead you into serving over screaming – loving over lashing out – caring over criticizing and solving problems over simply shouting about them.
A Prayer for GUTS – Lord, would you give us GUTS to trust you more? Lord, please hear our prayer and direct us to lead with your kind of GUTS. Cause our lives to be turned toward Your direction of what matters most when You said, “love God and love others as yourself.”
—AChuck
