When you got out of bed this morning did you sing “O What a Beautiful Morning,” or did you sing “Make the World Go Away?” Does it seem that everything is coming apart at the seams? If so, you probably have a case of the blues. Some days you are on top of the world; other days the world is on top of you. It is when the world is on top of you that you will have the blahs. You will feel helpless, hopeless, humorless and hurt.
All of us have lived on this street at one time or another. People have different names for the experience. The psalmist called it “the depths.” Apostle Paul called it “losing heart.” A poet called it “the dark night of the soul.” Psychologists and psychiatrists call it “depression.” Lots of people call it “Monday.”
When life comes apart at the seams it leads to negative thinking. I suspect that even the nationally known Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, author of several volumes built around the theme of “The Power of Positive Thinking,” had some days when events did not work out very well. If he did have days when his thinking was negative rather than positive, I wonder if he had to check into a motel under an assumed name.
What is the best way to battle the blues? First, you must realize that you are human, and all humans will have some difficult days. Knowing this, you can prepare for them before they arrive. Unless you are Superman, and don’t have any kryptonite around, there are going to be days when nothing goes right.
When Muhammad Ali was in his prime, about to take off in an airplane, a flight attendant reminded him to fasten his seatbelt. He brashly retorted, “Superman doesn’t need a seatbelt.” She quickly replied, “Superman also doesn’t need an airplane to fly.” Ali fastened his seatbelt.
Charles Lowery tells the story of a pastor visiting a hospital ward for the terminally ill. While he was there he asked three patients what they wanted said at their funeral. The first one said, “Tell them I was a family man.” The second one said, “I would like it said that I was a loyal husband.” The third one said, “At my funeral I want the first person who looks down into the casket to exclaim, “Hey, everybody! I saw him moving!” Even though he was fully aware he would soon die, he had not lost his sense of humor. He had not thrown up his hands in defeat. He refused to sing the blues.
I read some years ago the story of a time when the devil decided to put his tools up for sale. On the date of the sale he laid them out for public inspection, each having been previously marked with its sale price. They were a treacherous lot of implements – hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, lust, lying, pride, etc. Laid apart from the rest was a harmless-looking tool, well worn, and priced very high.
What is the name of that tool? asked one of the purchasers, pointing to it. “It is discouragement,” the devil tersely replied. When asked why he had it priced so high, the devil replied, “Because it is more useful to me than any of the others. I can pry open and get inside a person’s heart with that, when I cannot get near him (or her) with the other tools. Once I get inside, I can make him (or her) do what I choose. It is badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since few people know it belongs to me.”
When you have days when you are battling the blues, think of the tea kettle. Though it is up to its neck in hot water, it continues to sing. But the most important thing you should remember is to not give up. Instead, look up, grow up, get up, and get busy doing something worthwhile for others. It washes the blues away.
Try it! It works!
The Paper Pulpit 