Attitude
Attitude is always a player in the Game of Life. Who he plays for is up to us. If we place a “positive” jersey on him, he plays “for” us. If we place a “negative” jersey on him, he plays “against” us. Either way, he has an effect on the outcome of the game!
There are a thousand clichés I could quote regarding attitude, such as, “Your attitude determines your altitude,” or, “If you won’t get bitter you’ll get better,” or, “Keep your eyes on the prize,” or as The Little Engine That Could said, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can…”
There are also many Biblical passages that deal with attitude, such as Philippians 2:5 KJV, “Let this mind (or attitude) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,” or Proverbs 23:7(a) KJV, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …,” or 1 Samuel 30:6 KJV, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
There are a few “great truths” I have learned about life in my fifty-seven years of existence. The first great truth I have learned about life is that there is only one God. The second great truth I have learned is, praise God, I am not Him! And one of the other great truths I have learned about life is, as King David, I, and I alone, am responsible for my attitude. David, “Encouraged himself in the Lord.” He didn’t depend on others for encouragement, nor did he wait on his circumstances to get better to be encouraged. He just encouraged himself in the Lord right in the middle of his circumstances. He decided to be happy right where he was, and just kept on trucking!
In the Game of Life, we often have no control over the things that happen to us. We don’t get to control the proverbial cards we are dealt. We are simply required to play the hand life deals us. And guess what. Sometimes life deals us a stinking, rotten, terrible hand. It happens. We cannot control that. But the thing we do have control over is our attitude. To reference another cliché about attitude, when life hands us a lemon, we can choose to suck on sour, bitter lemons, or we can choose to make lemonade. It’s our choice!
Now, I am going to date myself with this next statement, but I am old enough to remember when television was only broadcast in black and white, and the TV set had vertical and horizontal hold adjustments. You could be watching the latest episode of, The Roy Rogers Show, The Lone Ranger, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Rin-tin-tin, Lassie, or Lost in Space, and suddenly, without warning, for absolutely no reason at all, vertical or horizontal lines would appear, the picture would start rolling, and you were forced to get up out of your chair and make the necessary adjustments. And no, children, there was no remote control. In fact, you were the remote control. Your father would bark, “Get up boy and go adjust that picture,” or, “Go outside and turn the antenna.” But anyway, I said all of that to say this – sometimes our attitude is like those old black and white TV sets. Sometimes it gets out of whack and we have to adjust it. (Ain’t it amazing that we know what it means to be “out of whack” but have no clue what it means to be “in whack?” Just a random thought! J)
I have noticed in life that there seem to be some people who relish having a bad attitude and abrasive personality. They excelled and have a graduate degree in “bad attitude.” You know them. They are in your life. They work with you. They attend your church. In fact, they may even be family members. Again, you know them. These are the people that you have learned to NEVER ask how they are doing – ‘cause they will tell you in great detail! These are the ones that when you turn your cart down the aisle at Wal-Mart or the grocery store and you see them before they see you, you quickly turn your cart around and say to yourself, “Oh no! Not today! I don’t want a dose of their negativity today!”
In Philippians 4:7-9 KJV, Paul gives us a formula for adjusting and keeping a good attitude. He said, “7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
While we cannot totally ignore the bad things that happen to us in life, Paul is saying, don’t focus on those, but focus on the good things of the Lord. What we allow ourselves to concentrate upon in life will ultimately be what controls us. Do you know why some people have rotten, crabby attitudes? It’s because they allow themselves to think rotten, crabby thoughts. They dwell on negative stuff. They aren’t happy unless they are complaining about something or somebody. And they are always the victims and they are always singing a “Somebody Done Me Wrong Song.” They remind me of the character Pig-Pen in the Charlie Brown comic strip. They always seem to have this cloud following them. And they wonder why they can’t ever get ahead and always seem victimized by life. On the other hand, there are people in life who are like a cork fishing float. It doesn’t matter how far down they get pulled, they are always going to bob back up. They never stay down for long, they think the right thoughts in life, they keep a positive mental attitude, they find a way to get back on top, and they are a joy to be around. What’s the difference? Attitude!
Again, Proverbs 23:7(a) KJV teaches us, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …” Our attitude has a tremendous effect upon our thought process. And if we think we can, chances are we will, and if we think we can’t, chances are we won’t. Our attitude makes all the difference! Did you know that it is impossible to spell the word “can’t” without first spelling the word “can?” All the word “can’t” is, is the word “can” with a crutch hung on the end of it!
Let me give you a little attitude check. Do you realize that if you’re in a room full of laughing people and you’re the only one not laughing, that just maybe you’re the one with the problem? Do you realize that if you’re the only one who is always finding fault and disagreeing with everything and everybody, that just maybe you are the one with the problem? Hey, it’s just a thought!
I close this column with the same statement I opened it with, “Attitude is always a player in the Game of Life. Who he plays for is up to us. If we place a “positive” jersey on him, he plays “for” us. If we place a “negative” jersey on him, he plays “against” us. Either way, he has an effect on the outcome of the game!
Brother Aaron
