If You throw Mud, You lose Ground...

"If you throw mud, you just lose ground...is it worth it?"

I still remember a dear brother who spoke this words to me many years ago. I was less wiser then. He was my mentor, my friend, my brother in the faith, and a fellow co-labourerer in the church worship team. These words still sticked to me till this day.

As a young man then, I was unpolished, ill-disciplined, and hot-headed. I was foolish. I resented been told what to do. I just want to tell others what to do. I was proud and self-centred. In fact, I was insecure. I challenged leadership and authority. Bad ideas. My pride and insecurity had led to my inability to work as a team, or held any leadership role, for long. When confronted or counselled by my leaders, I was always defensive and judgemental, and usually left a trail of body counts. I have repented ever since.

This crisis of authority issue led me to read a very special book called "The Tale of Three Kings". It was from my mentor. It talks about a king who likes to throw spears at others when he felt threatened or insecured. One particular and unfortunate target was a young man who will one day succeed him as the next king. However, this young man had to go through harsh and life-threatening treatments under the current mad king. One simple solution to end all this is to just yanked the spear out of the wall and ...right...throw bad. But he didn't. He knows what submission means, and gladly obeyed.

The message from the book left a lasting and deep inprint in my life about submission and authority. It drilled a strong foundation in my conviction about certain things in life today. Now, years later, when I looked back, I am thankful for the love shown to me from these people who chastized and refined me. I can see further today because these spiritual giants had at some point in my life hoisted me on their shoulders and carry me through.

Well, there are still times when I felt the temptations to throw back spears that were hauled at me. I have found strength available to refrain from that these days. I used to find strength big enough to throw back twice the speed and impact. But it is not necessary now, and I am thankful. My spear-throwing days are over.

We all move on. We either get better or worse. I have chosen to get better, and better I know I have been. God has healed many wounds in my heart over the years, and has restored my trust in His goodness and faithfulness. I am secured as a son is before his father. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.

This is not my recent encounter or experience. I have always wanted to write about this years back, when I carried my first-born son in my arms. I looked into his eyes, and then I saw my Father's heart for me. What I desire for my son is exactly what my Father desires for me. I finally got in touch with that child in me when I became a father myself. This is a paradox. A watershed point. A breakthrough. A valley-to-mountain experience.

I will end this note with a quote from Rubel Shelly. It was this quote that led me to write this entry today.

"If criticism is mistaken or mean-spirited, rise above it. Maintain the high ground when you're under fire. No victory is worth winning at the expense of picking up the mud that has been slung at you and throwing it back."

Rubel Shelly

Come soar with me :)