AT THE LAST HOUR

 

John 3:16 You gave your life to give me mine. I am free, how can it be?

Why do we often have to wait until the last hour to get our breakthrough? We go round and round seeking a solution and the horizon seems flat, stripped bare. We try to write about the issues, solutions and possibilities and the page is still blank, the places we normally go for inspiration are empty. So, what is going on? Look at the situation in the Ukraine, Russia and in so many places around the world. Everyone is waiting with baited breath for the next move, holding on, hoping and praying for something good to happen. Maybe we cannot change the events that are happening to us at the moment or are not even responsible for them, but we can alter our response to how we wait during the process. Our attitude towards those around us, ourselves, our choices, values and faith regarding the things that we can do are all fundamental points of leverage in starting our break through.

In Auschwitz, the prisoners could not physically change the nightmare they were living. The writer and survivor Primo Levi could not have found a way through the suffering by constantly complaining or submerging himself in hatred, but as many survivors have recounted, in the midst of inhuman conditions and excruciatingly tough days of manual labour and abuse, he found the incredible strength to align his thinking with different values; to remember that like survivors of so much injustice, just because someone else chose to discard him, inside of himself, he did not have to give into what was happening. Levi proved by his powerful example that he could actively wait and this is the central point 'actively' waiting, not passively hoping.

As human beings, we have free will, we have choices, we have an incredible number of resources open to us even in the depths of situations that seem so terrible that there appears to be no way to pull ourselves out of the mess. Injustice is highlighted every day on the news, in newspapers and even on the journey to work. Whilst writing this, I have to admit that I feel like I am pulling a heavy weight around with me. It is difficult even to begin to put into words the depth of this suffering, but we need to try. Life is not always fair by any means as I have experienced first-hand losing my mum at an early age to cancer, seeing my dad go through cancer, experiencing health issues that have tested me to my limits and things totally beyond my control, but there is so much good that is being hidden at the moment with the chaos going on.

As a Christian, I am not blind to suffering, and I cannot explain so much of the mistreatment and pain in the world, but I know without a doubt that my life would not make sense without the hope that believing in a comforting, generous and compassionate God has brought me. We all have our sources of inspiration and support that we look to in times of difficulty and trouble. It is strengthening to know that someone else has got our back and that we don't have to have everything figured out.

So then, let's start with what you can do to help the situation in which you find yourself. Reducing the dignity and self-value of a person, physically or through a harsh mental assault are ways of quickly cutting at the root any dreams, aspirations and talents of the individual, making them feel worthless, often guilty of being the cause and, if it is a particularly subtle but nonetheless extremely aggressive and continuous attack, it can destroy the person. If you have even been bullied in your school, at work or at home and you chose to fight, to refuse the words or treatment and continue, this is an example of how you can use your thoughts and your mind to separate yourself from the situation and start making a dent in the challenging circumstances before you. You have the power to remain free and your example could give others hope and the chance to see that there is something in it that is worth pursuing. I know I have touched on it before, but as Joyce Meyers, an international Christian speaker said in numerous talks: our mind can sometimes be a battlefield. Our identity and worth are things that others as external sources cannot control unless we choose to let them. We have the choice to adopt a victim mentality or make a decision to fight through our circumstances. No matter how unjust, we have a choice to go beyond the injustice.

Having success through the way in which we wait is largely dependent on our attitude. Do we still actively test the waters even though we feel like we are living on pause, so to speak. Maybe we are considering a move, a change of job or a change in our friendship circle and acquaintances. Whatever the reason or situation, the same principle applies. How is our preparation going to achieve this next step? Are we networking, daring to ask the important questions we need to help us get a better overall picture of the task ahead? Whilst all this is proceeding, are we prepared to wait with intent, positive expectations and a good attitude in spite of the seemingly flat situation we are living?

Complaining is another key issue that can seriously halt or stunt our growth. It is so much easier to moan about the possible outcomes, get on the phone or discuss things like a broken record with those around us (I certainly know I am prone to this), and moan some more, rather than actually remaining quiet, praying or taking the time to focus on a constructive approach to the problem, reading a self-development article or watching a motivational talk on YouTube. As a linguist, I have found the talks by Dr. Filippo Ongaro, Medical doctor of the European astronauts from 2000 to 2007, CEO of Metodo Ongaro for personal growth and the podcasts on French Authentique by Joan Tekfak to be really effective in stopping this behaviour in its tracks. Acting rather than simply reacting gives us back our control instead of just being dragged through the mud by the scruff of the neck with all our negativity.

Numerous times I have been about to leave a certain situation and an opportunity has come up. On one occasion, I was having coffee and the owner who knew me as a regular client asked me if I needed a job. If we are open in our attitude, action even when we are in the depths of the waiting room is still possible. Sitting in a cafe, the song 'Stay' by Sash Feat. La Trec. that I used to dance to at college and university comes on the radio and it makes me think of how sometimes we can try to hurry things along our way, with too much forced action when maybe the idea is right but the timing is wrong. It is part of being disciplined in ourselves to be prepared to keep waiting and stay put if the option to do something hasn't presented itself or something doesn't feel right.

An active response from our side is important to guarantee that there is action behind the ideas. I am certain that the answer is around the corner, or a better option will present itself; the question is are we willing to remain where we are and keep plodding a while longer with a good attitude despite the dark horizon? From experience, the response is not always how we imagined, its form can be so different to all our well thought plans (sometimes overthought plans!) and preconceived ideas. Be willing to go down a different path and choose your battles carefully. Action is important, but so too is the knowledge that the patient wait can produce. Gather all your resources and as you pass through the different shades that life presents, remember that in the end it is not so much what hits you, but how you respond to the transition period that ultimately alters how you come out the other end.