Thursday, May 17, 2007
The Pursuit of Happyness
Hubby and I watched "The Pursuit of Happyness" the other night and something has been marinating in my spirit ever since. (Irrelevant spoiler warning)
During a pivotal moment in the film, the main character and his son are attending church services at a homeless shelter. The choir sings "Lord, Don't Move That Mountain."
NOW LORD DON'T MOVE MY MOUNTAIN
BUT GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO CLIMB
AND LORD, DON'T TAKE AWAY MY STUMBLING BLOCKS
BUT LEAD ME ALL AROUND
OH LORD YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THE MOUNTAIN
BUT GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO CLIMB
AND LORD, DON'T TAKE AWAY MY STUMBLING BLOCKS
BUT LEAD ME ALL AROUND
LORD I DON'T BOTHER NOBODY
I TRY TO TREAT EVERYBODY THE SAME
BUT EVERYTIME, I TURN MY BACK
THEY SCANDALIZE MY NAME
BUT OH JESUS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE MY MOUNTAIN
BUT GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO CLIMB
AND LORD DON'T TAKE AWAY MY STUMBLING BLOCKS
BUT LEAD ME ALL AROUND
NOW WHEN MY FOLKS WOULD SLAY ME
THESE THINGS THEY WILL TRY TO DO
BUT LORD, DON'T TOUCH EM
BUT WITHIN THEIR HEART
MAKE EM GIVE THEIR LIFE TO YOU
OH MASTER YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE MY MOUNTAIN
BUT GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO CLIMB
AND LORD, DON'T TAKE AWAY MY STUMBLING BLOCKS
BUT LEAD ME ALL AROUND
This made me wonder: How many times since I've been born again have I asked the Lord to remove this stumbling block or that, or to move that mountain on my behalf? Many times He has and I've accepted it as a matter of course, other times he hasn't, and I've felt abandoned. Have I not reached my full potential because I haven't learned to climb my mountains yet?
I even know what my mountain is: depression. I can count on one hand times in my life when the mountain wasn't there. Mostly, I remember an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and dread that was frequently mistaken as laziness. I remember from my earliest years trying to find ways around it - to avoid it.
Even now, I walk a fine line between the deep, black pit and the pharmaceuticals. Of course, I've asked the Lord to move that mountain. But what if my victory comes from scaling it? And how does one even go about doing that?
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Comments
Thursday, May 17, 2007 - I don't know
 Posted by MuckFootMom
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I don't know how to go about scaling instead of asking for the mountain to be removed. Especially with something like depression. Maybe it starts, like the song says, with an acknowledgement that the mountain IS there (and by God's sovereign hand) and choosing to ask for strength to climb (and perhaps direction, which path up to take?) each day?
Tell me more about this statement: " Mostly, I remember an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and dread that was frequently mistaken as laziness."
mistaken as laziness by you? or by others?
Laziness is my middle name ... except Shurleen keeps telling me it's not laziness. Confuses me.
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Friday, May 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by OreoSouza
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Wow! Sweet Lady, this is key. This is THE key.
And I thought as I read the words to that song, "Those were written for her. Just for her."
Wow Wow Wow!!!
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Friday, May 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by OreoSouza |
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And Kim, in case you look back here....
It's not laziness.
I need to do more than talk here. You are a very very hard nut to crack (emphasis on the nut! LOL), and need absolute proof before you will listen to anything other than that voice in your head that says such things...just who is that in there talking, I wonder? That's a real question. I don't know.
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Monday, May 21, 2007 - I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut
Thursday, May 24, 2007 - When laziness isn't
 Posted by Katartismosacademy
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Others. Especially by my mom who was abused in her own way. One day she got me a picture of two pigs cuddling with each other for my room because "If this place is always going to look like a pigsty, you should have some family photos up." My room was always a mess, but not because I was too lazy to clean it. I was too busy trying to find other places to be than home. And when I was there, I was either sleeping, pretending to sleep, wanting to sleep, trying to sleep, or wishing I was sleeping.
I read "Why I Jumped" last week. Scary how close I came to that lady's life and death.
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