Negativity

Eradicating skepticism is critical to achieving personal ambitions and living a happy, joyous and free life.  Cynicism greatly undermines creative energies and productivity.  Doubt leads to second-guessing.  Faith and discipline counteract negativity.  Just as light and darkness cannot simultaneously occupy any space, faith and doubt cannot concurrently capture our attention.  Each day, it is necessary to clear our minds of negativity and anxiety.

In Mark 5:35-43, the evangelist relates the healing of Jairus’ daughter.  Messengers inform Jairus, the synagogue ruler, his daughter has died.  Thus, he need not bother Jesus any further about healing her.  Upon overhearing this conversation, Jesus encourages Jairus to discard any fear and doubt which he feels and persist in believing his daughter will receive a miraculous healing.  In the midst of despair, we like Jairus must dispose of our fear.  Equally, we persevere in faith toward of our goals and dreams.

Interestingly, Jesus takes only Peter and James and John, the sons of Zebedee, with Him to Jairus’ house.  There, they find a crowd of mourners creating quite a commotion in wailing with grief.  Jesus rhetorically asks about their extreme mourning.  He tells the crowd to stop crying because the girl is not dead; she is just asleep.  They then stop crying and start laughing at Jesus.  In response, Jesus puts all of them out of the house!  Only the three disciples whom he brought with him and the girl’s parents remain with Jesus as He goes to heal the girl.  Essentially, only the people who possess faith are left.  He removes all laughing and skeptical doubters.

Similarly, we put naysayers out of our minds.  Regrettably, we internalize other people’s negativity.  We uncritically accept insults and hurtful characterizations by family and “friends.”  Also, we catalog demoralizing memories of past offenses.  In time, these recollections erode faith and self-confidence.  Unfortunately, we allow negative people and harmful deeds to rent space for free within our minds.  We have Jesus’ example of putting cynical people out of our minds and hearts.

You recall the story of David and Goliath in which a shepherd boy who becomes the future king of Israel slays the Philistine giant.  Prior to David’s arrival at the battlefield, Goliath daily defeats the army of Israel by taunting them.  His booming voice not only penetrates their ears but also their minds and hearts.  As fear and doubt coalesces within these “brave” men, they paralyze them.  Israel’s army is unable to fight.  Yet, David discards Goliath’s snide remarks.  David faith in Almighty God yields his courage.  His belief assures him God will deliver this Philistine into his hands.

Each morning, we engage a battle with a “Goliath” of self-centered fears that continually rob us of success and joy.  Like David, we muster the belief and resolve to face Goliath.  Otherwise, fear and negativity will defeat us.  It is sad to lose without making your enemy fight.  Moreover, to be victorious, we surround ourselves with people who will fight with us.  We remove all “doubting Thomases” from our lives.  Finally, we clean dust and residue of uncertainty and anxiety within our minds and hearts.

The writings of the late Norman Vincent Peale offer a very effective practical method for acquiring faith and discipline.  First, do not panic regardless of the circumstances.  Second, get organized.  Practically speaking, obtain any necessary knowledge; arranging files, coordinating your paper work, and planning a strategy with which to fight.  Third, pray and seek divine guidance.  Fourth, think intently about the situation.  Meditation often yields valuable insights.  Fifth, apply what you have learned from all the other steps.