For whatever reason, I have lately been very interested in learning and hearing more about what I’m calling “Life-Giving Grit.” You’ve heard these stories before. The person who suffers devastating blows only to never give up and finally prevail in the end. The movie “Rocky” comes to mind. I have also been reading a couple of different books about Holocaust survivors - Wow! Some incredible stories of survival have come out of that tragedy. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Elie Wiesel, and Oskar Schindler are just some of the heart-moving stories that continue to live on.
I also have more than a couple of friends and family who are in the long-haul battle for their lives against cancer or other illnesses. I watch as they pull themselves from one treatment to the next with no guarantees that anything is actually going to work. Nonetheless, they carry on. Some of them have lived and continue to live with such grace and strength that inspires others. This has challenged me to ask, “What would I do in these situations?”
To be clear, none of us want to invite tragedy or hardship into our lives just to see if we can pass the test. But, as life would have it, many of us will be tested. I wonder how I would stand up to the test. I wonder how strong my faith and hope would truly be. How about you? How strong would you walk through the darkness?
I have taken a little time to study and observe more about these enduring characters. What is it about them that sets them apart, what traits do they have or what actions do they take to move on with such grace? My list is not intended to be the final say on survival, but rather some suggestions and ideas that maybe all of us could benefit from whether in difficult times or not.
Here are five different things I’ve noticed. See what you think.
1. The Eye of David - You’ve heard about the “tiger’s eye”. I have thought about the story of David and Goliath and tried to imagine what David actually looked like when he stepped into the ring against Goliath. Against all odds, and staring into the face of a giant, David must have had a certain “look” to him. I think of that as the look of the tiger, the “tiger’s eye”. That look of absolute focus on the matter at hand, likely to be tunnel vision, where nothing else really matters at the moment. That look is only fueled by eliminating all other possible outcomes other than a triumphant win. David could not have looked at Goliath with fear and trembling. He had to look at him with determination and faith that he would prevail.
2. “Pick Me” Mindset - They are the “all in” volunteers. They invite opportunities to walk through hardship because they have faith that something better will come.
3. No Paralysis From Analysis - We have all been around people who are terrible about making decisions. They overthink and second-guess every possible solution. They use excuses such as, I’m still gathering information or I’m praying about it, way longer than is beneficial. Instead, these people make a decision and then go with it. It may not be the perfect answer, but they are willing to live with the responsibility and consequences of their decisions. They are not afraid.
4. Problem Solvers, Not Statement Makers- They ask great questions that lead to powerful answers. “What can I do about this?” Many of us get stuck in stating the obvious. We make a statement about a given problem and then we leave it sit. “I have cancer.” That may be a true statement, but if left there, it is nearly worthless. Problem Solvers say, 'I have cancer, what am I going to do about it?’ Asking a question of self-empowerment is the fuel to get things moving. Remember, this has nothing to do with whether or not your solution is going to work. It simply means that you are not stuck and stranded without options.
5. Action Figures - Finally, people of great survival stories are people that are movers and shakers. They are action figures. They don’t sit back, they do! I’m reminded of Todd Beamer, the man who tragically lost his life as a victim on United Airlines Flight 93. The plane was hijacked and ran directly into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Todd recognized that things did not look good for him and all the other passengers on that flight. Rather than sit in his chair and cry, which would have made perfect sense, he corralled a group to storm the cockpit of the plane. The possible outcomes were not good no matter what happened, but going down without a fight was not an option. When they got their plan together, Todd Beamer was heard saying. “Let’s Roll”. In other words, it is time to go to work.
As I mentioned earlier, none of us want to be tested in such life-or-death situations, but it is only through adversity that we truly learn who we are and what we stand for. My challenge is to know who I want to be prior to finding myself in the battle for my life. How about you?
Finishing Strong!
— Merrill Hutchinson
President of Rock Solid Families, a faith based marriage and family coaching organization in St. Leon, IN. For more information, contact 812-576-ROCK.