Last week I went to see the movie “The Shack” based upon the book of the same title which I had read some years ago. There was a really powerful scene in the movie in which the lead character tells a female representing wisdom that he can’t forgive the person who abducted and killed his child.
Wisdom then asks him, “Is it that you can’t or that you won’t?” I really thought about how that question can apply to so many areas of our life, not just forgiveness.
For example, someone says they can’t change the things they need to change – whether it is bad habits, character defects, changing the things in their lives that need changing, or taking actions that we know is for own good. As with forgiveness, we need to ask ourselves is it that we can’t or that we won’t.
Most of the time the answer is that we won’t. It is obvious because we don’t even try and if we do not make an effort how do we know we can’t? Imagine how different our lives could be if we understood this and at least made an effort to do those difficult things.
How do we change an “I won’t” to, “I will?” We seek a Power greater than ourselves for the strength to make the effort. We begin to understand that by refusing to do the things that help us grow spiritually as well as emotionally, we are hurting ourselves more than anyone else.
The next time you say you can’t do something, be honest and ask yourself “Is it that you can’t or that you won’t?”
Quote of the Week
“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.”
John F. Kennedy
