“I’m not made for this.” Hold that thought….
In my family, we sort of live off movie quotes and songs. Someone says something and it spurs a song, which we’re likely to sing. Or a movie quote seems to fit perfectly into the situation, so out it comes. Some of the most common are these, maybe you know them: “You’d like to think that wouldn’t you?” “Engaged? To be married?” “Once you get past the legs they ain’t too bad.” “I trust I’ve made myself obscure.” “But it’s a talking dog!” “Toula! You should be proud to be Greek!” “We named the monkey Jack.” “So do all who live to see such times.”
Oh. That last one. We use that for any general complaint in the house, no matter what that complaint might be. It works something like this – “Ugh. I hate checking on the chickens in the dark.” (Cue the music….) “So do all who live to see such times.” It’s a very useful and widely applicable quote! And yes, It’s from The Fellowship of the Ring when Frodo tells Gandalf he wishes nothing associated with the ring had ever happened. Gandalf simply states it’s a common lament among anyone going through tough times and follows up with “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
I sense a lot of people are going through a lot of rough stuff. The world is so mentally over the pandemic, yet it still clings to us while we are still not getting a break from the other stuff that is more individualized like job, family, money, and other health concerns. Some of these things we sort of bargained for, but others are curveballs from another ballpark. And some seem to go on and on with no real way to get relief. It’s easy to say, “I’m not made for this!”
Except maybe we are! Obviously, I’m not talking about enduring an abusive relationship or passively letting things happen to us. What we are talking about is choosing what we do with the time we have. How can I be an active redeemer in the situation I find myself?
One of my go-to verses in the Bible is Ephesians 5:15-16 that states, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” How am I choosing to interact with those around me? Am I bringing people closer to Christ or leading them away? Who am I having a positive impact on right now? How can I have a bigger one?
And I can’t forget “the days are evil” part. None of us were made to take it easy. But if God has put me where He has put me in the time He has put me, then I’ve got to believe He’s given me everything I need to handle that situation. We were made for this!
If you’ve given up guessing where the movie quotes are from, I’ve got them listed below in order.
The Princess Bride
Pride and Prejudice
Hidalgo
A Man for All Seasons
Up
My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Fellowship of the Ring