Back in May, George Wendt passed
away at age 76. Wendt was a very
talented actor, best known for portraying Norm Peterson for 11 years on the TV
show “Cheers”. For 11 years, Norm would
walk into the bar known as “Cheers”; he would say hello to fellow patrons in
the bar. Because he was such a fixture,
everyone would react to the familiar voice of their friend with a chorus of, “Norm!” I wanted to begin with some levity today (so don’t
assume that I’m endorsing everything that happened on “Cheers”, or that I think
it’s okay to drink excessive alcohol, or anything like that). Disclaimers aside, I wonder if anyone saw
that I finally posted a new blog – after almost two months away – and reacted, “Kevin!” Hello everyone, yes, I am still alive!
Today I want to begin speaking
about some things that I have learned of late.
The year 2025 has been intensely challenging, hence the prolonged
absence. I have found it to be emotionally – and sometimes even physically – exhausting to navigate these days. Previously, I’ve spoken about health
challenges that I faced in 2023, but this year has been difficult because of a
loved one’s health challenges. To see
this person go through this difficult health journey has been daunting, and as
I say, exhausting.
What, then, is the first lesson
that I want to present today? It is
this: adversity is a powerful tool. No one likes to go through adverse situations. No one enjoys having to endure seasons of
pain, heartache and struggle. But when I
consider the adversity in my own life these past few years, I’ve seen that the
Lord has used it, to refine me.
I couldn’t help but think of the
1997 song “Tubthumping” by the group Chumbawamba. You say, “Wow, I did not expect that!” To be clear: my citing this song does not mean I fully endorse it. Actually, I had to look online to see the specifics of
this song, because I do like this famous refrain from it: “I get knocked down but I get
up again, you’re never going to keep me down.
I get knocked down but I get up again, you’re never going to keep me down.” I’ve learned that when life knocks
you down, at that moment, you have the opportunity to see the resolve, strength,
and perseverance – that perhaps you didn’t even know you had – to choose to get
back up. To choose to keep on fighting,
even if it hurts like crazy. I’m telling
you this is such a priceless gift, for which I will always be grateful.
Because I am who I am, I need to
throw in something about superheroes right about now. Cary
A. Friedman in his fine book “Wisdom from
the Batcave” writes about adversity in chapter 2. I find what he has to say instructive and
fortifying:
“After his parents’ cold-blooded
murder, Bruce [Wayne] could have easily allowed himself to hide behind a thick
curtain of denial for the rest of his life.
His inherited wealth would have allowed him to drown himself in
materialistic, mind-numbing pleasure…Instead, Bruce Wayne chose a very
difficult path. He refused – and refuses
– to succumb to despair or to embrace a philosophy of hopelessness…Many of us
suffer misfortunes in our lives. We,
too, can choose how to respond. It’s so
easy to succumb to depression and wallow in self-pity, to talk forevermore
about what might have been “if only.”… Self-pity is the easy way out.” [I’ll break in here and say that I have that
line underlined in my copy of his book!]
“The more difficult choice is the road that the Batman chooses.” Friedman goes on to submit this gem of a
statement: “Misfortune creates opportunities for personal growth, development
and refinement of character.”
I was blessed to contemplate song
lyrics that I didn’t know about, until I began composing this blog today. I decided to share a portion of them with
you, in conclusion. Back in 1995, Pam Thum released a song titled
“Life is hard (God is good)”. I wasn’t able to find why Thum co-wrote these
lyrics, but check out these raw, honest words: “‘Cause sometimes living takes
the life out of you, and sometimes living is all you can do. Life is hard, the world is cold; we’re barely
young and then we’re old. But every
falling tear is understood. Yes, life is
hard, but God is good.” Amen to
that! And I would add that I’ve
discovered that it is only when we see that life is hard are we able to fully
appreciate just how good God is.
God bless,
Kevin
