It’s been a tough week! Storms spawned by both Man and Nature dominated so much of our time, actions, thoughts and prayers. We were eye-witnesses to both the worst and best of each and, while our perception of any event that impacts us daily, weekly or yearly is measured by our proximity to the event, within the dreaded eyewall of any adverse or negative action there always awaits a heroic positive reaction.
Pondering this past week in preparation for the landfall and aftermath of Hurricane Ida, negative thoughts were permeated by the memories of the damage wreaked by so many past storms. But, like the rays of sunshine that eventually break through the darkest clouds, was the positivity of the overwhelming outpouring of post-storm support sure to come for those negatively impacted by those who weren’t.
While we all need to be conscious of negatives we face so that we can be prepared to avoid or minimize their impact, we should never overlook the positives that surround us every day. It is all about having the proper perspective. We gain that by not judging too quickly or too narrowly.
The following lyrics from a tune penned by Johnny Mercer in the early 1940’s amid the swirling storm clouds of World War II is an excellent reminder of this week’s Inspiration message:
Gather ’round me, everybody
Gather ’round me while I’m preachin’
Feel a sermon comin’ on me
The topic will be sin and that’s what I’m agin’
If you wanna hear my story
Then settle back and just sit tight
While I start reviewin’
The attitude of doin’ right
You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between
You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium’s
Liable to walk upon the scene
To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do just when everything looked so dark?
(Man, they said “We’d better accentuate the positive”)
(“Eliminate the negative”)
(“And latch on to the affirmative”)
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between (No!)
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between
(Ya got to spread joy up to the maximum)
(Bring gloom down to the minimum)
(Have faith or pandemonium’s)
(Liable to walk upon the scene)
You got to ac (yes, yes) -cent-tchu-ate the positive
Eliminate (yes, yes) the negative
And latch (yes, yes) on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between
No, don’t mess with Mister In-Between
IT TAKES BUT ONE POSITIVE THOUGHT WHEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE TO OVERPOWER AN ENTIRE ARMY OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. – ROBERT H. SCHULLER
Have a Positively AWE-Full Weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque