Stand Tall and Take What They Give You
From today’s reading...
“I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
my face I did not shield
from buffets and spitting.”
Sometimes the only way you can fight the powers that be is to stare them in the eye and let them do with you as they please. (Where do think George Lucas got the idea to make Obi-Wan Kenobi more powerful after his death?)
In their frantic, frenetic, hysterical effort to hide the truth by attacking you, everyone will know the truth more powerfully and clearly than if they had left you alone.
As St. Francis of Assisi said about 800 years ago,
“All the Friars…should preach by their deeds.”
(I bet you thought I was going to say
“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”
While this is a pithier “rememberation” of what Assisi said, he didn’t say it so succinctly...but the lesson is the same in both.)
So stand tall with your heels together, feet at 45 degrees, shoulders back and down, elbows pinned, thumbs along the seams of your trousers, your chin in, and eyes caged forward because that’s the best way to take the beatings from those who fear your example as you...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Now go sell something.