This weekend a friend invited me to watch a movie that was very inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but I spent much of the movie taking notes. Here are just a few things that resonated with me. I hope you enjoy.
Are you the one?
In the movie 42 there were a few people who could be viewed as “the one.” Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson were respectively “the one” as they were the first to do something that was generally unpopular. Branch was convicted to give an African American an unforeseen opportunity to play on a baseball team with Whites. Jackie Robinson was “the one” chosen because he not only had talent but he possessed confidence to make a change.
As a truth walker it can be a lonely road. There are many times when one is ostracized for thinking differently than the masses or even for speaking the unpopular opinion on a particular stance. Walking in the truth, changing the world, earning the “first” title can be a lonely road. That is not to say it is not the road in need of traveling. Are you the one that will stand up and make a difference?
One of
my favorite quotes was when Branch Rickey confronted Mr. Robinson about his hot
temper. He possessed the talent, but his temper could throw everything they
were working toward away. He went on to tell the young man, “It takes guts not to fight back. It takes guts to turn the other
cheek.”
Ouch. It
is easy to give a rebuttal to a person’s ignorance, hatred, or discrimination,
especially when
one believes he or she is justified in the rebuttal. How easy would it have
been for Jackie to respond to every racist person who thought it was his duty
to demean him and call him hurtful names like, “nigger” and “monkey”? How easy
would it have been for him to give into the provocation the others were quick
to oblige him with? It takes self-control, discipline, and knowing who your
identity and worth to keep from providing a provoked rebuttal. At the end of
the day it may feel fine for a second, but did you rebuttal accomplish anything
worth it? Turning the other cheek and choosing not to fight takes serious
restraint. Can you say that you are capable of practicing that type of
restraint today?
“It
doesn't matter what I believe it matters what I do.”
I love
this quote for so many reasons. It is synonymous with the Christian reputation
is that we
proclaim such things as being a do-gooder, having a list of restrictions, and
behind closed doors their actions contradict the initial proclamation. It
remains true on so many levels. I can say I am a believer all day long, but if
you cannot tell by my actions chances are I have missed the mark in my
lifestyle. The same goes for anyone. If you believe you are the greatest
athlete, what proof is there to back you up? Do you train consistently? Do you
go the extra mile? What are your study habits? Do you push yourself even when
you physically, mentally, or emotionally ready to quit? The same goes for
believing you are a good parent. It does not matter that you believe you are a
good parent if you are not providing sufficient actions to confirm your belief.
You Never Know who is Watching
Jackie
Robinson did not
consider himself a hero but ‘little Black boys’ playing baseball at
the local parks did. That just goes to show you never know whose life you are
affecting. Here Jackie is wanting to play his favorite sport. I am sure
he never imagined the long-lasting effect it would have on the culture of
America from that time forward. I am positive he never imagined he was changing
the world. I can almost guarantee he had no idea he would inspire future
businessmen, athletes, *ahem* presidents to pursue their dreams despite being
the first to take the road less traveled.
Many times I want to slap a polar bear opposed
to staying at home taking care of my children, finishing a degree, and pursuing
entrepreneurial dreams simultaneously. It is the inbox messages, the tweets,
texts, people pulling me aside, encouraging me, and letting me know how much I
inspire them to pursue their dreams and keep pressing to accomplishing my
goals. Keep doing what you’re doing. You never know what others take away from
your life. If you feel like you don’t have anything for people to take away,
there is always room for improvement.
“God built me to Last.”
Knowing is half the battle. I know it may sound cliché, but the quote remains true. When you know who you are there is a particular way you carry yourself. Take my third daughter for example. She knows she is a princess. She is going through a stage where she has to dress herself. Because she is two years old, let’s just say some outfits are too creative for the public to ever see. The dispute begins when I help her choose an outfit more fitting. She starts of sad or even angry. Sometimes she even cries, but the minute I remind her that she looks like a princess, she straightens up. Her posture changes. She holds her head a little higher. She begins to wipe away those tears. Why? Because she realizes she is a princess. A princess acts a certain way. She presents herself in a particular manner. She takes pride in knowing who she is.
Jackie Robinson knew God built him to last. He knew he could endure more than
many because he
would outlast them. He was built strong. He was made to have thick skin. He was
built to keep pressing despite how much opposition he faced. As an OVERcomer in Christ, you are built to
last. Situations that normally would break someone down cannot affect you the same. They build
physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional muscles in you. That rape, that abortion,
that failed test; that stone “Sister Such N Such” threw may hurt temporarily,
but it is not
forever. You were built to last. You were built to overcome the opposition you
face. In the movie there is a scene where a racist coach taunts Mr. “42” calling
him the “N” word as he goes to bat. It distracts him. It messes with his
psyche. Eventually Jackie overcomes it.
Sometimes when we're hurt we want to stay down and legitimately so but we need our team (the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) to get us up to prove a point. We can't be beat. We overcome.
Sometimes when we're hurt we want to stay down and legitimately so but we need our team (the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) to get us up to prove a point. We can't be beat. We overcome.
His
final response is in his actions knocking the ball out of the park for a home-run. He had to overcome his distraction. It reminds me of the book of
Nehemiah in the Bible. He is so driven to
rebuild the walls of his hometown Jerusalem despite the threats he received.
They were all just distractions to keep him from succeeding at the primary
goal: rebuild the walls. Make the city strong again. To prove that the city was
not weak and could not be easily penetrated. Israel’s enemies threatened to
kill him if he did not quit.
The enemy will always try to deter you
from doing what you have been destined to do. It is best to focus on what you know God is telling you
to do despite the naysayers and public opinion. Be like Nehemiah’s crew and work with weapons in your hand. They did not
let the threats deter them from the main goal: restoring the walls. Jackie
Robinson worked with a tool (bat) in his hand. Do not stop working because people are
talking. It’s their job to talk. Remember they have an assignment and you do
to. Your job is to succeed despite the challenges that come your way.
If you have not seen the movie 42 I recommend you do soon!
If you have not seen the movie 42 I recommend you do soon!
