For as he thinketh in his heart...

After hearing what was probably one of the best sermons I've heard in all of my 23 years, I have done some reflection. The sermon was on self-imprisonment and the problems it causes. We all face issues of self-imprisonment. The truth is, it is destructive and tears people down. So, why do we allow ourselves to become imprisoned with thoughts of inferiority or complacency? Why do we restrict our own selves from reaching greater heights and achieving bigger and better goals? Here's your answer:

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."- Proverbs 23:7

You see, we allow ourselves to become prisoners of our own thoughts. Our heart thinks on negative things and stays pessimistic. Therefore, our heart is one of pessimism and negativity. Who wants a heart like that? I don't.

The way we think about ourselves controls a lot of our accomplishments, goals, dreams and actions toward others. If we think positively, we act positively. Sometimes though, thinking positively is not easy. However, learning how to make the best of bad situations often helps. Consider these lyrics from Kenny Rogers' song "The Greatest":



"The Greatest"


Little boy in a baseball hat stands in the field with his ball and bat
Says, "I am the greatest player of them all"
Puts his bat in his shoulder and he tosses up his ball.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down,
Swings his bat all the way around
The world so still you can hear the sound, the baseball falls to the ground.
Now the little boy doesn't say a word, picks up his ball he is undeterred.
Says, "I am the greatest that there has ever been"
And he grits his teeth and he tries again.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down,
Swings his bat all the way around
The world so still you can hear the sound, the baseball falls to the ground.
He makes no excuses he shows no fear
He just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.
Little boy he adjusts his hat, picks up his ball, stares at his bat
Says "I am the greatest when the game is on the line"
And he gives his all one last time.
And the ball goes up and the moon so bright
Swings his bat with all his might
The world's as still as still can be, the baseball falls
And that's strike three.
Now it's suppertime and his momma calls,
Little boy starts home with his bat and ball.
Says, "I am the greatest, that is a fact,
But even I didn't know I could pitch like that!"
Says, "I am the greatest, that is understood,
But even I didn't know I could pitch that good!"

You see, in this situation a lot of us would have beaten ourselves up and determined that we would never be a good batter. Instead, in this situation, the little boy turned the bad into good. Isn't he a good pitcher? We need to think of ourselves as a good "pitcher" sometimes instead of thinking of ourselves as a lousy "batter." We need to learn to see the good with the bad. We cannot become the victim of self-imprisonment. For, in doing so, we lose the realization of just how good a "pitcher" we can be!

Tonight, the measure of a man (and woman) can sometimes be found in our ability to turn the bad into good, to realize we are a great "pitcher," and to win the battle over self-imprisonment. How's your pitching skills?

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from a small town southern man.