Neal Pollard
When did I first know I wanted to be a preacher? I’m not sure, but I remember the day I addressed the city council in Cairo, Georgia. I was only nine. We were walking home from school. Every day, we’d make the trek from 10th Avenue across Broad Street to our house on 12th Avenue. It was a straight shot, but there was a penny candy store if you went south. A couple of blocks south, between us and the store, was the court house. Of course, every self-respecting boy looks for shortcuts. Mine was through the court house that day. It appeared empty to me, so I was singing the far out, new McFadden and Whitehead hit, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.” Just one more set of doors between me and the back door, I thought. So I burst through them bellowing, “…We’re on the move.” With that, I brought the city council meeting to a stop and in the instant before my beet-red face welled up with tears of embarrassment, I think I saw looks of irritation as well as amusement. For some reason, I was feeling really good that day…until that moment.
Do you ever feel unstoppable? Maybe you are bounding with energy, excited, or happy without even knowing why. It may cause you to sing, exercise, eat, kiss your spouse, give exploding knuckles to a stranger, or pause in grateful thanks to God. Every moment cannot feel euphoric and golden, but how wonderful when it happens.
Depression is a real malady that many people, including good Christians, experience. Some deal with clinical depression, physiological and demanding chemical treatment. However, some without such an excuse seem to have a hard time finding joy in their lives. It could be because they have conditioned themselves toward negativity, constantly complaining, bemoaning, wallowing in self-pity, and being their own one-person thunderstorm. Some seem to stand there, waiting for the lightning strike on a cloudless day.
As Christians, we are not expected to be out of touch with reality or even our own feelings. Yet, only we can choose our outlook and attitude. Isn’t it amazing that we are all exposed to national politics, economic uncertainties, sickness, disappointment, and betrayal, but some are resilient while others are resentful. Some count blessings, but others court burdens. May we, as God’s children, always focus more on what we have been given by Christ, what we have through Christ, and what we look forward to with Christ. I tell you, it will make you feel unstoppable!
