Surrender is throwing our hands up in a non-verbal demonstration of resign. It signals the realization that we know we can’t go any further, that we’re shoved in the corner, or that we’re facing a double-barrel shotgun in an Old West shoot out. People seldom surrender if there are other options. As long as the getaway car can speed through traffic, no surrender. As long as the fastest horse in the West stamps its feet under a sturdy saddle and a dusty trail winds away from the posse, no surrender. As long as we think we have other options, alternatives to what we deem less desirable, we don’t surrender. We like what we like. We want what we want, and usually that means handling things ourselves, hopeful for a fabulous outcome. We’ll cut back on sugar and hope that takes care of diabetes before we resentfully surrender to insulin. We’ll finagle with bills and credit cards before surrendering in frustration to debt collectors. We will manipulate, excuse, and ignore until it’s blatantly clear we are out of options.
We view surrender as the unpleasant, distasteful choice, but there’s a problem with that mindset. It means we’ve gone too far on our own. The robber should have surrendered to his conscious, the cowboy should have surrendered to ethics, and the diabetic should have surrendered to a healthy lifestyle early on. It’s not a matter of surrender that makes us uncomfortable. It’s a matter of WHEN we surrender. Surrendering early in a situation keeps that situation from escalating to the point where we have no other options. It is exercising wisdom and humility to step in to do what is right before pride or neglect insists on taking things to a whole new level. For instance, we stop insisting we are right and avoid a heated argument, we service our vehicle and avoid an engine problem, and we plan ahead and forego last minute stress. If we choose a life of surrender, we avoid many of those uncomfortable, no-other-option situations. So let’s take the first step in doing what’s right in life; let’s throw our hands in the air and surrender.
Tip/Tidbit: Do you need to surrender something: a habit, a friendship, an investment of time/energy, a Twinkie?
Or do you need to surrender TO something: a healthier lifestyle, devotion to a relationship, a budget, sound advice, conviction, or God’s voice?
We view surrender as the unpleasant, distasteful choice, but there’s a problem with that mindset. It means we’ve gone too far on our own. The robber should have surrendered to his conscious, the cowboy should have surrendered to ethics, and the diabetic should have surrendered to a healthy lifestyle early on. It’s not a matter of surrender that makes us uncomfortable. It’s a matter of WHEN we surrender. Surrendering early in a situation keeps that situation from escalating to the point where we have no other options. It is exercising wisdom and humility to step in to do what is right before pride or neglect insists on taking things to a whole new level. For instance, we stop insisting we are right and avoid a heated argument, we service our vehicle and avoid an engine problem, and we plan ahead and forego last minute stress. If we choose a life of surrender, we avoid many of those uncomfortable, no-other-option situations. So let’s take the first step in doing what’s right in life; let’s throw our hands in the air and surrender.
Tip/Tidbit: Do you need to surrender something: a habit, a friendship, an investment of time/energy, a Twinkie?
Or do you need to surrender TO something: a healthier lifestyle, devotion to a relationship, a budget, sound advice, conviction, or God’s voice?
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