Wednesday, March 10, 2010

"FATIGUE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL"


A friend once shared a Vince Lombardi quote with me that has served me well for many years. "Fatigue makes cowards of us all."

In times of stress, of defeat, and yes, even in moments of depression, when I needed to stop and diagnose the cause of that feeling of being overwhelmed by life, this quote has frequently provided the diagnosis--simple fatigue which exaggerates every problem and weakens every defense.

Actually,I don't really consider fatigue to a simple subject. Sure, while physical weariness can be erased with a good night's sleep or a brief escape from a daunting routine, we've probably each experienced bouts of mental and spiritual fatigue that made us soul-weary, requiring more than mere rest. I've found that bouts of such fatigue require me to examine what's going on in my life. Sometimes I desperately need to simplify and make changes, and sometimes, devils of this calibre "goeth not out but by fasting and prayer." (Matt 17:21).

Worry, work, stress, fear, illness, finances, an overloaded life, all add a drop at a time until our bucket is too full to carry and the stress spills out into every area of our lives.

I'm generally a good soldier. Actually, like most of you, I think I'm probably a clown soldier, marching faithfully along while juggling a variety of obligations. I get a good rhythm going, and then someone or some circumstance tosses another ball into the mix, and before you know it, my steady march becomes a desperate hobble with me struggling and weaving to keep everything in the air.

I'm nearing that point right now. My antidote? Start tossing balls out--the smallest and most quickly-handled first, and so on, until my rhythm is restored with the balls that must be juggled.

Another quote goes like this, "If you want something done, ask a busy person." Hmmmm. . . . not sure I like that quote.

2 comments:

  1. Laurie, I so needed that today! Thank you!

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  2. I'm glad it helped, Nancy. That quote has put things in perspective for me many times! I still need it!

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