A person’s “stance” is a valuable asset in the game of life. That can be illustrated in many ways for the word has different meanings.
It’s true in baseball, for example. A player can often work his way out of a hitting slump by changing his stance at the plate. While each batter’s stance may be a bit different, there is usually a position that is “just right” for each player.
In golf, one’s stance is crucial. The position of the golfer’s body and feet influences greatly whether that little white ball goes down the middle of the fairway or into the rough.
A stance can be one’s posture, the way a person stands. Figuratively, it can be an opinion or the position one takes on a contentious issue. In legal matters, the court may have a stance, a public position, on various issues, such as terrorism, bullying or climate change. A politician may have a conservative stance, or a progressive stance, on the issues of the day.
One can have a lifestance, their attitude about what in life is of ultimate significance. Elton Trueblood expressed his lifestance on religion when he said, “Christianity is not a religion; it is a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Stance can be described as a person’s heartfelt conviction. For example, it is my staunch conviction, my stance, that one’s inner stances are more important than one’s circumstances. If one’s inner stances are solid and trustworthy, one can survive disastrous circumstances.
What are inner stances? I will describe four which can add strength and dignity to anyone.
First, everybody is somebody, somebody for whom Jesus died. It is a mistake to dismiss a person as unworthy on the basis of appearance only. Maxie Dunnam tells the arresting story of a clerk in a posh hotel; she unfairly judged a man by his appearance. When he asked for a room, the clerk told him there were no rooms available.
About that time the hotel manager recognized the man as Pierre Monteaux, the distinguished conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. When the clerk was so informed by the manager, she quickly apologized and said, “Why of course we have a room for you, Mr. Monteaux! Why didn’t you tell me that you were somebody?”
The Maestro replied, “Madam, everybody is somebody!” With that, he left to search for a room in another hotel.
Some of us are too quick to judge others as nobodies. We do well to treat every person as somebody, a person of worth for whom our Savior died on a cruel cross.
Second, expectancy is more precious that silver and gold. The truly wealthy person is one who greets each new day with joyous expectation. Fortunately, I was married for 68 years to such a woman. When our boys were growing up and we awakened to find it raining, Dean would smile and say, “Oh wonderful! I have some great ideas for the fun we can have on a rainy day!” Her awesome expectancy always blessed me.
A friend of mine was crippled by a stroke at age 50. Though confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, she never complained. Her positive attitude inspired her friends and family.
No matter how difficult your circumstances, you can become a winner by exercising your expectancy muscle. Look on the bright side; be thankful for every blessing, big and small.
Third, the time to love is always now. No matter what others do to you, or how cruel life becomes, you can always choose to be better instead of bitter. The choice is yours. So never allow resentment or bitterness to stop you from loving those around you.
John Powell tells about two men who became wonderful friends. They struggled together through college and worked side by side in a common venture. Then one of them was hit by a car, killed in front of their home. The other knelt beside his friend, gently holding his head in his arms, and saying with anguish, “Don’t die! You can’t die! I never told you that I loved you. His dead friend never heard the words.
Take a good look at the people around you. Think. The time to love is now. Show it. Say it. My dad never told me he loved me until he was past 60, even though I knew he did. Once he told me he loved me, he never failed, each time we parted, to tell me he loved me. I was blessed to hear those words, “I love you,” from his lips until he died at age 93. What a legacy!
Fourth, never stop laughing. Laugh at your silly mistakes. Laugh with those you love. Laugh even when you are hurting. Tears can have a healing power upon the hurts of our hearts. But laughter is also a healing medicine. Every day find something you can laugh about.
If one loses a sense of humor, life is about over. Enlarge your capacity for humor and you will enjoy life more, and perhaps even live longer.
Fifth, the abundant life is a gift Jesus gives to those who love and trust Him. Ask Jesus to help you focus on what truly matters. No matter what your vocation, you can serve Jesus. And serving Jesus is life’s greatest adventure, and the most rewarding. Embrace as a stance what Saint Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Check more than your stance. Check your inner stances. Inner stances matter more; they make all the difference because they help us please God by living a life of love.