Defeatism

As seen in the HEARTbeat and the Village Voice

“Defeatism”

            The world has way too much of it.  We carry it in our back pocket as an excuse to not do something.  It is the quickest way to not accomplish a goal.  Yes, defeatism effects our daily lives in profound ways, but it doesn’t have to.

            What exactly is defeatism?  Merriam-Webster defines defeatism as, “an attitude of accepting, expecting, or being resigned to defeat.”  Just reading this definition, all kinds of sayings come to mind.  “They were defeated before they even began.”  “Losers never win.”  And one of my favorites is from the famed football coach Vince Lombardi: “Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser.”  Obviously, Coach Lombardi did not like losing nor was he gracious in his teams losing.

            What causes people to have an attitude of defeatism?  Is it a lack of self-esteem?  Is it a lack of self-confidence?  There are a multitude of things, or should I say mindsets that can contribute to the attitude of a person knowing they will be defeated before they start.  Said in a more positive manner (maybe), this type of attitude is one that whispers they will never win!

            I must give one of my beloved coaches in junior high school and high school kudos here.  I remember him saying, “If you think we’re going to lose, we will.”  He always tried to get us to think that we would be winners, if we thought we were.  Of course, a coach’s job is to motivate his or her players to do their best.  As the new Arkansas Razorbacks basketball coach has recently said, “Give credit to winning to the players.  Never throw players under the bus in a loss.  The loss is the coach’s fault.”

            Losing is not fun.  Losing our freedoms is even less appealing.  Why do people hang on to the way they want to do life so hard?  Confusing question, but let me ask this: why does a person think they are giving up their freedoms when they give their life to Christ?  People actually think this way!  They are approached by someone spreading the Good News, telling them about Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, and they decline saying they want the freedom to live life the way they want to live it!  How sad.

            In John 10:10, Jesus spoke saying, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  Who is the thief?  Obviously, the thief is Satan, Lucifer, whatever you want to call him.  He wants to prevent people from having a relationship with the one who can give them a better life.  He lies, and he steals.  But Jesus came not only so we can have eternal life with Him, but also so we can have fuller, more enjoyable, more satisfying lives here on earth.

            It’s easy to pick the winners and losers in life from the scripture in the Gospel of John.  But Joshua gives us what our attitude every day should be: “Choose you this day whom you will serve.  As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Be a winner at the beginning of each day!