When it collapses...

"This is a man with a history of duty and patriotism. Not as punch lines, but as core beliefs. Some people don't know what to do when their belief system collapses. - Colonel Issac Johnson, Shooter

I actually hit rewind when Danny Glover's character said this and listened to him say it again. It caused me pause. I reflected on so many examples that affect our world because of that reality. Some people don't know what to do when their belief system collapses.

A core belief is something we accept as true, without question, without argument. Running in the background at such a discreet level, we are usually not even aware it is there. Many times our sense of reality can get so tied up, polarized and distorted it is almost impossible to see which beliefs are working and which are holding us back. Expectations can be a belief system. But, then what we think is going to happen, doesn't.

What happens when that belief system collapses?

• People believe their work is their identity. What happens when that systems collapses?

• People believe they are worth something because of their accomplishments. What happens when that system collapses?

• People believe they are strong when don't show emotion, look like they have it all together and self-medicate to cope. What happens when that system collapses?

• People believe that if you love someone enough, they won't disappoint us. What happens when that system collapses?

• People believe if they accelerate sexuality, they will be complete. What happens when that system collapses?

• People believe if they are a good person, everything even outs in the end. What happens when that belief system collapses?

• People believe if they go to church, their troubles will go away. (Our daughter will be healed...my marriage will be saved...his addiction to alcohol will end...my struggles with loneliness and depression will vanish...my teenager won't rebel.) What happens when that belief system collapses?

Why do I give my life to what I do? Not because I don't have trouble. Not because I never mess up. Not because I think I'm better than everybody else. Not because I have all the answers. Not because people don't disappoint me. Not because I don't hurt. And, not because I'm immune to unhealthy belief systems of my own.

I give my life to what I do because I know Jesus is the only hope when a belief system collapses.

But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way,
who can't see where they're going.
I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country.
I'll be right there to show them what roads to take,
make sure they don't fall into the ditch.
These are the things I'll be doing for them—sticking with them,
not leaving them for a minute."

Isaiah 42:16

I originally published this post in October 2007.

Comments

[edwin joseph]

When it collapses, even our life will collapse.. Our foundation should be on Jesus Christ alone :-)

[Vanessa]

i love that it all goes back to our hope being in Christ and that He is our personal guide!

[Phil W.]

Wow. Great stuff!

[DC Curry]

crazy! i'm watching Shooter right now on TNT. Love that movie.

LOOOVED what you said about belief systems, so true.

[Dan Clark]

Profound! ..and very thought provoking. I hope many get to read this. You should consider sharing this with some of the teaching pastors for wider distribution.
Keep it up!

[Ginny Lawley]

When a system collapses, the person collapses under the weight of the debris. It is hard to pull them out without first moving that debris and honestly sometimes it is just so heavy and unmanageable. So as I try to be Jesus, I am trusting that He is directing me through the unknown country too.

[Barry Wiseman]

Awesome points.