Shake It Off and Step Up

There was a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into one of farmer’s old wells. The farmer heard the mule crying for help. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially the old mule was dumbstruck by the insensitivity of the farmer. The mule spent all his life working sincerely for the farmer. Though old, the mule still tried its best to come through with whatever responsibilities he was given. All his life he never asked the farmer anything in return for all the hard work, but he always counted on the farmer to be there if he ever needed anything.

As the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling the dirt into the well, a thought struck him. Every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!

This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him.

Saint Bridget of Sweden prayed for a long time to know how many blows Jesus Christ suffered during His terrible Passion. Rewarding her patience, one day He appeared to her and said, "I received 5480 blows upon My Body". Jesus took that many blows only to be nailed onto a cross and die; a life that began in a manger full of muck and odor of animal droppings ended on a cross, one of the most painful, cruel and humiliating punishments ever invented. Throughout His life on earth as a human being, Jesus was always surrounded with setbacks and criticisms. All through the miseries, Jesus obeyed His Heavenly Father and walked according to the will of God, by following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Looking through the human eyes, it is impossible to find glory in the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ. But by looking beyond the hopelessness in every setback and insensitivity in every criticism, and by abiding to the indomitable love of God, Jesus Christ was glorified, thus glorifying God the Father. "..., Jesus said, 'Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him'"(John 13:31).  

Most of us keep our faith intact when stricken with a blow; however a couple of blows  in a row might cause many of us to lose sight of God's infinite love. It then allows despair, confusion and shame to set in, forcing ourselves to question a God who is All-Powerful and Almighty. Such doubts may end up falsely accusing ourself as the reason for all the troubles and distress, saying, "O Lord, look at how evil I am; I am so selfish that not even you can love me or help me”. Making us to believe that God turns His back to sinners, and that sinners are not entitled for His love is one of the most efficient weapons of the devil. The truth is, God reveals himself to us through love, "For God is love" (1 John 4:8). God’s love is the only reason we exist. His power is the how of our creation and His love is the why. Whenever we find ourself discouraged or preoccupied about our own weakness and selfishness, we are actually falling into the dangerous territory. Discouragement and self-condemnation is not something that comes from the Holy Spirit. In fact, many theologians claim discouragement and self-condemnation as a subtle form of spiritual pride, which is one of the seven capital sins. When we give ourselves to discouragement and self-condemnation and allow ourselves to be weighed down by it, we are turning our back to a God who love us so much so that, "He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life" (John 3:16). Every time we fall, we must cry out to a God whose mercy, love, and power are immensely greater than our miseries and sins. Our Lord revealed to St. Margaret Mary that even if all the sins of the world were on her soul, compared to his burning love for her, they would be like a drop of water thrown into a blazing furnace. 

So, whenever you feel like turning in on yourself and being drawn into the pit of self-deprecation, simply turn your attention back to whatever it is God wants you to be doing at that moment, even if it’s something as simple as SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP. 

Trust in God's love, then face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.