Attitude, or Altitude?
I awoke from a dream which really hit home.
I was reminded of a couple of instances of negativity, and even though they seemed to be ghosts of the past, they made me see the correlation to the ever growing mindset of our society today.
Just read comments on Facebook posts and you will see the evidence.
When I was in school, my Math/Algebra teacher was a Baptist preacher.
Needless to say, in those days being a Christian was not in my lifestyle.
He didn't care for me, and it was very obvious I didn't care for him.
One day after he caught me cheating on a test, he threatened me with a zero. I begged off, and then he said something to me which I have never forgotten.
He looked me square in the eyes with a vehemence that struck more than a nerve and said, "Donna, you have a nasty attitude!"
Boom! I reeled from those words, which seemed to hit the very core of my heart.
A nasty attitude? Me?
Sadly, he had hit the nail on the head.
Through the years, my attitude seemed to be a thorn with which I fought. Even after becoming a Christian, it would raise its ugly head.
"It's not what you say, but HOW you say what you say," as I've heard more than once, attested to the fact that many times I needed an attitude adjustment.
There are some people who have a sweet, kind spirit, whose verbiage never has a harsh connotation. I've met a few of those people in my life. And to be with those people seems to give one a altitude adjustment. You seem to rise above the anger, frustration or negativity of your every day life.
One such person who comes to mind was my Aunt Georgia Hicks. (R.I.P.)
When we would visit them, which was quite frequently back in the day, if it was the weekend, she would ask me to go to church with her and be in her Sunday School class.
She taught the youth, and as I would sit as she taught God's Word, her attitude was one of such that would seem to give altitude to life's meanings.
Her smile, the glimmer in her eyes, and the love of God exuded from her to everyone who was in her presence.
Through the years, as I became an adult, those attributes only seemed to grow in her life.
I can never recall her display of anger, or hatefulness. She never spoke with a forked tongue, nor with sarcasm. She possessed a meek, gentle spirit, which made one desire to be like her.
And you know why she was able to maintain the fruit of the Spirit? Because she prayed. She didn't just say a prayer. She prayed. She had a personal relationship with Jesus, the Son of God! The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Godhead of Heaven, knew her by name, she was His, and He was hers.
She wasn't ashamed to display her love for her Heavenly Father, no matter where she was.
Her gentle spirit was easily broken; to weep before Him and acknowledge her need of Him, was a frequent manifestation.
Yes, this lady still frequents my memories. She worked a full time job in the woolen mills in Graniteville, SC, with my Uncle Frank Hicks, Mama's brother, for over 40 yrs. They're all in heaven today, enjoying the eternal bliss which God promises to all who live for Him in this life.
Her Christian ethics never wavered or waned; as she steadfastly exemplified the love of God, others followed. She left a legacy for her family which continues to woo them today.
She is the opposite of the hoards of people who walk this earth now.
Everywhere you look, listen or read, you see people with nasty attitudes.
It's easy to display nasty attitudes, because we can justify them by blaming...our childhood, our neglect, our abuse, our misfortunes, even LIFE in general.
But the truth is, there is no justification for sin. And attitudes are sin, when they affect our lives or the lives of others negatively. And just as is other actions in life, they become habits. Many times we don't even realize we are toxic in our attitudes until they are confronted.
The Bible is explicit in our conduct toward God, our fellowman, and even ourselves.
When a nasty attitude is displayed, it's toxic.
It breeds, it provokes, it imbeds itself in the mind and heart.
This dream came at a very pivotal time in my life, and I've accepted it as a brash reminder of who I am, where I am now in this season of my life, and what needs to be done to not be sucked up into its grasps again.
Thus, the title...attitude or altitude.
It requires choices, daily.
We can either be subdued by nasty attitudes which are exhibited by our surroundings; whether it be where we live, work, through tv, social media; or we can take the high road and allow our altitude to surpass the plateaus and ruts which are so common to each of us.
To let altitude supersede attitude will take continued effort.
We must realize, whether we like it or not, we are accountable...to God and to others. The extent of our humility and desire to display consideration many times won't be convenient or comfortable.
Personally, I hate myself when I allow attitudes to provoke me to say and do things which I have to repent of afterwards.
But, as long as we are in the flesh, we will be faced with choices.
Philippians 2 gives a very explicit perception of how our attitudes can become altitudes.
We are affecting lives daily with our attitudes. We can plant seeds of anger, doubt, criticism, sarcasm, ridicule, bullying, or we can plant humility, love, joy, peace, contentment, and likes...
I choose the latter!
Altitude, come take me away!
D. S. Mullis
.2016
