The Age-Old Battle of Good vs Evil: Which Truly Prevails

Les Misérables

Lord of the Flies

Dune

East of Eden

The Never-Ending Story

Throne of Glass

The Screwtape Letters

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Way of Kings

The Bible

This collection of remarkable stories, though penned by various authors and exploring different themes, all revolve around the same narrative: Good triumphs over Evil. Light conquers Darkness. It is the timeless struggle found in epic tales, diverse religions, and even inspirational TED Talks. It's David versus Goliath, Aelin Galathynius against Valg King Erawan, Frodo versus Sauron, Jean Valjean against Javert, The Grinch versus Cindy Lou Who, and Kaladin against Sadeas. These are the stories we grew up with, offering us hope as we navigate our own life journeys. Yet, there are times when we are so overwhelmed by the Darkness that we forget the hope.

For years, I've tried to remind myself to always choose life through my words and actions. Viewing situations from different angles typically prompts a different, more life-affirming response. However, there are days when I get caught up in endlessly scrolling through social media or YouTube videos. I end up indulging in negativity, judging others from a biased viewpoint while criticizing them for judging me. I'm fully aware of the irony in that. I can always sense when I've spent too much time caught in the doomsday scroll. My mindset becomes negative, my words turn sharp, and I feel both physically and mentally exhausted. It's clear that choosing death will never lead to life. Although it seems obvious, we need to remind ourselves of this frequently.

Recently, I encouraged some people never to give up, reminding them that life often presents situations that tempt us to escape and quit. However, if we stay the course, our determination will nurture the seeds we've planted until they grow into unshakable oak trees. The next day, I faced the same challenge I had warned them about, and I had to make a decision. Feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or uncertain about your strength to continue is natural. That's not the problem. What truly matters is how you act during these moments. It's okay to experience these feelings, but it's not okay to dwell on them, as doing so will plant seeds of doubt, bitterness, insecurity, and hopelessness. I chose to pause, meditate on gratitude, and sit in silence to listen. And guess what? The answers came. As one of my favorite songs says: I threw off despair and put a garment of praise on. (Everything is Changing Now by The Belonging Co) Instead of allowing seeds of negativity to be planted, I nurtured the seeds of life that had been dormant. Suddenly, I had the energy to complete tasks, set goals, and get organized. Being able to clearly see what was before me and focus on that instead of constantly looking behind at missed opportunities, I had renewed drive and the ability to move forward.

This post has taken me months to complete. Not because I was lazy, but because I needed to sit in this space for a while. There were so many thoughts, both good and bad, that I wanted to put them down in a way that showed vulnerability and, at the same time, brought encouragement to the reader. Learning lessons about serving others first with no agendas while struggling with keeping myself healthy mentally and physically, knowing when to build a boundary to protect my journey, making sure to take time to stop and rest while maintaining commitments, and staying present for those around me has been a full-time job this year. And I'm sure many others are experiencing the same thing. Here's one thing I learned. It has to do with the word linger. This is where we either choose life or choose death. You've seen me quote, "what you meditate on, you empower," several times in my posts, and that is exactly what I am referring to. Where do you linger?

One of my favorite examples of lingering in the right way comes from the story of Moses and Joshua. In Exodus chapter 11, verse 11, Moses was in the Tent of Meeting, where God spoke to him face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Afterward, Moses left and returned to the camp, but Joshua remained. Why is this important? Because we often go about our routines, completing tasks and handling business, without considering what we are planting, watering, and nurturing. By taking time to maintain the soil, remove weeds, and provide nutrients, we allow life to flourish. Ignoring the critical, judgmental attitudes we develop means we are nurturing negativity in our lives and those around us. Furthermore, it's crucial to assess the environments, mindsets, and people we surround ourselves with. The saying, You are what you eat, or bad company corrupts good character, holds true. Those you spend the most time with will shape your future. What you watch, read, and listen to will influence your thoughts and speech. Lingering too long at the dessert bar will affect your body. Allowing yourself to dwell on self-destructive thoughts will lead to depression and hopelessness. It is extremely vital that we pay attention to what, where, and with whom we are lingering.

When I find myself in situations where I feel overwhelmed or easily irritated, I need to take a moment to pause and reflect. It's not always simple. I feel like sulking and dwelling on my misery. But then my body starts to ache because everything is interconnected. Sometimes, it feels like I've attended a very cheap all-you-can-eat buffet and tried to get my money's worth. Does anyone ever truly feel like they've eaten that much? However, when we absorb so much negativity and destructive influences, it leads to physical pain. The smart approach would be to prevent that from happening, yet we often repeat the cycle. We linger at the patisserie window until we finally succumb to that rich, chocolate dessert. We hover outside the bar, aware that our recovery is at risk, until we give in. We linger in our temptations for so long that we can't resist the craving and eventually surrender.

A solution exists. Begin and conclude each day by cultivating gratitude, expressing thanks for future events and past experiences. Acknowledge your shortcomings and allow yourself the grace to restart. Schedule moments throughout the day for rest, reflection, and renewal. Be attentive to opportunities for learning, development, and growth. Pay attention to the little things, as they are seeds. Understand when to plant and when to discard. Recognize when to water and when to uproot. Know when to harvest and when to let things grow. Then, begin the next day again. Keep moving forward. Reflect on the past, but do not linger.

Until Next Time,

DJ