"Die Trying"

February 19, 2012

An early Star Wars movie features an interesting character named “Yoda.”  My hubby and I often repeat our favorite quote from Yoda:

“There is no TRY.  Only DO or DO NOT.”

I remember soon after hearing Yoda say that, we attended a conference where the “motivational speaker” put proof to Yoda’s words.  He gathered a couple of volunteers from the audience and, one by one, stood before them with his palm out holding an ink pen.  Then he said “Now TRY to pick this pen up out of my hand.”  One man immediately grabbed the pen and held it up grinning with great pride.

“Sorry,” quipped the speaker. “I said TRY to pick it. You picked it up. You didn’t do what I asked.” The volunteer looked confused as he sat down.  Another thought he had this trick figured out.  He reached toward the pen, placed his fingers on its sides, and proceeded to grunt and groan attempting to look like it weighed a ton.  Everyone laughed.  The volunteers all sat down, and the point became clear.   “There is no TRY.  Only DO or DO NOT.”

In a recent “Pondering” I wrote that my hubby Tommy and I started a very strict diet.  Thankfully, some pounds are coming off. Some self-focus and food-focus is also being tenderly revealed by God’s gracious Spirit as we journey toward better health.   But it’s challenging.

In fact, last Sunday, my husband almost passed out in church.  He’s got a unique heart condition called Long Q-T Syndrome.  The abrupt changes in his diet and body sparked a Long Q-T episode.   Thank the LORD, it didn’t last too long, nor did he not pass out.  But a really severe episode of this condition can kill.

Later that evening, he looked at me and flatly said-- “I want to lose weight, but I don’t want to die trying!”

I went to bed with that thought ringing in my ears and remembered Yoda. “What is trying?” I wondered.  Webster’s defines TRY is “to make an attempt at” doing something. “Attempt” means “to make an effort to do, accomplish, solve, or effect.”

So if Yoda is right and “there is no TRY…only DO or DO NOT”…then trying boils down to never DOING – but only attempting to do.   “Try” is such a wimpy word, isn’t it?  “I’ll try to get there on time.”  “I’ve tried to quit smoking.”  “I try to eat right” and it usually is always followed by a “but”!  “But I might be late.”   “But I started smoking again.”  “But those cookies called my name and I had to eat them!”

The more I pondered the word “TRY” – the more I realized that TRY is all about my strength, my abilities, and what I can – or choose – to do or not to do.  What I need is help to get past “trying” and on to “doing”! 

There is a wonderful line in Philippians 4:13 that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Now that can get me past my personal, pitiful trying and on to doing.  But “doing” what?

“Try” implies a goal.  And that reminds me of my need for focus.  “The Message” says it so well in Philippians 3:12-14:

“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back.”

When it all ends and this life is over….I don’t want to “die trying.”   I want to die “doing and living” for the One who loves me most.

Thanks for pondering with me…
Mary McGuire

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 The Message
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Job 42:2

“I know that You (God) can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Philippians 3:12-14   The Message

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back.