Popeye-ism

“I ams what I ams.” Popeye

A 300 lb man who has been seeking to fill the hole in his soul with food has a heart attack, reevaluates his life, finds God, and drops 80 lbs

A self-centered woman that only lives for herself with never a caring thought for anyone else wakes up with a panic attack, realizing she is alone in this world. She asks forgiveness, reaches out to others, and now lives in a world filled with loved ones with whom she finds great joy and meaningfulness.

A severely introverted young man that has a phobia of other people travels to Central America where he providentially meets some villagers in need, and meets those needs. Seeing the radical change in living conditions his small help makes possible, he then falls so in love with serving those in need that he spends the rest of his life either serving such people, or speaking to others about doing so.

What do these people have in common? Each of them experienced a dramatic conversion in his or her Way of Being.

Yet, according to Popeye-ists

I ams what I ams
This is just who I am
I'm just that way
I'm just not that way.

How often do we hear ourselves expressing such beliefs?

On one hand, I think accepting where I am or who I am at this moment in time is healthy, as I can’t get to where I want to go if I don’t acknowledge where I am. However, if by accepting who I presently am or where I am presently, I am resigning myself to my condition or situation or whatever, more times than not, this is NOT healthy.

“Hi, my name is Monte Wilson and I am x.”

Now, if x equals “human” or “Caucasian” or “I need air to breathe,” then okay. We can all agree that is what it is and it isn’t going to change. However, if x equals attitudes or behaviors or mindsets, then, I believe, I am limiting myself and God as to what is possible in my life.

What if I say, “Hi, my name is Monte Wilson and I am a fool”? (Edith, Edith, come quick! Wilson is finally admitting he is a fool!) Well, if by this I am accepting that this is my present condition, and at the same time am open to and desirous of changing my condition, good show. If by this confession I am saying this is who I am and who I will always be … not so good.

Come on, isn’t the message of the New Testament one of grace, conversion and transformation? Go read I Corinthians 6: “Some of you were like that. But now....You were made right with God through our Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God.” (v. 11, New Life Version)

I am not my behavior or attitudes … or at least I do not have to be. If I am my behavior and something occurs that leads to my changing that behavior, am I no longer myself, no longer Monte Wilson? If Popeye ceases being a “Sailor Man,” is he no longer Popeye? I think all of us could make far more progress in life, if we would learn to distinguish behavior from identity.

I think a wiser confession or profession would be, “Hi, my name is Monte Wilson and, up until now, I have been a fool.” This way, I remain open to conversion and transformation, to the zillions of possibilities available to me for other behavioral and attitudinal choices.

I suggest that you not allow yourself to say, "I am this way," or others to say, “You are that way.” As soon as you accept such labels as an Unalterable Given, as soon as you acquiesce, you are stuck in a jail created by those labels.

So, why not begin saying, “Up until now…” when speaking of your present unwanted behaviors and attitudes, as well as when speaking about others? You will be amazed with the possibilities this creates for you and your future. After all, changing your mind—which is far more than you brain, by the way—changes your behavior, doesn't it?

Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2008