Garbage In, Garbage Out

If you're like me, you've noticed something strange, and at times even alarming when watching sports coverage on TV.

There is plenty of analysis that I enjoy, and would even consider sound, from a pretty wide variety of analysts, whether NFL, NBA, MLB, or otherwise. At the same time however, there also seems to be a pervasive mindset that has crept into our culture over the years.

How could it be that a player as great as say, Peyton Manning was, who was deemed universally by analysts as one of the greatest of all time at his position, was also then immediately characterized as awful, washed up, and overrated in a matter of one day? Sure his performance declined some over the years, but that was simply the inevitable result of age and injury, which happens to every player who has ever played regardless of the sport, which spawned the famous phrase, "father time is undefeated."

Manning then, after receiving the repeated, aforementioned unfair criticism, went on to use his best asset, his football mind, to combat and mitigate the descending performance of his ailing body, and wound up winning the second super bowl of his career with the Denver Broncos in the 2015-16 season. His critics then, rather than dare admit that there was a flaw in their former reasoning, were instead indeed conspicuous by their silence, and Manning and his legacy were more than vindicated as he went out on top, retiring after the super bowl victory.

One could also ask, as we see the same disturbing pattern of behavior rear its ugly head in a different sport, how could a basketball player as great as LeBron James be hailed as arguably the best to ever do it in one breath, and then suddenly be considered to be washed up after he or his team goes through a bad stretch of games?

While analysts do get paid to try to objectively criticize a player's performance from game to game, and while there may be some truth to some of their synopses, the answer, I think, doesn't actually lie in the player's overall career or performance, but in the subtly tainted perspective of the lenses through which these analysts look.

Do we even need to mention the arena of politics and its pundits? As we all know there is no worse area of over reactionary analysis, and short sighted criticism than this one. . . . Let's just leave it at that for now.

There's no other way to say it, we have become a cancel culture. The structure of the twenty four hours news cycle, by which we consume analysis and media of all kinds, has so conditioned us to be hungry for yet even more analysis, and as the technological revolution has exploded since the advent of the iPhone, we can access any news we may want, whenever we want it, on demand.

There is nothing inherently wrong with that, there is even good that comes with it. When a world crisis occurs, such as war having been declared between foreign nations, or a weather crisis within our own country's borders starts to emerge, we can all be notified instantly, which helps us to be informed, prepared, and ready for action, more quickly than ever before.

However, there is a definite downside to this instant gratification as well. THERE IS NO LONGER ANY VALUE PLACED ON BEING PATIENT, let alone tolerant.

This has gradually eroded our character as a culture, and has so conditioned us to become the spiritual and moral equivalent of petulant children.

It is no wonder that the common consciousness declares that you are either great, or awful! Or, you are either popular, or a nobody! Worse yet, you are either attractive, or disgusting! These are all very false, and damaging perspectives, the latter of which has so wounded the psyches of so many young girls in particular, that they have either developed eating disorders, or committed suicide, or even both, at a shockingly increased rate.

The most tragic part about it, is that it need not have ever been so.

There is, however, a remedy, and yes it is found in scripture! The flip side to this "garbage in, garbage out" catastrophe, is that our minds can be reprogrammed, our souls can be refreshed, and yes, even our spirits can be renewed!

Romans 12:2 admonishes us,

"2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Yes, through the unlimited and eternal grace and power of The Holy Spirit, and through the sanctifying purity and potency of God's Word, our minds can change!

There are millions and millions of personal testimonies that will abundantly confirm this, not the least of which is my very own.

Two and a half decades ago, I was plagued with resentment, anger, depression, and self-pity so great that it stretched out around me like quicksand in all directions. It seemed like every time I tried my best to pull myself up from my own bootstraps and get out of it, I would just fall back into it even worse than before. IT WAS TOO POWERFUL FOR ME TO HANDLE IN MY OWN STRENGTH; I NEEDED HELP. I NEEDED A POWER GREATER THAN MYSELF!

I found this Power through the Holy Spirit who only took up residency within me after I made peace with God by accepting His only Son, Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice that He made for me on the cross at Calvary.

Suddenly, I found that I had received a power, that had always otherwise eluded me, and after many years of consistently cultivating a nurturing prayer life, and regularly reading and studying the word of God, the spiritual, emotional, mental, and even physical dividends that I have reaped since then are beyond estimate!

The former cynicism, negativity, resentment, fear, and depression that used to conjoin together and form a dominating stronghold over my thought life, have been powerfully replaced by a deep and perfect peace that passes all understanding, a joy unspeakable and full of glory, and a sanity and soundness of mind that hasn't been remotely close to a fluke or a fad, but has become my new identity, and emotional and mental baseline for the past 24 years!

The best part now is that if you happen to be struggling with any or all of the aforementioned damaging symptoms of heart and mind, the subsequent Blessings can be yours too if you receive Christ as your Savior and Lord, and are willing to commit yourself to some daily habits and spiritual disciplines!

Start by:

1.) pouring out your heart to Him honestly in Prayer

2.) having a heart to heart with someone who you know has a relationship with Jesus, and ask them how they received that, and to lead you in a prayer that will help you establish that same relationship with Him

3.) and lastly, replace your focus, as Phillipians 4:8 encourages us to,

8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

If "garbage in, and garbage out" is the problem, then let's reverse the axiom, and do the very opposite.

Replace the trash of negative, crippling, and oppressive thinking with meditating on THE TREASURE of God's Holy Word, and watch what happens! 🙏🏼❤️👏🏼

Questions and Reflection:

What is the HONEST condition of my thought life? Is my thinking negative, cynical, fearful, and angry?

Or is it faith-filled, loving, positive, encouraging to myself and others, and hope-filled?

How often do I pray, and read and meditate on what the Bible has to say about me, my life, and God's will for me?

Do I notice any significant changes when I do Pray and read Scripture as opposed to when I don't?

Prayer:

All Loving God, thank you so much for the blessing, and privilege of being able to connect to Your Presence in prayer, and wash and renew our minds with your priceless Word!

Help us Heavenly Father, to be ever mindful of these Blessings, and to, by Your Power, only meditate on good things, as we strive to live a life of encouragement, and edification, both for ourselves and the people around us, in Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen!

I hope that this devotional was a tremendous Blessing to you today,

And, if no one else has told you today, God loves you dearly, and we are Praying for you!

Your brother in Christ,

- Neil David Vandenbergh