“Sitting on a Nail…”

Although this story is told in different ways, the final lesson is still the same. Here is my version:

One day, a man named John traveled from the city to visit a small town. He decided to shop in a local store. At the entrance were two men dressed in overalls, whittling wood and relaxing in rocking chairs. Further down was an old blood hound dog, howling, in apparent agonizing pain.  “Auuuuuhhhh………. Aaaauhhhh……….”

Although he found this perplexing, he entered the store. As he was leaving, the men were still calmly sitting in their chairs whittling as the dog continued howling… “Auuuuuhhhh………. Aaaauhhhh……….”

Curiosity overcame John. 
He asked, “Excuse me, is that your dog?”

One of the men replied, “Oh, yeah, that’s Old Red.”

John asked, “Why is he howling like that?”

The man somewhat smiled and said, “Oh, that’s cause he is sitting on a nail.”

John was shocked!
He asked, “Sitting on a nail?!!  Then, why doesn’t he just get up?!”

The man stopped whittling, looked John directly in the eyes, shrugged, and said,
“He will…when it hurts bad enough…”

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All of us have nails in our lives that are poking us. Some of us have career nails. Jobs we don’t enjoy. Work that’s dragging us down and sucking our life away. Jobs that we complain about, day in day out, yet we don’t do anything about them. Managers and/or colleagues who stifle us. Recognition that’s overdue. Limited career developments. Unsatisfactory pay and benefits. Not having made a name for ourselves yet in our career.

And there are so many other nails. Relationship nails. Financial Nails. Dream Nails. Health nails. Friendship nails. Spirituality nails. Family nails. Habit nails.

Each of us have different nails poking us. Some of us have a couple of big nails that pokes us every once in a while. Some of us have several small nails that poke on and off. Some of us have multiple big and small nails that poke repeatedly. Rather than take action, most of the times we just sit and howl. Because the pokes aren’t painful enough.

Are there any nails in your life you are not addressing? Why? Is it because they are not painful enough yet?  Don’t wait until the nails really hurt before you take action. Because when that happens, that usually means it’s too late to do anything. http://personalexcellence.co/blog/the-howling-dog-story/

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The Bible tells us how to “get off the nail”:

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Hebrews 11:1(NKJV): Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV):  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV):  5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Romans 12:2 (NKJV): And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV): For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Memorable Quotes:

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

“If you want something you have never had, you have got to do something that you have never done.”

“You have got to be sick and tired of being SICK and TIRED.” - Steve Harvey

“The sooner you step away from your comfort zone; the sooner you’ll realize that it really wasn’t all that comfortable.” – Ed Harris, Jr.

“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What you will discover will be wonderful. What you will discover will be yourself.” – Alan Alda

“Don’t ask God to guide your steps if you are not willing to move your feet.”

“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.” – Mark Twain

So, get up and get moving. While you remain “sitting on a nail,” Jesus Christ endured nails on the cross for you…