If you read the title of this blog post you may be thinking along the lines of what Optimus and Eeyore have to do with each other. It would be hard pressed to find two animated characters who are more different than Optimus and Eeyore. When you think about it Optimus and Eeyore are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Now I am not saying that Eeyore is a evil super-villain in disguise. But you look at the personalities of Optimus the confident, powerful, heroic leader of the Autobots, and the gloomy, pessimistic, down trodden Donkey of the 100 Acre Wood you can see how opposite they are. You might be thinking that it would make for a much shorter blog post if I was to write about the similarities between Optimus and Eeyore. That is if you can find any similarities other than that they are both cartoon characters.
Here is the biggest similarity.......
Peter Cullen.......
Some of you may be wondering Peter who? Peter Cullen is a voice actor who has quite an extensive filmography and has been doing voices since 1976. You may be making a connection here. Voices and cartoon characters. Peter Cullen is the voice of Optimus Prime in the new hit live action/CGI Transformer Movies from 2007 to the newest release coming out this year as well as the voice in the original animated series from 1984 until 1987. Peter Cullen was also the voice of you Eeyore from 1988 until 2009. Here is a video clip of Peter using both voices.
From the perspective that both Optimus and Eeyore are being played by the same person you can find a new set of differences. The differences in what makes the voice of Peter Optimus and what makes it Eeyore. I find three T's can be used to show the difference. Tone, Tempo and Terminology. Optimus speaks with authority, confidence and strength. "Autobots Roll Out!" Slow it down a bit and soften the strength of the voice and you will begin to hear Eeyore. Now just and an "I suppose" to the end and you have totally turned Optimus into Eeyore. "Autobots... Roll... Out... I suppose.."
How many places in our life do we take the characteristics, skills and disciplines that a Christian should have; a growing, victorious life and with a few changes to the tone, tempo and terminology they become negative? We allow conviction to become condemnation. We allow discipline and self control to become a lack of freedom. We see the words of correction spoken into our lives as words of disapproval or that we are disliked. Between our flesh, mind and the influence of the enemy we can easily go from Optimus to Eeyore. All it takes is for the tone, the tempo or the terminology to be changed.
One such skill that a growing and maturing Christian needs is the ability to look at/into themselves (James 1:23-25). I find myself saying I am not very good at this skill of introspection or soul-searching. Then it came to me that I do this quiet well. But just not in the positive way. Instead of a self-awareness that results in me changing and growing as I seek to improve who I see myself as. I often fall into a pattern of self-deprecation. I see the pit I am in and decide to make it bigger. I pull an Eeyore.
I have been assigned by some close loved ones a title that I am not proud of. I am often called an Eeyore or Charlie Brown because of my frequent gloominess and lack of confidence. So this post is personal to me in this fact. I know I don't want to be called an Eeyore. I know that God hasn't called me to be an Eeyore. Do you want to be seen by the people around as an Eeyore or an Optimus?
What characteristics, skills and disciplines in your life have you allowed to become traits that produce Optimus and which ones produce Eeyore? Remember it doesn't take more than an adjustment of the tone, the tempo or the terminology to go from one to the other.
Really? I have allowed traits to become like Optimus or Eeyore? I am responsible for damage done to me by others, especially when I was a child? Abandonment by my parents, betrayal by friends, forsaken by the churches I have attended, sexual and emotional abuse as a child? Okay okay two of those I was an adult for but are you really saying that it is as easy as changing my tone, tempo and terminology? Important News Flash!! This just in, it isn't as simple as that. Where it might be a good place to start, that is all it is, a start. It is like saying that "I'm Sorry" makes everything all better. We all know this isn't true. The things that I would add to this would be that problems or conditions that create these "Eeyore" cycles or holes are created by something. The negativity more often times than not has a source and until you take care of that source you will forever be plagued with that problem. Like an untreated wound that you keep putting anti-itch cream on will only stop itching but instead if you rigorously cleanse the wound, possible more than just one time, then it will heal and that particular itch will be gone for good.
ReplyDeleteI will leave you with that rant. If offense is take I do apologize about that. I get passionate about what I call cover-ups or so-called easy answers to problems.
My response Justin is this. The key Is what do you have control of not what you don't have control of.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of crap in life to deal with and much of it is the result of others. All of which can be used for the good of God? This is exactly what I am talking about. A chance to be Eeyore or Optimus in each situation we face. I can say with confidence that God will work out all things for my good. Or I can say with question can or will God work this out for good in my life.
That is what I am talking about. That is what I am working on in my life. Is me and my responses. Do I wallow and dig the pit deeper when I fall into one by my choice or an others. Because that is the skill I excel at. Or do I choose daily, over and over again to look up and ask for help out of the pit. This is faith in action. This is putting trust in God and his word. This is being heroic, confident, bold, courageous and a victorious christian. This is where I want to be, not that I am. But this is the goal.
My question would be how do we find healing and deliverance from pain, abuse, failure and the past? I have been learning a lot about how my tone, tempo and terminology can effect myself and others. But only I can decide this for myself, no one else can decide for me and I can't decide for others.