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The Men of Iron Minute

by Chad Zueck | Director of Content Creation

The Illusion of Escape

Illusionists are mind-boggling. Erich Weisz was one of the best. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1874. Erich had a fascination for magic and the escape arts from an early age. Erich Weisz was the birth name, but you may remember his stage name, Harry Houdini. His pernicious way of escape captivated minds and has made him a legend. He was well known for submerging himself in a water tank while handcuffed, and through his wit, uncanny strength, and flexibility, “pick” his way into imaginations and out of danger. During his lifetime, no one ever figured out how he made his epic escape. Crowds said the escapes were mysteriously spiritual, and others rendered it just another one of Houdini’s many inventions. He got himself into messes and got himself out of them spectacularly. We are not that different. We get into jams, and we plan an escape. As author William said in A Tidewater Morning, “We each devise our means of escape from the intolerable.” The escape may be avoidance, anger, or passive aggression because life is not an illusion. Escapism is choosing to be deceived, a masquerade of self-deception. “The self-deceiver is best understood as knowing, but wishing to avoid, the truth,” as Kevin Lynch penned. Houdini made the impossible possible. But that was just an illusion! We live in real life, and we can’t escape that.

 

How can we live and become a man after God’s own heart in times of hardship?

What do you do when things get hard, unpredictable, it even painful?

 

Six Essentials to Endure Hard Times or Difficult People

  • First, we must come to terms with how we deal with hardship and pain. Avoidance is escapism. Men use hobbies, exercise, drugs, sex, and work to avoid conflict or difficulty. Escapism creates an illusion that you can prevent the pain or avoid the person. But does the feeling or pain ever go away? Nope. Does it get better by avoiding it? Again. Nope. Our futile escape attempts have left us powerless and confused. Stop choosing to be deceived.
  • Second, consider that God’s wisdom is always greater than our understanding.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV2011

  • Third, endure hardship as discipline.

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” Hebrews 12:7-10,

  • Fourth, be strong and courageous even when you don’t feel like being strong or brave.
  • Fifth, don’t let fear highjack your future.
  • Sixth, remember you are not alone on this journey.

 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV2011

 

Be a mentor.

Find a mentor.

Be a better man.

Contact our team today to find out how you can become a mentor, find a mentor and be a better man! And DO NOT forget to check out The Men of Iron Podcast – The Houdini Effect (EP. 87)

 

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