Hello. My name is Nicole Prasch and I am stubborn. (see i even put it in my favorite color!) I don’t have a problem with that demonized trait. In fact, I feel that it is a gift from God that I am stubborn. Stubbornness allows me to get things done as well as stick to my principles. I may be dead wrong about a thing, but I will stick to it until I believe otherwise. Luckily, I was also given another gift, the gift of a brain. I think and reason and therefore learn truth. Once I perceive a principle is true I act on it and I will stick to it. Calvin Coolidge, who was a President of the United States, said:
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men of talent. Genius will not…the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
The ability to press on has been a blessing in my life. You see I am constantly opposed. Most of my siblings have all rejected the belief system we were taught. My husband also does not embrace my beliefs. As a result my children struggle with accepting them as well. Children struggle with that anyway, so that is to be expected. Many times I have found myself alone in leading the way to a happy, fulfilled and productive life. It is so enticing to follow the crowd, please yourself, and never go outside your comfort zone.
Nevertheless, I do it regularly. I can’t help it. I can’t be happy sitting back and watching the world head for a brick wall. I love the curiosity that afflicts my brain driving me to learn new things. I can’t help that I see consequences that others don’t yet see, and I cannot refrain from jumping out with a caution sign. I love the enlightenment that shows me connections between destructive behavior and miserable conditions. Those light bulb moments are precious to me, but annoying to so many others. I’ve learned to be careful how I share those thoughts. People don’t understand the love that drives me to speak up.
It’s not politically correct to point these things out these days. I am my family’s crazy zealot. But you see, I looked up that word the other day. I am on a kick lately about dictionaries and thesauruses. Zealous is like being persistent, stubborn and devoted to a cause. When I used the word zeal in a facebook post that was not about religion, but mentioned religion, my normally quite intelligent sister went on a rant about religion. I suppose she only thinks of that word as referring to a religious person who is unreasonably tyrannical to others, like Saul was before he became Paul. (Which is not true since he was far more zealous after his conversion experience) Most people who oppose me assume that all my opinions stem from religious arrogance and or an inability to think logically. I find that these people are quite sensitive. I wonder if it is because they are so pricked by conscience and aware of what I stand for in my own life that they just assume that I am saying what their conscience is saying. Maybe I should take it as a compliment that I am on the right track!
I find myself unable to quit, give up, surrender or resign my loved ones to the chain of destruction that I see surrounding them. I don’t feel it is a sacrifice to raise my voice, but I am puzzled when I get so much close-minded resistance from people who are so quickly defensive and hostile. I struggle to quietly stand by while others make poor choices. It is hard to watch someone with a lead foot heading for a brick wall. I ought to remember that I also make poor choices and I learn best by experiencing the consequences of those choices. The trick of a stubborn person is to wait for others to see what we see, or for us to see what others see. Maybe zeal is so often perceived as religious because
religion seems to be one of the only things that evoke it.
I am a persistent zealot, a devoted disciple of truth, right living, or the path to happiness, and peace. Do I have a lot to learn? You betcha! But I love learning it and I love being in
God’s University of Experience,
because this zealot learns best that way! I fully realize that I am far from perfect, yet I am ok with that. I understand that we all share that common condition. Which is why I need this stubborn zeal.
God is so patient with us all. He is the ultimate zealot. He is stubborn, persistent and devoted to the cause of our happiness. Yet he is also kind, tolerant, steady and firm in truth and happiness because He knows. And knowledge of that kind begets persistent, loving, immovable, determined women who will press on to lead and guide families and societies victoriously back to the God who designed this mortal labyrinth. I aspire to that club of women!
