Thank You Lord for Spunk

I thank God for Spunk. I faced my Goliath in seventh grade. Our gym class included eighth and ninth graders. I stuck out like a sore thumb because I work a  long skirt and blouse instead of the typical gym shorts and t-shirt.  To make it worse, the ninth grade bully had a locker near me. I always waited until she was not in sight (or bothering someone) to get my things out my locker. The girl scared me.

One day, when I was putting my gym clothes in my locker, she came in and slammed my locker shut so that she could get to hers. My logical mind said, “just let her do whatever she wants.” Spunk said, “Oh, no she didn’t!” I slammed her locker shut and opened mine back and said,”I was here first!” She looked at me in disbelief as my logical-self screamed, “Shut up, Jowanna!”

That’s when spunk to over.  Everything told me to back down but spunk wouldn’t let me. Every time she slammed my locker shut and opened hers, I would slam hers shut and open mine. I told her she was a bully and she was not about to bully me. She looked at me and chuckled and allowed me to finish what I was doing.

She could have beat me to a pulp if she wanted to. I think there was something cute and respectable about a 50-pound seventh grader holding her own.

It Takes Spunk to Survive Events That Goes Against Our Values

We need spunk to survive tragedies like the Las Vegas shooting. I thank God I now know the recipe.  Spunk takes purpose and humility, resilience and guts.

Spunk Fuels Purpose While Humility Grounds It

I thank God for giving me the wisdom and maturity to use my spunk in a good way. I didn’t always do that. When I was in third grade, I through a rock that hit a girl. It took me a long time to forgive myself. I joined in as everyone changed “Cheri as lice” over and over again. I didn’t feel good about it, I was only trying fit in. I pushed her and she pushed me back. Then someone shouted that I shouldn’t let her do that to me. As she walked away I through a rock, not expecting it to connect and it did. That was spunk fueling a misdirected purpose.

I didn’t feel good about it, I was only trying fit in. I pushed her and she pushed me back. Then someone shouted that I shouldn’t let her do that to me. As she walked away I through a rock, not expecting it to connect and it did. In that case, my spunk fueled a misdirected purpose.

Spunk Is Made of Resilience

Humanity makes you feel like giving up. Resilience says it is not an option. There is no shame in feelings. Feelings are like breathing — automatic. It is okay to feel like giving up — spunk says to try again one last time.

Spunk Takes Guts

If you have spunk, that means you are gritty and audacious. Humanity says this is too big for me, Guts says I’ll knock ’em to his knees first.  God loves scrappy people. It’s awesome, all you have to do is say yes and God’s got the rest.

How do we make sense out of the senseless? We don’t. Practice gratitude and let God direct you. Your purpose gives your reason. Humility lets you know it is not about you and that is okay to feel sad, frustrated, and defeated. Resilience picks you up one more time. Guts give you the audacity to believe that with God all things are possible.