Let's Shake The Poop Out Of Him

“Let’s shake the (poop) out of him,” says Jacob the Pathfinder in the movie Ink. The hope is that having the poop shaken out of John, the main character, will humiliate and change his behaviour and ultimately save his daughter (the film is more complex and thought provoking than that—rent it!). What the Pathfinder crystallizes is that when life shakes us it refines us. The bible writers often spoke in these terms; the burning off of dross and the purifying character with hope and perseverance.

My own life brings this point home. It is the shaking of my life via financial struggle, health concerns or the troubles of a loved one that bring perspective and change. Humility is deepened because I realize I am not in control.

Having the poop shaken out of me isn’t a pleasant thing. This weeks’ wrestling with financial issues scares me. My mind runs to worst case scenarios and there I am—poof—living out of a shopping cart. Ultimately I am forced to wrestle with what is important. I am forced to take action.

At the end of the day my hope is that the shaking will be worth it. As Peter goes on to say, “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”