I Get Knocked Down, But I Get Up Again

I heard the song "I Get Knocked Down" on the radio the other day. Boy does that song bring back memories of my former boss Davis!  I had been in oncology clinical research and very successful recruiting patients on a pain study for a new drug/delivery system called Actiq. At study completion, I was impressed with the results my patients were experiencing. A team of Medical Liaisons was forming to prepare for the drug's approval. I was hired to cover the Southeast U.S. After extensive training, our team was ready to teach the pain world about the oral transmucosal delivery system. Then the bad news, we didn't get approval and had to jump through some more hoops for the FDA. Now back to the song. All the Medical Liaisons were gathered in SLC to plan our strategy for launch when it occurred. Sitting in the meeting room, Davis comes in and begins blaring the famous song by Chumbawumba, 

I get knocked down, but I get up again

You're never going to keep me down.

I think this became our group's theme song for awhile. We finally did get approval, and had a very successful launch of Actiq. Not one of us gave up hope. We had an amazing team of focused individuals willing to put the time and effort it took to provide cancer patients in pain with a fast acting alternative to pills. Life can knock you down, but faith will always get you back up again!

Todays first reading (2 Cor 4:7-15) is all about not giving up when you're feeling beat:

Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak,  knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

In the booklet Heaven Speaks About Depression, St. Paul shows us how to retain hope:

"You see, we had joy in hope but we did not always have joyful experiences on the earth. The very thought would make us shake our heads. We marvel sometimes at the depth of suffering that is possible while you are in exile, away from heaven. Our joy came in Christ and in the hope, well placed, that Jesus Christ lived and died and rose from the dead. Do not hope in earthly souls. They will let you down hard. They cannot help it. They have their own pains and struggles. Hope in Jesus, only. If you do this, you will not be disappointed."

Lay apostles, life can be so difficult at times, especially when you are trying your hardest to live the words of Jesus. Always remember what St. Paul states above . . . have hope in only Jesus. Disappointment comes easily when placing all hope in anything other than Christ. He never disappoints . . . 

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me through the Volumes that trusting You and hoping in You will always lead me toward heaven.

God bless,
Bonnie