"Shaken not stirred." That's just one of the famous lines of world's most known spy, James Bond a.k.a Agent "Double-O Seven" (007). Of course he referred that line to his favorite Vodka Martini.
Do you think that it could also apply to real life?
In simple terms, let us define them.
Shaken - "Disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock"
Stirred - "Being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion. Mixed"
Hmmm.. doesn't make any significant difference at all, does it? I think being shaken means being disturbed while being stirred means acting based on emotions, being pushed around unreasonably and illogically.
Let us take a closer look. James Bond, as most of us know, could face and overcome all kinds of troubles and dangers and accomplish superhuman feats, either using his wits or his latest gadgets. We have seen him experienced harrowing experiences that would definitely shake every average human being. But despite of all those saddening and literally painful experiences, he remained true to his oath of service to his government and to his missions. No matter what happens, Bond always completes his assignments by isolating himself from the situation. He is very seldom moved by the emotions attached to it, enabling him to judge rightly and think accurately as warranted by every situation. He is shaken, yes, but not stirred.
But that was 007, a fictional character, human, flawed like you and me.
There is, however, someone who had shown a true meaning of being "Shaken but not Stirred." This man is a Carpenter who lived thousands of years ago before us. His name is Jesus. Jesus was disturbed by what was happening to the world during that time. Evil doings were rampant. Dishonor and disobedience to God were everywhere. People were living in sin. He thought that it was the right time to come down to earth and bring these people back in the arms of the Almighty. He was shaken. His love for mankind moved Him to offer His own life as a ransom for every human's wrong doings. Was He stirred? No. He was tempted not just a single time to abandon His mission. But He never bent. He was accused of treason, rebellion, blasphemy and even associated to the devil himself. He was arrested, persecuted, crucified and killed by the very people He saved. He know all these would happen. But was He stirred enough to abandon His mission? No. Was He shaken by these things. Yes. We know that He wept for these people. But He never gave up on them. He never gave up on His mission.
Unlike James Bond, Jesus did not rely on His intelligence or gadgets. He used His love for mankind to help Him accomplished what He was supposed to do. His faith in humanity that somehow, someday, they would all return to their true God inspired Jesus to stick to His mission.
Jesus was shaken but was never stirred to abandon or take another path to His mission because His foundations are as solid as a rock.
In our daily lives, we also face situations where we are shaken and stirred. More often than not, we tend to play the James Bond role, trying to overcome everything, relying on our own wits and abilities. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it signifies that we trust that which have been bestowed upon us. However, the problem arises when we tend to rely too much on our self, forgetting that there's a greater source of power and relief.
Human sufferings and experiences will shake and stir us. It's a given fact. It can sway us away from the path we ought to take. We're just humans after all, vulnerable to pain and mistakes. But before we totally surrender to our opponents - the challenges of our lives, let us try to look for the example that Jesus have shown us 2000 years ago which still applies today.
Continue to nurture our love for one another. Keep the faith in humanity alive. Believe that pains and trials are not meant to hamper us in arriving at our destination but rather stepping stones that will help us reach higher and farther. Each of us has at least one mission in life. Find it. Stick to it. Have faith in God and in Jesus so that no matter what life may throw, though we may be shaken, we will not be stirred, because we know what we need to do and we know where we could anchor our faith as solid as a rock.
Enjoy the rest of the day! Continue to BE MORE and Live the Good Life!
(The contents of this article are the author's personal views and opinions and his sole responsibility.)
Do you think that it could also apply to real life?
In simple terms, let us define them.
Shaken - "Disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock"
Stirred - "Being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion. Mixed"
Hmmm.. doesn't make any significant difference at all, does it? I think being shaken means being disturbed while being stirred means acting based on emotions, being pushed around unreasonably and illogically.
Let us take a closer look. James Bond, as most of us know, could face and overcome all kinds of troubles and dangers and accomplish superhuman feats, either using his wits or his latest gadgets. We have seen him experienced harrowing experiences that would definitely shake every average human being. But despite of all those saddening and literally painful experiences, he remained true to his oath of service to his government and to his missions. No matter what happens, Bond always completes his assignments by isolating himself from the situation. He is very seldom moved by the emotions attached to it, enabling him to judge rightly and think accurately as warranted by every situation. He is shaken, yes, but not stirred.
But that was 007, a fictional character, human, flawed like you and me.
There is, however, someone who had shown a true meaning of being "Shaken but not Stirred." This man is a Carpenter who lived thousands of years ago before us. His name is Jesus. Jesus was disturbed by what was happening to the world during that time. Evil doings were rampant. Dishonor and disobedience to God were everywhere. People were living in sin. He thought that it was the right time to come down to earth and bring these people back in the arms of the Almighty. He was shaken. His love for mankind moved Him to offer His own life as a ransom for every human's wrong doings. Was He stirred? No. He was tempted not just a single time to abandon His mission. But He never bent. He was accused of treason, rebellion, blasphemy and even associated to the devil himself. He was arrested, persecuted, crucified and killed by the very people He saved. He know all these would happen. But was He stirred enough to abandon His mission? No. Was He shaken by these things. Yes. We know that He wept for these people. But He never gave up on them. He never gave up on His mission.
Unlike James Bond, Jesus did not rely on His intelligence or gadgets. He used His love for mankind to help Him accomplished what He was supposed to do. His faith in humanity that somehow, someday, they would all return to their true God inspired Jesus to stick to His mission.
Jesus was shaken but was never stirred to abandon or take another path to His mission because His foundations are as solid as a rock.
In our daily lives, we also face situations where we are shaken and stirred. More often than not, we tend to play the James Bond role, trying to overcome everything, relying on our own wits and abilities. There's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it signifies that we trust that which have been bestowed upon us. However, the problem arises when we tend to rely too much on our self, forgetting that there's a greater source of power and relief.
Human sufferings and experiences will shake and stir us. It's a given fact. It can sway us away from the path we ought to take. We're just humans after all, vulnerable to pain and mistakes. But before we totally surrender to our opponents - the challenges of our lives, let us try to look for the example that Jesus have shown us 2000 years ago which still applies today.
Continue to nurture our love for one another. Keep the faith in humanity alive. Believe that pains and trials are not meant to hamper us in arriving at our destination but rather stepping stones that will help us reach higher and farther. Each of us has at least one mission in life. Find it. Stick to it. Have faith in God and in Jesus so that no matter what life may throw, though we may be shaken, we will not be stirred, because we know what we need to do and we know where we could anchor our faith as solid as a rock.
Enjoy the rest of the day! Continue to BE MORE and Live the Good Life!
(The contents of this article are the author's personal views and opinions and his sole responsibility.)
