The Weight of the World

Charles Atlas one of the world's strongest men when he lived was born Angelo Siciliano. He took the name Charles Atlas when he began to develop body building methods and exercise programs and market them. He is credited with having one of the longest lasting and most impactful ad campaigns of all time.

Many photos were taken of Charles Atlas and images of strength were a part of his ad campaign. These images projected incredible strength and an ability to bear any load, insinuating you can carry the world on your shoulders.

What may have worked for Charles Atlas did not work for skinny boys like me in rural South Carolina. We all want to be strong and project strength, but the truth is, we are sometimes weak. We struggle with the burdens of life. Even though we are Christians and trusting God with our lives, the burdens, stresses and responsibilities of life can become hard to bear. We are not Charles Atlas strong enough to carry the world on our shoulders.

During a recent visit to the hospital to visit a church member, I thought about the burdens that care-givers face in taking care of their loved ones. No particular grumbling or complaining caused me to have these thoughts. Many times, people bear responsibilities that drain them physically, emotionally, psychologically and possibly financially and keep all their feelings penned up inside. The lack of voicing their burdens does not lessen the load. They may be suffering from a permanent state of physical fatigue, but they muster the strength to take another step.

As I was walking out of the hospital and these thought about the weight that is pressing down upon so many individuals in our world today came to my mind, I also thought about my own response to these folks. Am I showing kindness to these individuals? Do I convey love? And, perhaps more importantly, am I doing anything to lessen the load that they carry?

All of us may feel like the weight of the world is pressing down on us at times. Let's be burden bearers for each other. The Bible instructs us in this manner in Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Jesus is our ultimate example and the One we are to emulate. I sense the love and compassion of Jesus in a quote from Isaiah the prophet describing Jesus in Matthew 12:20,21. It says, "A battered reed He will not break off, and a smoldering wick He will not put out, until He leads justice to victory and in His name the Gentiles will hope." (NASV) To simplify and paraphrase these verses, Jesus will try to heal you rather than break you when you are bruised. When you are struggling and feel like the last flicker of your strength is about to be extinguished, Jesus will not put His foot on you to crush you. He will extend a hand to pick you up.

There are not many Charles Atlas people in our world today who exude strength and run through life in power and strength. There are many more who feel weak and struggle with burdens every day. Let's show kindness and love and be burden bearers.