Papa B
Pirahna Principle
Just one can’t kill you
Over the years I’ve developed the concept of the Piranha Principle to explain why in our modern society we feel overwhelmed and defeated despite our obvious wealth and blessing. I’ll use me as the example. I have a great wife (mamakay), five great kids, I don’t carry consumer debt, I have a great career and a job that more than covers our monthly expenses, I’m active in my church, and generally regarded as a good Christian father.
With all that, I still get worn down bit by bit by the slight annoiances of everyday life. The alarm didn’t wake me up in time, the guy in front of me didn’t pull out fast enough, the line in the super market didn’t move, the kids didn’t get the mess cleaned up, and the like. Each little thing taking a bit of me like piranha taking down a water buffalo. One piranha by itself can not kill; it’s jaws are not big enough to inflict enough damage but you let it invite 200 of its friends and then you’ve got trouble.
Can you guess the number one recommendation for avoiding being killed by piranha? If you said “Stay out of the water” you would be correct. That’s well and good for saving your shins from shiny teeth but how do we avoid the piranha’s in our own lives?
SLOW DOWN. I have found that in my life the root case of frustration and annoyance comes from being in a hurry. If it takes 25 minutes to get from home to work why do we only allow 25 minutes for that to happen? Don’t we know that something will happen to slow us down? Why not just add another 5 minutes to account for God wanting to teach us patience ? How about with others?
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (ESV)
Paul’s “piranha-be-gone” with people is to be patient or said another way: SLOW DOWN. Don’t see others as interruptions to your great plan. Treat them with gentleness, love them, don’t think you are more important. Ease up on your expectations of them or their behavior.
For the record, this is my understanding not necessarily my practice (but I’m working on it)