“Get used to disappointments.”
This is one of my favorite lines is from the Rob Reiner movie, “Princess Bride”. This movie is one that I was embarrassed to be caught watching when it first came out in the late 80′s because it was sooo stupid. But, I guess I will reveal my sense of humor and intellectual depth by admitting that my wife and I have watched the movie many times now and we laugh harder every time we watch it.
Cary Elwes plays Westley (temporarily the Dread Pirate Roberts) that is following his kidnapped bride-to-be. Mandy Patinkin plays the legendary swordsman Inigo Mantoya. As Inigo has patiently waited for Westley to climb the rope up the Cliffs of Despair only to face the sword, he gives him a few moments to catch his breath. They both begin the duel left-handed, though both are right-handed. They both want to give the other guy a better chance, both being “good guys.” During the duel they carry on a very droll but civil conversation. Inigo asks Westley why he was wearing a mask and requests that he remove it. Westley’s pithy response, “Get used to disappointments.” Inigo accepts his response and the duel continues.
Life is full of disappointments, so I like to quote Wesley on a regular basis. It is the daily grind of dealing with them that causes us to make choices that will either strengthen us or more deeply entrench our apathy and cynicism. I am not cynical. I consider the proverb to communicate that things will not always go our way, so, we should get used to disappointments. This is the reality that “what does not break us will strengthen us” and our response to life’s tests, trials, temptations and disappointments can be tools for our good. We should pursue the way that will result in our victoriously pressing through any difficulty that comes our way.
In the future I will address what I think are the motivations for our choices and some of the results of those choices.
jc
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