{"id":4960,"date":"2019-12-18T13:53:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T19:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/?p=4960"},"modified":"2026-04-18T08:56:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T13:56:53","slug":"how-to-stay-strong-when-life-runs-out-of-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/how-to-stay-strong-when-life-runs-out-of-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Strong When Life Runs Out of Batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Steven Spielberg released a movie in 1987, Batteries Not Included<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story captures something we all feel at times, the sense of being drained, overwhelmed, and out of power when life gets hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The movie captures the plight of an elderly couple who are bullied by a property developer to sell their apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeling powerless, the couple is inspired to fight when these E.T.\u2019s come to their aid.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"batteries
Running on empty in a batteries-not-included season of life.\/Alamy <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s the lack of power to stand against big problems that requires batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what I found to overcome powerlessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Life Can’t Run Without Batteries<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Late on Christmas Eve many years ago, I was exhausted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kids had gone to bed, and Judy and I were up putting toys together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, I realize the toys say \u201cbatteries not included.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said, \u201cHoney, I\u2019ll be back,\u201d and then I thought, who\u2019s open at midnight on Christmas Eve?  7-Eleven?  Eckerd\u2019s?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I jump in the car to go get batteries. When I get back home, Judy has a startled look on her face.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said, \u201cSteve!  Do you realize you\u2019ve been to the store in your pajamas?  You should have worn a bathrobe or something!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said, \u201cHoney, at midnight, who cares?  Nobody said anything to me.  In fact, I think everybody else there had pajamas on too.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nobody at that hour on Christmas Eve cares about anything but batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when you have everything but batteries, that\u2019s the big word, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s our world today.   We\u2019ve got everything but real power.  Real light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve got all the equipment.  We have education, government, science, technology, money, religion, law.  We have everything but something or someone to make it all work.  Something or someone to give us real power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Your Batteries Run Low<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By the time Christmas rolls around, many folks feel like a car without spark plugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything\u2019s big and bright and shiny and beautiful with all the trimmings.  But, there\u2019s. . <\/p>\n\n\n\n