THE BMW MODE

THE "BMW" MODE

BMW, as you know, is the name of a car that is in the luxury class that not everyone can afford to drive. But in a recent article by Robert Watkins I heard a different meaning for this expression. His article was about people who are always complaining about nearly everything. His phrase to define these people was "BMW", an acronym for "Belly-aching, Moaning, and Whining". Do you know anyone who could be included in that class? Perhaps we might all fit in that class by times! There sure are lots of things to find fault with, like the government, or other organizations like the church structure we have been part of, that is far removed from the Church Jesus said He would build. (Matt 16:18). Plus many other things or people that we feel justified in finding fault with! A few quotes from Brother Watkins, "Complaining is draining", and "I used to think people complained because they had a lot of problems. But I have come to realize that they have problems because they complain. But there is hope".

He goes on to quote a professor from Harvard's Graduate School of Education, who suggests that we can turn the "language of complaint" into the "language of Commitment". This will require considerable effort on our part, but he claims it is doable if we are serious about desiring a change. It starts with a change in attitude from a complaining one, to a true "attitude of gratitude", by which we give thanks to God in every situation. (1 Thess 5:18) It is important to notice it does not say be thankful "for" everything, but to be thankful "in" every situation you find yourself in! We know that some situations are the result of a direct work of Satan, as in the case of Job, and we are not to give thanks for his work, but realize that God can bring something good out of what Satan meant for evil. See the story of how God used Joseph to preserve the life of his father's family. (Gen 45:5-8).

Brother Watkins stated "Here's what I learned: If something can be changed, work to change it, if it cannot, why worry, be upset, and complain". He then offers a challenge to all his readers "So for the next seven days, let's change our language of complaining into a language of commitment. Get out of your BMW mode by monitoring your words". This sounds like a good idea that should not only change our attitude about life, but also change the attitude of people around us!  

Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer