Seven Things I Gleaned from Watching "Jeepers Creepers II"

When I was a kid, I enjoyed watching horror movies. I remember going to Erol’s with my mother and brother to rent VHS tapes—I’ve really dated myself with this one. My brother and I would typically ask to rent the “Friday the 13th” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” movies. I’m not really sure where my like for the genre derived from; however, I am wondering if it was influenced by Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, but I digress. Whatever the reason, I developed a like for the movies, which explains why I’d be drawn to the “Jeepers Creepers” franchise. It is obvious that I like part two of the sequel. I also like “Jeepers Creepers”; however, I’m torn with “Jeepers Creepers 3.” This post isn’t about my critique of the series; however, I do have some thoughts I may share at another time.

“Jeepers Creepers II” is an American horror film written and directed by Victor Salva, which was released in 2003. I believe I saw it for the first time in 2004, but I didn’t notice any important life lessons until I watched it again recently. It is possible I didn’t grasp anything from the movie back then because it was during the days of “Blockbusters and chill.” I watched the movie for the first time with my first love—but once again, I digress.

I find the movie entertaining mainly because of how the characters react to their initial interactions with the Creeper. I think it is pretty well written considering the genre typically calls for creating imaginative characters and situations. I’m also drawn to the subtle humor that is woven into the dialogue. But what I like most is the life reminders I gleaned from watching it.

Four of the seven lessons transpired during the first seven minutes of the movie. The seventh lesson, and what I would consider the underlying message I got from the movie as a whole, is reinforced and reiterated multiple times throughout the duration of the film. I’m not sure if Mr. Salva intended to highlight or reinforce these thoughts, nevertheless, his creation invoked them in me.

1. Respect your parents

   If you’ve read other posts from this blog you probably know what the first lesson reminded me of— the fifth commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. “— Deuteronomy 5:16

2. Be careful/mindful about what you say to people—it may be the last time you speak to them

   I am guilty of taking a lot of things for granted and I realize I need to do better. Sometimes I am conscious of the fact that tomorrow is not promised, but most of the time I have an expectancy of living through the night and waking the next morning. I’m not saying it is necessarily “wrong” for me to have this mindset, but I need to be more mindful of the fact that I will leave this earth one day and the same goes for everyone else I know. I need to ensure my words are kind and loving. And even if I have a disagreement with someone and I become angry, it behooves me “not to let the sun go down upon my wrath.”

3. If something feels/looks odd or off to you and you think you should leave—don’t hesitate—go

   In most instances in my life when I had the feeling that something was off, I was right. Unfortunately, I’ve had some situations when I either tried to rationalize what happened or ignored it altogether. That is not a good practice, especially if you are in potential danger—physical or otherwise. I believe this applies to relationships—regardless of who it is (friend, partner, or spouse). If the interactions with the person or event make you uneasy—leave. Bottom line, get off the “x” and sort it out later.

4. Ask for help as soon as you realize you need it

   I am guilty of hesitating to ask for help when I needed it because of pride. We all need help sometimes, so don’t shy away from asking for it.

5. Provide help as soon as you are asked

   Slight spoiler alert: In the movie, when one of the characters recognizes he is in danger, he calls for his older brother, but he does not respond right away. I wonder if the outcome could have been different had the brother responded sooner? Let’s be quick to help our friends and family when we can. A delayed response can potentially cause harm.

6. Fear can be detrimental

   Another slight spoiler alert: The Creeper is drawn to fear and the more his prey demonstrates it the harder it pursues to the demise or detriment of the person. Fear can keep us from following our dreams. It can lead us to believe we’re not capable or worthy of getting what we want. Fear can even prevent us from leaving a bad situation or environment. It can cause us to think we’ll encounter much worse. So instead of venturing out into the unknown, we stay with the devil we know. Don’t give in to fear, it will keep you from reaching your full potential.

7. Keep fighting even when you come face to face with what scares you

   Another slight spoiler alert: As I mentioned earlier, the Creeper is drawn to fear, and there is one character the Creeper showed it wanted him the most. At one point in the movie, this character came face to face with the Creeper and his fear of it. This scenario happens in life sometimes.

   “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” — Job 3:24

   When this happens remember…

   “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7

MHIL Gratitude Journal: Entry No. 9; The Importance of Recognizing the Pervading Tone or Mood of a Place

My recent life lesson occurred to me during the wee hours of this past Wednesday morning. This tutorial derived from some overwhelming feelings of anxiety I experienced on Monday, which made me realize I needed to take a pause and focus on self-care. While I was home on Tuesday, I was deliberate with my thoughts and actions. I purposely avoided thoughts surrounding work or anything that could potentially cause angst. Although I recognize the importance of keeping my mind on positive and joyous things, this particular situation needed additional ammunition.

Putting forth the effort to think about good things worked for a while, but fear found its way back to the forefront of my mind. When I realized what was happening, I decided to pray. During my prayer, I was reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7 and I had to repent because fear does not come from God. As I reflected on the why behind my anxiety I realized I brought this trouble on myself. I created an atmosphere of doubt and fear. I did this with the words I’ve spoken and the thoughts I’ve pondered and embraced. I used phrases like “I can’t” and “I’m afraid.” So why should I be shocked at the manifestation of my words? Once I acknowledged my blunder, I realized what needed to happen. I needed to change the atmosphere by changing the narrative.

I told myself I couldn’t and I believed it. So when it came time to complete the action, I couldn’t do it because I created an environment of failure. “As a man thinketh, so is he.” Not only did I sabotage my productivity at work, I believe I may have done the same thing in the dating realm. During my time of self-reflection, I remembered the response I’ve given to the “why are you single?” question. I said, “I’m afraid of repeating the mistakes of my past.” Although I don’t want to make bad choices in future relationships, I see I had already attached fear to my circumstances before anything could even transpire simply by the words I chose to speak.

I was already aware of the fact that the power of life and death is in the tongue—Proverbs 18:21—but I messed up and allowed myself to take the path of doubt and fear. I appreciate my moment of clarity. It enabled me to see I can perpetuate an atmosphere that is bad or good by my speech and thoughts. When I would have used negative words to describe what I’m facing, I’ve decided to use positive ones in their place. In the past, I said, “I can’t,” alternatively, I will say, “I’m still learning.” And instead of attaching myself to fear, I will say, “I am building my confidence.”

I’m a work in progress. Now that I know better, I will do better.

“My Fear is My Only Courage”

One day last week during my trek to work, I listened to “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley and the Wailers. I admit I typically skip this song, but for whatever reason, I decided not to this time. As I was listening to the song, I heard the words “my fear is my only courage,” and it made me pause. I thought it was an interesting statement and I wanted to know what it meant. I also wondered if I could apply it to my life.

Over the last several months, I’ve been acknowledging how much I’ve allowed fear to hinder me. I let fear stop me from proudly being who I am during my adolescent years. I was afraid of ridicule and rejection; which, is pretty ironic simply because not proudly being myself didn’t make me popular or abundantly liked. In hindsight, I didn’t gain anything by not embracing who I am. Fast forward to my years as a young adult—I believed and feared not being good enough, talented enough, or smart enough to do a lot of things. But I am amazed when I think back to when I was a small child—before I was exposed to peer pressure and self-doubt— I faced any giant without fear. Where did she go?

As I stated earlier in this post, I was curious to find out what “my fear is my only courage” meant, so…I turned to Google. My search yielded some interesting information. There is a debate over whether or not Mr. Bob Marley said, “My fear is my only courage,” or “My feet are my only carriage.” Nevertheless—in the usual Towanda fashion—I decided to define what I heard and apply it to my life.

So, what does ‘my fear is my only courage’ mean to me? As I was searching for its meaning on the Internet, I stumbled upon another quote.

“Courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it.”

Multiple people have been given credit for the above quote: Victor Hugo, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Nelson Mandela. I also read a variation that was credited to Theodore Roosevelt. The origin of the quote is not my concern for this post, but how I manage my fear is and I am reminded of a familiar scripture.

“God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

— 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Now that I’ve explored a few possibilities of what “My fear is my only courage” means, I’ve concluded what it means to me. Since I know I obtain a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, there is no need for me to give in to fear. And I can literally—and figuratively—stand or move forward. Feelings of fear are now a motivator for me to push through. And for the fearless child who stood up to bullies twice her size—she’s still with me. I just allowed her to become dormant, but she is awake now and ready to fight that unwelcomed spirit of fear.