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Striving or Not-Striving

August 28, 2024

Some people believe that we are born sinful and must live a life of striving toward perfection. Others think we are born perfect and develop illusions as we age requiring a life of recognizing and eliminating illusions.

I have no wish to plumb the depths of theological rationalism.

Somewhere along the journey we call life most of us will stumble on a large root across the path. The sudden realization like a stumble and fall on the wooded path that either we have been living a life wallowing in sin or that we realize that within us lies the capability of performing great sin needing only a trigger event to bring it out.

Perfection is impossible. Striving toward it leads to frustration and psychological trauma. Recognizing the possibility or actualizing of narcissism or cynicism or negativity or spreading hate and hurt can lead us out of the depth. Shedding each negative impulse one at a time by not-striving but allowing the Spirit to touch us (Romans 8:16) until we live the life defined by the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

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Grateful or Resentful

August 27, 2024

The tension of holding two things in your head could lead to a headache. Or worse.

If you are grateful, you cannot be resentful at the same time.

Choose wisely.

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My Voice or His

August 26, 2024

We surely have all met people along our journeys who tell us that they have heard the voice of God. Then they proceed to do or say something bizarre. 

Paul wrote to the gathering of followers in Rome, “It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are Children of God.” Romans 8:16

John Wesley pondered that thought and wrote, “How many have mistaken the voice of their own imagination for this witness of the Spirit of God, and thence idly presumed they were the children of God while they were doing the works of the Devil!” 

This resembles the question, “How do you know that you are not self-aware?”

How do you know that it simply your own imagination, your own cognitive biases rather than the Spirit talking to you?

For me, the answer to the first question came from an incident where I suddenly saw myself as others saw me. Sometimes it takes an intervention by friends or a statement by a speaker where we suddenly have our eyes opened.

The second answer may have been provoked by a similar incident. We could also test our ideas with Scripture and/or respected spiritual writers. Conversations with mentors or professionals could guide us if we have strayed from the path.

Becoming aware of straying onto a false path or of deluding ourselves constitutes our life’s work.

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Those Who Are Centered Upon Themselves

August 23, 2024

Narcissism is the shame-based fear of being ordinary.—Brené Brown.

We commonly toss the word narcissism to label those who seem annoyingly self centered. Usually we are describing someone we tire of easily due to their one-sided conversations.

There is a disorder listed in the psychologist’s diagnostic manual. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a life-long pattern of exaggerated feelings of self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a diminished ability to empathize with other people’s feelings.

If you have met someone with the disorder and especially if you must work with this person, my suggestion is to run. Remove yourself from the situation.

Short of disorder, though, we should all reflect upon our own behaviors. How much do we wish to not appear ordinary such that our conversations tend to focus not only on ourselves but especially upon our exploits that make us appear extraordinary?

If as a follower of Jesus we incorporate his teachings into our lives to first love God and then also love those around us (our neighbor), then we are focusing our thoughts and lives on others. Sort of the opposite of common narcissism. 

Perhaps in being ordinary followers, we actually wind up being extraordinary as a byproduct!

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Stuck

August 22, 2024

Stuck

Clowns to the left of me

Jokers to the right

Here I am

Stuck in the middle with you.

I’ve heard that song by the Scottish group Stealers Wheel at least ten times the last week. Restaurant, coffee house, radio station at home. Someone is telling me something.

Sometimes we are stuck.

We can’t decide. This one or that? This way or that? A project that just doesn’t move. Writing that doesn’t start.

Robert Pirsig wrote in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance about being stuck. You are trying to disassemble a part. The screwdriver slips. The screw’s head is stripped. You’re stuck. You can’t proceed.

First you must recognize that the problem changed. Then tackle the new problem to get unstuck.

It’s like spiritual formation. First the realization. Then the focus and intention. Then the new work to overcome being stuck.

Posted in Disciplines, focus, Intention | Leave a Comment »

Celebration of Discipline

August 21, 2024

Humans have long discovered a set of practices that help change lives for the better and orient the heart toward God. Over time a set of them were known as Spiritual Practices, Spiritual Disciplines, or even Means of Grace.

Richard J. Foster published a seminal book approachable by all called “Celebration of Discipline.” Somewhat later, Dallas Willard published “The Spirit of the Disciplines.” Foster was a Quaker pastor. Willard was a professor of philosophy. For a time, Willard was a member of Foster’s congregation. (I would have loved to have been there at the time.) You can tell the difference in orientation by reading the two books.

The disciplines (others say practices) do not bind one as in a straitjacket. They are meant to be incorporated in the routines of life that lead to the sort of freedom that Jesus taught or that Paul tried to explain especially in his letter to the Galatians.

Foster narrowed his topic to a “Top Twelve” disciplines or practices. My writing at this blog and my other teaching has a root in these. Probably too much on meditation and study along with service (my strengths, I guess). Submission and confession probably reside at the bottom of my list. (Note to self: something to work on.)

I offer this list of disciplines that Foster describes in some depth in the book. They are worthy of reflection regarding where we are on this journey. And as a reminder of where we should shore up our personal practices.

Inward Disciplines

  • Meditation
  • Prayer
  • Fasting
  • Study

Outward Disciplines

  • Simplicity
  • Solitude
  • Submission
  • Service

Corporate Disciplines

  • Confession
  • Worship
  • Guidance
  • Celebration

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The Toy Is Broken

August 20, 2024

My coat is at school.

Children have a way of wording a statement to avoid responsibility. The proper subject of the sentence, of course, is “I”. 

Accepting responsibility, the child would say, “I broke the toy” or “I left my coat at school.”

How many times do we as adults do the same thing?

“The work is not finished, because he didn’t …”

“The conversation did not happen.”

A subtle change in language leads to major change in attitude.

“I didn’t…,” “I failed to…,” “I accept responsibility for…”

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Character Inferred From Actions

August 19, 2024

A high school department existed long ago, maybe it still does for all I know, called Home Economics. The curriculum included how to prepare meals, how to eat the meals, how to sew clothes, and the like.

A scene from my high school days. Lunch time. The tables crowded. A group gathered around the HomeEc teacher. I remember her words as clearly today as then, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

That thought haunts me as I observe people who profess to follow Jesus—well, maybe they label themselves Christian— whose actions belie their proclamations.

Epictetus was a slave in the early first century in Rome who became a revered teacher. One of his thoughts went, “no man should ever profess to be a philosopher, but that each should leave this character to be inferred from his actions.”

I think Jesus uttered a similar thought to conclude his teaching, “Whoever hears my words and does them is like the man who builds his house upon rock.”

Sometimes the thought sneaks into my awareness that prods me to consider if I am only full of words not backed up by action. How about you? A thought for the day

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Grace is Spiritual WD40

August 16, 2024

Writer Anne Lamott mentioned that in a recent interview.

I love that thought.

WD40 is an all-purpose lubricant.

It reduces friction.

It allows surfaces to slide freely.

It loosens stuck screws.

A little like John the Baptizer’s role was to make the path smoother for Jesus.

As our path of sliding toward God, Grace smooths the way reducing friction.

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Emotional Transitions

August 15, 2024

The transition from tenseness, self-responsibility, and worry to equanimity, receptivity, and peace is the most wonderful of all those shiftings of inner equilibrium, those changes of personal center of energy. -William James, 1902

Matthew wrote in his story of Jesus that the ministry began with Jesus inviting people to repent. This was also the message of his predecessor, John (the Baptizer).

This observation from William James captures something of that joy and release of energy that comes from changing our life perspective. Something called repentance.

Posted in Attitude, Awareness | Leave a Comment »

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