Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me.
This simple prayer formed the bedrock of meditation for Christians ever since the first century. I have found that it can be said silently (or aloud) with the rhythm of breath. It serves to regulate breathing into a slow, steady pattern.
The Apostle Paul once advised followers of Jesus to pray without ceasing. Many have used this prayer as a tool to assist in that discipline. Pause often during the day to simply remember this prayer. It helps.
Ask not what your country can do for you, rather ask what you can do for your country. — John F. Kennedy
I was perhaps 14 when the new president included this phrase in his speech.
I don’t scroll Facebook much any longer (not that I ever did a lot). When I read the posts in my community in a effort to get some local news, it seems like for every one person following Kennedy’s precept there are five whining that others are not doing enough for them.
Christian churches attract many servants fulfilling in whatever way they can Jesus’ teachings about serving others.
But they also attract many more who whine that the speakers are too loud, the speakers are too muddled, the pastor doesn’t “feed” them, the coffee is bland, there aren’t enough parking spots close to the building, they always want money, and so on ad infinitum.
Yes, I’m glad I never became a pastor.
But seriously, isn’t it time we all listened to at least Kennedy if we aren’t going to listen to Jesus?
Or maybe Benjamin Franklin who asked of himself every morning “What good will I do today” and every evening “What good did I do today?”
Reading from a philosopher today—it seems there are two kinds of people.
One type needs to be told things. They crave authority. “Tell me what to believe,” they clamor. “Tell me how to act.” In other words, tell me how to be in the cool kids group. Tell me how much I am better than “them.”
The second type goes their own way. They believe they think for themselves. “Don’t tell me what to do or how to think,” said I in my late adolescent years. Therein lies the Baby Boomer predicament. Many just either want to be contrarian or at least different.
But there is a third. My favorite pastime is finding alternatives from dichotomies. This person houses an infinitely curious intelligence. Maybe if I read enough, or listen to a wide variety of people, or think deeply on other issues, then I might find a better path. This person believes that no one knows everything, not even themselves.
I was trained long ago to speak and write as if I knew what I was talking about. They told me to sound confident, forceful, knowledgeable—even though I might just be putting forth a proposition expecting pushback and discussion.
This thought from Seth Godin recently came my way.
One of the valid complaints about some AI systems is that they make stuff up, with confidence, and without sourcing, and then argue when challenged.
Unsurprisingly, this sounds a lot like people. We often end up with what we are willing to tolerate. Show your work and ask for receipts.
Then I thought of the many people I’ve known who are so convinced of their opinion as the only way. They speak with complete confidence in their being correct.
Maybe I need to find a way to be more humble and invite discussion. Maybe we all need to achieve the self-awareness that reflects back to us that we don’t know it all. Sorry if you think you do—you don’t.
“Leave your front door and your back door open. Let thoughts come and go. Just don’t serve them tea.” — Shunryu Suzuki
Focused thinking is good. But sometimes in a quiet moment, when meditating, or while half-awake at night thoughts ceaselessly flit. Don’t be hospitable.
Cal Newport, computer science professor and author (Slow Productivity), noticed a sign while on book promotion tour in England regarding the noxious effects of overly processed food, aka junk food.
The message caused a companion thought—junk food for the mind. He had been thinking about how social media, over reliance on smart phones, and the like have corrupted the minds of many throughout the world.
What foods do you allow to fill your appetite? (In my case despite watching what I eat, I just drank 16 oz. of sugar—fruit juice plus ginger ale—just before a blood test. Really stupid.) Normally, I am careful about what goes in.
Likewise, what do you allow to fill your mind? Social media or quality fiction and poetry? TV or walking in nature?
Let us maintain a healthy body and mind.
There are leaders with vision who inspire people to do great things.
There are leaders filled with insecurities who create atmospheres of divisiveness, playing competing groups against each other.
Some follow the visionary leader and do great things.
Some follow the insecure leader burrowing into their group spreading divisiveness.
Remember the religious, business, political leaders of the first type. They are too few.
Think of the the religious, business, political leaders of the second. They are too many.
If you are a leader of any group, please be the first. It’s hard, but valuable. Like a diamond.
I’ve experienced two types of Christians.
Judgement
The picture that immediately comes to mind is the preacher who comes to No Name City in the play/movie Paint Your Wagon. Dressed in black, aggressive attitude, crazed look in his eyes. But that is a caricature.
Most judge like “death by a thousand paper cuts.” A critical comment tossed out here. A Facebook post hurriedly typed there. A focus on sins, foibles, failures—of others.
Grace
The popular song Amazing Grace describes the grace that can come to an individual. However Mother Teresa’s image popped quickly to mind. She symbolizes not my grace but the grace shared outward to others.
Grace shared outward can be a large focus of an entire life. It also lives in every small act of kindness toward humans and even animals. That’s because it emanates from who you are, from deep within the heart.
When we study scriptures or other spiritual writing, we participate in an important spiritual practice.
Sometimes we cannot find meaning in what Jesus, or James, or Peter, or Paul are telling us.
We sit. We think. We might even sweat (especially if we are working on a Master’s degree).
Close the book. Step away from the desk. Leave the library.
Walk outside. Sit by a pond. Drop down and perform five pushups or hold plank pose for a minute. Climb some stairs.
Insight will come.
Zen master, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”
First century people had professions or labor.
They discovered the teachings of Jesus, changed the direction of their lives, became followers.
Paul reminded them to continue in their professions.
Same for us today. Follow Jesus. Change the direction, the meaning of our lives. Continue to perform work that improves the lives of those around us—or even far away.
Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 