Let us consider humility. Not a word we can associate with today, living as we do influenced by Silicon Valley’s macho culture. A culture that affects women along with men along with adolescents.
When was the last time you (or I) admitted that you (or I) were wrong about something?
If it’s been longer than 30 days back, perhaps you (and I) have a problem.
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’Tis the day after Thanksgiving (in America), and how do you feel?
Did you eat do much that your sleep was disturbed?
My go-to for Christian advice on living (mixed with a dose of modern common sense) are the Desert Fathers. Yes, they were a weird group. Yet, they had such deep insights.
I consulted them about gluttony.
The desert fathers considered gluttony one of the first passions to be conquered because control over bodily appetites was seen as foundational to spiritual progress. They believed that if someone couldn’t master their appetite for food, they would struggle with more subtle temptations.
During the 4th-6th Centuries, fasting was commonplace among monks. However, many emphasized moderation. Eat only what is necessary to sustain life. Eat at set times (I write as I eye the basket of potato chips across the room where I’m writing this).
The fathers saw gluttony as slavery to bodily desires and a lack of self-control that would manifest in other areas. It is an obstacle to clear thinking and spiritual discernment.
The goal is freedom from obsession with food, not punishing the body.
Evagrius Ponticus, one of the most systematic of the desert fathers, listed gluttony first among the eight evil thoughts (which later became the seven deadly sins in Western Christianity), showing how fundamental they considered this struggle.
So, one large celebration meal with family and friends is hardly gluttony. It just makes you sick. Dwelling on the thought of food—well, that’s something to watch out for.
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Today is celebrated in America as Thanksgiving Day. Somewhat based on a story (true or not, doesn’t matter) about the English settlers in what’s now called New England celebrating surviving a year plus a harvest. We celebrate with family dinners and the traditional turkey.
Some people will have a struggle this year. Family members who passed away. Relationships strained due to politics, gender identity, sharp words thoughtlessly spoken.
Perhaps stories of things that have happened or people who came into our lives could help ease the pain. Perhaps pausing our hot buttons and listening to the stories of others would help. Perhaps just being generous and serving.
Perhaps serving others today. There are community Thanksgiving dinners where homeless and less privileged people are served a decent meal.
Mostly, pausing to remember all for which we should be grateful and often overlook.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving no matter what.
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I’ve got everything I want, nothing that I need.—song by Lord Huron
I’m thinking about Thanksgiving coming tomorrow. This song arrived on my streaming channel. It describes much about American (and others, I’m sure) culture right now.
How far apart are our wants from our needs?
Am I thankful for the right things?
My mom’s younger brother, Uncle Doyle, passed along to me his love of the comic strip Pogo. Walt Kelly was insightful and witty. In one cartoon, Pogo the possum notes, “Having lost sight of our objectives, we redoubled our efforts.”
Much software development happened because they could do it, not because it was good for society. Take for instance monitoring applications. Especially used during Covid when people had to work from home, managers could see how busy their employees were. Not necessarily how productive, but busy, for sure.
A recent The Pump Club Newsletter noted, “Busyness becomes a performance. We confuse activity for accomplishment because slowing down feels uncomfortable. Stillness can feel like failure.”
The reality? “But ask anyone who’s truly built something, whether their health, a business, a relationship, or a legacy. Progress doesn’t come from frantic motion. It comes from directed motion. Fewer things done with more intention. Effort pointed in the right direction.”
What are you working on? Health? Fitness? Prayer or meditative life? Service? Study?
One day at a time with intention doing what you need. Choose your direction, follow the path.
Movement can be a treadmill. Progress is a path. One keeps you occupied; the other gets you somewhere.
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We live in an era where every message encourages continual personal growth. Can I lift heavier weights? Score more followers on social media? Increase income year-over-year? Live a happier life? Go on more exotic vacations? More. More.
This focus on ourselves easily leads us into the lands of a narcissistic life. Not necessarily clinical diagnosis of narcissism personality disorder. But into that realm of self-absorption that turns off everyone in our path.
Spiritual formation, however, is my passion. Curiosity. Diving more deeply into spiritual reading. Consistent meditation and prayer.
Lest this interior focus take me (and you) too deeply into ourselves, we must remember the advice from the concluding chapters of Paul’s exploration of spiritual formation—his Letter to the Romans.
Whew. If we can resemble the person described here, Jesus would certainly call us his disciple. Couple inward spiritual strength with outward acts that Jesus taught.
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How can I expect people to listen to me if I don’t listen to them?
So asks black musician Daryl Davis describing his conversations with members of the Ku Klux Klan and various neo-Nazi groups.
This conversation on Adam Grant’s podcast, ReThinking: Talking people out of hate with Daryl Davis and former neo-Nazi Jeff Schoep — Worklife with Adam Grant, could be one of the most important conversations you’ll hear.
Davis recounts his early life as the child of a US diplomat living abroad and his first encounter with hate and racism at age 10. He couldn’t understand. “How can they hate me when they don’t even know me?”
Listening, with focus, and intent, without judgement, to someone whose views are anathema to us. This is so important. It is the beginning of conversation. It may not change the other person. But to them to realize they have been heard without shouting and condemnation opens doors that otherwise would be closed forever. And leading just one person out of a life of hate would cause rejoicing in heaven.
[Note: the link goes to my favorite podcast application. There was no link that I could find on Adam Grant’s website.]
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Often throughout human history a small group (usually men) gather and think that they are somehow endowed with the wisdom to tell everyone else how to live.
Jesus opposed the Jewish religious establishment of his time.
Plato wrote an essay called The Republic wherein he argues that government should be run by a small group of philosophers—because philosophers of his time pursued the “truth” and were therefore wise. Unfortunately, not all people who think they know the truth are also wise.
Throughout a large chunk of the history of Europe, the small group was composed by clerics.
Sometimes it is a group of the very wealthy.
Jesus looked at everyone who through some situation became wealthy or politically powerful or held religious power and asked a simple question—what is the status of your heart?
I have others to expand on that. Where is your focus? Do you have the humility to lead well? Can you handle your wealth for the benefit of the community?
Do not listen to mere words. Evaluate their actions. Seek the status of their heart.
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Why do smart people do stupid things? Ryan Holliday asks this in his Daily Stoic newsletter. It’s a question that jarred me. As an introvert, I feel as if I recall every stupid thing I’ve ever done. (Not saying I’m smart, but I do stupid things.)
Holliday cites the Roman philosopher Seneca, who says that anger makes us stupid.
I cite my favorite, John Climacus, aka St. John of the Ladder. In our metaphorical climb up the ladder to spiritual wholeness, anger is viewed as one of the passions that needed to be overcome.
It’s not that we’ll never experience anger. It’s an emotion that will flare like a bonfire within us. We must not lose our self-awareness. When we see these flaring up within, we need the habit of the deep breath and pause. Righteous anger can move us to make necessary change. But even it can consume us and destroy our relationships—with God, as well as with other people.
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“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.”— Søren Kierkegaard.
Kierkegaard was a Danish theologian whose thought I admire.
Need to lose a few pounds and feel more fit?
Trying to solve a vexing problem?
Looking for ideas for that essay or meditation you’re writing?
Feeling anxious?
Need to connect with God?
Take a walk.
No air pods. No headset. No music. No podcast. Just nature…or life. Maybe a small notebook and pen in your pocket with which to record ideas. OK, I cheat. I use the Notes app on my phone with the microphone and dictate thoughts.
It’s great for physical health, mental health, spiritual health. Get outside and go.
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Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 