Faith Venture

Seneca thought deeply and wrote on Stoic philosophy. His letters to a friend are a great read. He was also caught in a “golden cage.” He was sucked into the inner circle as an advisor to the Roman Emperor Nero. As he accumulated wealth and power and prestige, he found he could not leave. Even had he wished.

I’ve seen a letter he wrote compared to a letter the Apostle Paul wrote. They are so alike you could think one was copied from the other (probably not). They were so alike that later generations of Christians in the first four hundred years of the church actually thought Seneca was one of them.

Seneca was also a favorite of many of the founders of the US.

He wrote, “Freedom is the prize we are working for, not being a slave to anything—not to compulsion, not to chance events.” Then he said, “show me a man who isn’t a slave.” 

Americans, especially, like to proclaim individual freedom. Many think that means they can do whatever they want whenever they want to whomever they want. Thinkers like Seneca (and Paul, and others) call a time out on that thought.

Maybe we’re a slave to compulsion or to chance events. Maybe those mean whatever false and misleading, but tempting, thing we see on social media or on our chosen favorite TV “news” source. Maybe we dance to someone else’s music who can rile our emotions such that we lose our path.

Calling it a “prize we are working for” implies that we must always work for our freedom. What that usually means is freeing ourselves from our own shackles of living by the whims of our emotions or the leading of those who merely try to raise our emotional temperature.

We in the US celebrate Independence Day today in commemoration of the adopting and signing the Declaration of Independence of the British colonies in part of North America from British rule.

This advice fits as well for all the international readers of this blog as for citizens and sojourners here: take some time to slowly and carefully read the actual Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the US, and the Federalist Papers.

Digest these words from the Declaration–We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

For me “all men” means, well, all men. Also for me (as endowed later in the Constitution), all men means all humans. Yes, even women. And I am shocked and dismayed that after all these years of the movements of the mid-60s for civil rights and rights for women we still have not reached the goal. Actually, not even for all white men, either.

It seems to be a birthright of Americans to talk loudly about freedoms. It has always been my role to point out (not original with me, just read what the founders had to say!) the importance responsibility plays as the companion of freedom bringing it to its full flourishing. Seth Godin wrote today on responsibility–Demand responsibility.

I’d like to add one other idea I picked up from Andy Stanley this morning during my brisk walks around our ponds. Integrity. We have so many leaders at all levels of society lacking integrity. And that includes only the ones we hear about. Integrity belongs alongside responsibility as requirements for true freedom.

Which begs the question–where am I on the scale of responsibility and integrity? And you?

And if you’re American–celebrate well and safely. Today you can eat that hot dog and potato salad and apple pie without nutritional guilt! 😉

Someone choosing to tell you where you’re wrong says, “[insert people group they don’t like] are supposed to be subordinate to white men because [insert favorite snippet of Bible writing].”

You open Facebook (heaven forbid) and see someone you sort of know citing a “fact” that you know is way off. My lord, have I seen some very wrong or misused statistics there.

Someone cites a “fact”…

Do you ever stop to ask how they got that? Could you ask them five times nicely in order to probe more deeply, “How do you know that?” Or, “Where did you get that?”

Do you know how to find and evaluate the context and language of that quote?

Do you know how to evaluate a “study”? How to look beyond the published “statistics” at the structure of the questionnaire, the types of questions, what was the population, are they only using averages?

I am reminding myself as much as you about asking questions, digging beyond the glib and superficial. Go beyond the hype into understanding.

Drawing away from people to be alone is another of the spiritual disciplines little discussed today.

I don’t mean to suggest becoming like my heroes, the Desert Fathers of the second through fifth centuries. Some of them went a bit overboard with the solitude thing.

I can actually find solitude at a local coffee house. People and commerce and noise surround me. Yet, I know no one. I am alone in my little corner contemplating or writing. There is an energy for an introvert being around activity but not being part of it.

Alternatively, I pack a coffee and laptop and head for a park. Alone. Surrounded by trees and creatures (hopefully no larger than a raccoon or opossum). A few hours there refreshes the soul and my outlook on life.

I have been told of Catholic monasteries that will accept people who are not Catholic for a period of solitude and reflection. That’s something I’ll have to try someday.

However you can withdraw for a bit on a regular basis, do it. Your soul needs that as part of the rhythm of being alone and serving with others.

When I was training as a soccer referee, I liked the sprint part of the training. I didn’t like the distance part even though it wasn’t really that long.

Sprinting you see the finish line just ahead. You spring off the line, work up to full speed as quickly as possible, maintain that top speed for the distance.

The 2,400 meters, or even running a 5K, took a mental toll. You can’t think of the finish. You must focus on the next step. One step at a time to finish the course.

Both the Apostle Paul and the anonymous writer of the letter to the Hebrews used running and training as metaphors for life. Throw off every yoke that keeps you down and run the race set before you.

I’ve known for many years that life is more like that distance running than sprinting.

The first requirement is to see the course in long term and set out in the right direction. Changing directions comes at a heavy cost.

Then it’s one step at a time. The next decision. The next relationship. The next task. You go forward with intention. Make decisions for the long term, not for short-term enjoyments. What stupid risks are you taking? What habits detract from the goal?

Run the race a step at a time. And keep going forward.