Faith Venture

The Revised Common Lectionary readings for last Sunday contained reading from the second chapter of the letter from James (the half-brother of Jesus). This letter is part of the wisdom literature of the Bible. James applies the words of Jesus to the everyday circumstances of living a life of following Jesus.

There is obviously something here for me to infuse into my daily life. I heard a sermon and then read a meditation on the the instructions of this chapter.

Consider that the word has gone throughout the city neighborhood that there are regular meetings at your house where people sing and share stories and listen to teachers. Some of the “cool kids” from the neighborhood show up and are welcomed. Some of the geeks and poor show up. They are shown seats in the back. Some bring a cornucopia of snacks to eat during the meeting. Others have nothing.

James told his followers (and us) that behavior was flat-out wrong. 

Practice looking into your heart and then practice recognizing others from the inside out rather than the outside in.

I use the word “practice” intentionally. Life isn’t a one-shot deal. It’s practice where we do it over and over until we get it right. And then keep improving.

So, to end where I began—what areas of life do I need more intentional practice?

Often people with little money experience a happier life than people with great wealth.

Sometimes people with great (or moderate) wealth find many ways toward generosity benefitting manifold charitable organizations helping many.

Sometimes people with great (or even moderate) wealth use that wealth to wield power over people, ministries, organizations, even governments.

The common denominator—heart condition. Have you checked in with your spiritual cardiologist recently? Where is your heart regarding wealth or lack of it?

I write about practice. I practice Yoga. I practice my guitar (OK, not enough). I have spiritual practices. I encourage you often to intentionally develop practices.

Then I came to this thought from the writer Steven Pressfield, “In other words, when our motivation is grounded in our ego, we do not have a practice.”

Yes, motivation. Do I make that list in order to impress people? Or to make myself feel better? Or, do I want to improve my physical health, develop a skill, and experience God?

Checking where our ego resides becomes an important part of the day. The ego can provide strength. It can also assume power over us negating our practices.

By the way, Pressfield’s The War of Art is a classic for creatives.

Arnold Schwarzenegger forged a career from body builder to actor to “governator” of California. Preaching fitness for everyone has been a consistent concern throughout his life.

Writing this week in his daily newsletter Pump Club, he discusses how so many of us plan to do things but then never get around to actually doing.

In more than 50 years of my fitness crusade, I cannot count how many times I’ve heard people say they are planning on starting to train or planning on starting a diet. It is always a plan to start on Monday, or the first of the month, or next year. It is never a plan to start now. I see it in the comments of the Pump Club app, in the replies to our daily emails here, and I even hear it from people in the gym. Always planning. Everybody who plans has good intentions, but let’s be honest about what it really is. Planning means you’re not taking action. You’re choosing to avoid getting started. Doing takes effort. Choosing to work on yourself is hard. You know it will be uncomfortable. Changing the status quo is never easy. So you plan. You research. You spin your wheels until you say you wish you could be healthy. And then you start all over, planning and wishing. You wait and wait.

This sounds so familiar. The change you wish may be to lose weight. Or maybe start getting physically fit. Or maybe spiritually fit—I will start studying the Bible Monday or I will have a prayer and meditation session every early morning some day.

Back to Arnold:

I spoke to the annual convention of thoracic surgeons last month. When I sat down to talk to some of my cardiologist friends for coffee after my fireside chat, it was clear most people wait until the choice is made for them — or until it’s too late to make any choices at all.

Will it take a crisis of soul to divert us from the easy path to a life of intentional spiritual practices? Don’t wait for next Monday. Begin today. Right now.