Faith Venture

Believe it or not, I remember being an adolescent—say from maybe 14 to maybe 30. OK, some (daughter?) say I’ve never really outgrown adolescence.

Had a recent conversation about how some people today think they have the right to say anything that comes to mind—even if it’s hateful, divisive, crude. Oh, and especially if they gain plenty of notoriety on social media to hopefully acquire much money.

This reminded me of adolescence.

I thought that people who counseled morality or watching what I said was “conservative” and stifling and “Victorian.” 

Then I gained experience.

And empathy.

And I read the Letter from James, the brother of Jesus.

And I realized the wisdom of some of America’s founders—such as John Adams who advocated free speech—and the responsibilities that went with it.

Is it right to use speech to hurt people? To incite violence? To see how crude we can be? To divide people?

Is it better to use my free speech to uplift people? Bring reconciliation? Calm situations? Offer grace to others? 

I’ve read in the New Testament, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child. When I grew up, I put away childish things.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger writing in his Pump Club newsletter taught,” Old Question: Why does change feel so hard for me? Better Question: What identity am I trying to grow into, and what’s one action that person would take today?”

Arnold has been a long-time fitness evangelist. But these questions work for other changes you may wish to make. Being a better follower of Jesus, for example. Or establishing a prayer or meditation routine.

 “We tend to act in alignment with who you believe you are. And change doesn’t start when motivation shows up. It starts the moment you create your new identity, and it continues with actions that turn that belief into reality.”

Like I advised on countless New Year’s Day posts regarding resolutions. Just write what kind of person you’d like to become this year.

“Psychologists studying habit formation find that identity-based habits outlast outcome-based goals. Instead of focusing on what people want (lose weight, get fit), researchers examined who people believe they are or are becoming.”

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A famous quote from mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal reminds us that a great deal of the work is in the revision: “I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.” Source: Provincial Letters (1657)

I could write an essay on this, but it will stand as is. And it works for other communication, as well.

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When a company I worked for closed in the mid-80s, I did some PC support. Answers to two questions solved 90% of the problems. Is it plugged in? (i.e. do you have power?) Turn it off, pause 20 seconds, turn it back on.

Later working with industrial automation, the same two questions when a customer called.

This week spanning four decades of experience, the same problem/solution arose.

I was reminded of these experiences upon reading this thought from Ann Lamott, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

Feeling a bit stressed? Perhaps somewhat despondent? Can’t get started on that project?

Take a few minutes to unplug. Shut the laptop. Set the mobile phone to mute and dock it far away. Turn off the TV. Just sit. Unplugged. Five minutes can do it. Ten is great. Twenty—a miracle.

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Advice and encouragement for those facing suffering forms a consistent theme from first century Christian writers. James offers a practice and a warning.

The practice is patience. Like a farmer, practice patience and stand firm.

The warning—when things get tough, don’t grumble against one another.

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 

Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

A takeaway—just as the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, so also should we be.

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James’s characteristic blunt language echoing teachings of Jesus explores our heart in relation to wealth. Those of us blessed with some measure of wealth need to be especially aware of the status of our hearts.

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

The question we must resolve within ourselves—how do we use our wealth?

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