Knowledge and Experience

December 3, 2012

First a note. Last week I was at a large manufacturing trade show in Nuremberg, Germany. It was one of those weeks where I put in 18 hour days and had little time to think–or write. So my three blogs all suffered. Getting a good WiFi connection was a further hindrance.

Events this weekend started me thinking about knowledge and experience.

We study things–say the Bible–and put stuff in our heads. Perhaps we align with the dominant Christian theology that won in 325 AD (or CE if you’re a modern historian), where the definition of who is a Christian is one who agrees with a set of statements called a doctrine.

An example. I have some training in sports first aid, first aid, cpr and the Heimlich (used on choking victims). With a long career in coaching and refereeing soccer, I have a lot of experience observing many types of injuries on the soccer pitch and know what to do and what not to do.

Until Friday though, I had never been in a life and death situation where some of my training would have paid off. I arrived home late Thursday night from Germany. I had a dinner engagement on Friday evening. While at dinner, I witnessed a choking incident. Except that it didn’t look like one in the first 30 seconds or so.

Another man came by and thought the same thing for a few seconds, but he had experience and decided that there were enough symptoms based on experience plus knowledge to apply the Heimlich maneuver and save a life.

We are in a constant situation to save our lives. We know about grace. We know in our minds how Jesus and other teachers in the Bible taught us how to live. After all, most of the teaching we find there is about how to live–now.

But, do we have the experience to actually do the right thing?

Life is about being aware of our experience and our knowledge and then making the right decision when faced with a situation so that we remain aligned with God. It takes both experience and knowledge to grow into the life-with-God.

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Understanding All the Sides of a Conflict

November 26, 2012

As you develop your spiritual practice, one attribute you want to strive to bring into your awareness is that of discernment. But to discern means you must bring in much information and then seek God’s guidance about how to interpret the information.

What I have discovered through a lifetime of observing people leads me to believe that many, if not most, people bring in just enough information to reinforce their existing beliefs or prejudices and then just stop.

There is often more to the story than what we pick up through general news reports. For example, most of us have read about the “exploited workers” in China’s factories. But has anyone actually talked to those workers to uncover just what they are really thinking? Reporter Leslie T. Chang did. She spent a couple of years living among those Chinese young workers and presented her story in a TED Talk. Turns out that reality is far different from what you read in The New York Times or Wall Street Journal.

We now have another conflict in the Palestinian area. Once again Israel thinks it can achieve peace and security through bombing and shooting. Once again the Palestinians think the same thing. It hasn’t worked for 4,000 years. Why think it will now? What are people on each side really thinking? Who can tell the real story and perhaps bring some discernment? I have yet to read anything but typical reactive reporting.

What situations in your life exist where it would be good to stop and consider what the other side is really thinking? To stop and consider each side as people rather than theoretical objects? We should ask for discernment from God to be a peacemaker rather than conflict perpetrator.

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Thanksgiving Pray Without Ceasing

November 21, 2012

There is a wonderful little book called “The Way of the Pilgrim.” It is the story of a 19th century Russian peasant who lost everything but his Bible and a verse that was stuck in his mind. In 1st Thessalonians, Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.”

The book chronicles the adventures of this man who wanders through Russia with few possessions while he tries to live out that dictum. It is hard to do–even for someone who dedicates his life to trying it.

Paul also says in the same sentence, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

In the US, we are about to celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. It’s sort of the time when the harvest is in and we can give thanks for the blessings of God who has provided us with food for the next year.

We, in fact, really don’t celebrate that exactly. We have big meals. Eat way too much. Watch some football. And get ready for the Christmas buying season. Many of my friends like to say that we are a “Christian nation.” Actually, I think we are a commercial nation where a lot of Christians live. (Note: using Christian as a noun, not as an adjective.)

Even when I am most busy, I’ll find myself pausing for a moment and thanking God for the many blessings in my life. It sort of just pops into my mind when I least expect it sometimes.

So for my American readers, here’s a prayer. Pause a few times today and tomorrow and remember your blessings. And the One who made them possible. After that, I suppose you can go out on Friday and “support the American (or Chinese or whatever) economy” 😉

Blessings.

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Practice Gratitude to Overcome Discontent

November 20, 2012

I just wrote about discontent. That seems to be the psychological condition of our time. Perhaps you suffer from that, too. At least occasionally.

Modern psychologists have researched emotions, conditions and responses. But ancient people had already figured out how we can respond to and conquer discontent. Brain science has merely confirmed what people knew back then – you can change the way you think, you can change the way you feel.

Paul shows us the way. He is always giving thanks. Our pastor used the phrase Sunday, “Gratitude leads to attitude.” As we focus on giving thanks for what we have, we establish in our minds the attitude of thankfulness instead of the attitude of neediness.

This is a great spiritual practice–to begin each day as part of your meditation to focus for a few minutes on all the blessings you have received. Then you’ll be prepared when you continue your day with the daily newspaper that tries to persuade you through editorial and advertising how much you need something else. Or television advertising, or magazines, or billboards, or every other way that marketers try to reach you with the message of discontent–if only you had this, you’d be satisfied.

Stop now and thank God.

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With God I Can Be Content In All Things

November 19, 2012

Discontent. How it can pollute our lives. And the lives of those close to us.

Paul says in Philippians that he has learned to be content in all things. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews says also to not put your faith in money, but to be content.

Some people seem to be discontented due to some sort of feelings of inadequacy. They think the world owes them, but that they do not necessarily need to earn whatever it is that will make them content–possessions, respect, position. Some people seem to feel they have to “win” at all things. They can never be content until they have won it all and done the little victory dance.

I know both the passive-aggressive types and the active-aggressive types. Bet you do, too. Neither ever seems to have enough to be content.

Contentment comes from stepping back from your daily urgencies and seeing the big picture. Where do we all fit? Where is God in all this?

My career has been in business. Supposedly, the ultimate goal in business is to make as much profit as possible. That’s winning. I’ve been there. I remember one place where I worked. Marketing a consumer electronic product. Seemed like a cool idea for a product when I accepted the position. Very small company, but lots of politics. Several discontented souls.

One day at a trade show–Comdex, once the largest electronics show–I was contemplating on the fact that we were not generating much interest. In the moment, I could see the landscape of PC development, how we were now “old” technology even though it was less than two years old, and how all this fit in the overall scheme of life.

By stepping back and asking God for perspective, I could see where it was all going. I no longer cared about the politics. In the long run, we were doomed.

I’ve seen that twice since. Same scenari0.

By being able to step back and observe even myself dispassionately, I could glimpse God’s perspective on life. I could become content with what I had, with what I had been given.

I have seen that swirl of discontent in companies and in churches many times repeated.  More than 30 years ago I learned to just quietly keep on the path with God.

And I pray that all those people who just can’t seem to find contentment would listen to Paul, live like Jesus, and let God help you find contentment and peace within your life.

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Stupidity Is Infinite?

November 16, 2012

The quote from Albert Einstein was too good to pass up:

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the universe.”

Einstein surely lived through an age where human stupidity certainly looked infinite. But today doesn’t look much better. Look at all the fighting and misery occurring in the Middle East right now. It’s not limited to there. There is a lot of hatred in America right now–we just haven’t pulled out all our guns and started shooting each other, yet. Africa is a mess. There are problems throughout Asia.

Among my spiritual disciplines is the discipline to turn off TV news. I scan news from a few trusted sources (which I constantly evaluate to assure that they should be trusted) and then turn it off. It does no good to dwell on all of this. Or the political messes over which I have no influence or control.

Certainly we have known for thousands of years about human stupidity. Check out Proverbs 26.

“Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.”

“A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.”

It is like binding a stone in a sling to give honor to a fool.”

Then he hits on lazy people.

Yoda from Star Wars, one of my favorite philosophers, perhaps because he used few words and was straight to the point, said, “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

I think we are witnessing an awful lot of that. Fear and anger. These are emotions we must all conquer within us. How? The answer is simple and hard–just like all of the Scripture teachings. Ground yourself in a life with God. What then is there to fear if you are with God? And God can quiet your anger.

The Spiritual Disciplines exist to help us focus each day on God. That’s why prayer, meditation and study are best done in the early morning. Then when you slip during the day, you can recall your foundation of the day and relax.

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Suffering Fools

November 15, 2012

There are two types of people–no, wait, I already wrote about that. Actually, last week I was in a conversation with two friends. We got into the question, are people good or bad.

We could talk theology–all people are sinners (bad).

We could talk the wisdom of Carl Sandburg (American poet) who told a story of a farmer standing by his field who was approached by two strangers, one after the other, who asked what kind of people lived in the area. He asked how the people were where they came from. One described evil, contentious people; the other described good, fair, caring people. The farmer told them both, “Well, I suppose the people around here are pretty much like the people where you came from.”

Most of us would agree that in our normal lives most people we meet are good-hearted, kind people. Unless you work on Wall Street, I suppose. There do exist angry, aggressive or otherwise emotionally disturbed people whom you learn to avoid.

Then there is the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Today’s readings took me through chapter 26. It talks about fools. About the futility of talking with fools. About avoiding fools.

Then it occurred to me–discernment. 3,000 years ago, humans had already figured out that there are different types of people in the world. Learn to discern the types and then which ones to avoid.

Are people basically good or bad? Yes. You can choose which to foster relationships with.

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Keep Your Heart With Vigilance

November 14, 2012

Yesterday the men’s study group that I join when I’m in town was discussing the Epistle of James. The question of the day was, does James, with his emphasis on doing, contract Paul, with his emphasis on grace.

It is said that Martin Luther, after discovering the power of grace, dismissed this letter.

I think they just wrote to different types of people with different goals. James assumed faith and was giving further instruction. He also wrote from the wisdom literature tradition. Paul was converting and nurturing new Christians, most of whom were Greek, not Jewish. And he wrote from the Pharisaic tradition.

But one of the guys yesterday probably nailed it when he noted, “It’s really all about what comes from the heart.”

In Proverbs we read that Wisdom says to keep her words in your heart and (4:8) “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life.”

Jesus, though, warns us that what defiles us is not what we put in our stomachs, but (Matt. 15:18) “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart and this is what defiles.” He also says to watch what you treasure for there will also be your heart.

So as we look at living a with-God life, it is well that we nurture the heart. Feed it with wisdom. Treasure the right things. And that will lead us to do good works. And we make both Paul and James happy.

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How Do You Live

November 13, 2012

“You live like a Republican,” my friend said. That’s what I get for bringing logic to an emotional discussion. What did she mean by that? Wealth? Sort of. Responsibility? I probably know as many irresponsible republicans as democrats. Christian values? I hope so, but again I know as many Christians of one party as the other.

I just live. Do what I do. I seldom, if ever, think about what people think about me. It’s always a surprise to remember that people are always watching, judging, learning.

When I am in town, I attend a men’s study group at 6:30 am on Tuesdays. They are studying James. Puzzling over faith versus works. Paul always starts with grace and faith. Then he talks about how to live your life. A common thread. How do you live?

The first churches grew because of the way the people lived. I have no idea how a Republican or a Democrat lives. But like I wrote yesterday, I have a picture of how a Christian should live. I hope I’m on my way there. I pray you are, too.

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Pictures of Faith

November 12, 2012

There are two types of people. OK, there are a million ways to say there are two types of people. I’m thinking about those who think in lists and those who think in pictures.

Give my wife directions to go somewhere, she just wants a list. I’ll use a turn-by-turn list, but I insist on have a map–a picture of the route.

Paul writes a lot of lists. I think maybe because he was writing letters and not stories. I have no idea what the education of a Pharisee entailed, but I have to believe it’s like the education of an MD today–memorizing lots of lists. So, it fit.

In Colossians, Paul makes two lists.

Here’s the list of bad traits: fornication, impurity, passions, evil desire, greed, anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive language, lies.

Here’s a list of positive traits: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, love, forgiveness, peace.

Instead of memorizing these lists, try picturing people. Do you want to be around any of the first type? How about the second?

Paul had to have studied Aristotle. Here was a philosopher who loved lists. He also developed deductive reasoning–starting from general observations to discovering fundamental truths through logical reasoning. Paul does that. He always starts with Jesus–life, death, resurrection. Then he deduces from that the way we are to live our lives day-by-day.

If we want to model our lives on Christian principles, we could memorize the list and then try to do those acts.

Or, we could put a picture in our minds of the types of people these describe. Since we become what we think about, by constantly picturing the type of person described by the second list, we can slowly become that type of person.

Trust me, it takes a lifetime to get there–at least for some of us.

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