Faith Venture

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.

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.

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.

How do you make decisions? Do you collect information, weigh it, make an informed decision? Do you just go with a fast “hunch?” Do you collect information, then collect more information, then analyze, then collect more information…?

Consider a couple of Proverbs. “Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisors they succeed.” (15:22) “Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.” (11:14)

While I can make a quick decision when necessary, I prefer not to do that. I absorb information from many sources, some may not even realize they are advising, before doing many thing. Especially in business planning.

It’s important to realize that the Proverb only tells you to get advice–preferably from a number (abundance) of sources. It doesn’t tell you that you can blame them if things go wrong. We are all still responsible for our decisions.

Bill Hybels of the Willow Creek Community Church recently talked about the need for discernment with advice. He referred to Rehoboam, son of Solomon who became the fourth king of Israel. When he became king, the people who had suffered under the hard work and high taxes of David and Solomon while they built the Temple and palaces petitioned him for relief. He sought advice from two sources–the older generation of his father’s advisors and a group contemporary to him. He picked the wrong one (the young ones) and destroyed the work of his father and grandfather. Following a rebellion, the northern 10 tribes split from the southern two leaving him with just a remnant of the former powerful state.

When you are facing a decision, gather advice from a number of trusted sources. Don’t stop there. Also consult God. Then make your decision knowing that you’ll have to live with it.

By the way, I’m in Philadelphia this week. The “city of brotherly love.” Although Philadelphia seems to be more known by the absence of that trait–at least among its sports fans–I pray that after this ridiculously bitter election season Americans can start to exhibit a little more brotherly love if not even agape love. And I am so happy to see my reader and friend from Brazil this week. Safe travels home!