Faith Venture

31 Days of Wisdom

December 29, 2023

Let’s begin the New Year with a proper state of mind and attitude.

How about 31 for 31?

January has 31 days. The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament has 31 chapters. One chapter of wisdom a day for the month of January. That should orient us for success this year.

As a special bonus for yourself, turn to the first book of the New Testament and read Matthew chapters 5-7 as a daily companion. Matthew is firmly in that Jewish wisdom tradition. Called the Sermon on the Mount, this is most likely Jesus’s standard teaching as he traveled the countryside preaching. Ground yourself this core teaching about how to live.

I retired from active soccer refereeing about seven years ago promptly gaining some weight. I started lifting weights which added muscle—and weight. Then Covid plus moving to a new state disrupted my routines not helping.

This year I made slight tweaks in workout and diet. Nothing drastic. Just eating less. Cutting out or reducing greatly foods that add weight (chips and sugary crap). Increasing aerobic intensity a little. Dedicating more effort to resistance training. 104 deg hot tub four days a week (great for metabolic health and longevity). I’ve dropped 12 pounds and more than an inch from my waist. Steel cut oats for more than half of my breakfasts helped drop cholesterol to the low side of good.

You don’t need drastic lifestyle changes unless you need to drop lots of weight. Small changes done consistently make all the difference (assuming no other overriding health issues).

Here are two tips for subtle changes with big impact. Ten fruits and ten foods added to your diet replacing ultra-processed and sugary foods.

Ten Fruits

Blueberries
Apples
Oranges (not juice)
Raspberries
Blackberries
Prunes
Tomatoes
Bananas
Watermelon
Avocados

Ten Foods

Quinoa
Eggs
Salmon
Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes
Blueberries
Almonds
Spinach
Lean Chicken
Oatmeal

Posted in Disciplines, Physical, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »

Am I Doing My Best?

December 28, 2023

Former US President Jimmy Carter tells about interviewing with Admiral Rickover the leader of the nuclear-powered submarine fleet for a position after graduating from the US Naval Academy. Rickover asked him, “Have you always done your best?” Carter reflected and answered honestly, “No, I have to say I haven’t.”

That led to a resolution to always do his best. (And immediately brought to mind several, or many, times I’ve failed to do my best.)

Writer and venture capitalist Om Malik says (about surviving a heart attack 16 years ago), “I often ask myself: am I making the most of this additional time? Why am I wasting time on meaningless things? Today, I’ve pondered this a lot. If I’m honest, I admit I do need to make a few adjustments.”

This week as we look forward to a new year and perhaps a new start these questions are a great launching for reflecting on where we go from here.

Have I always done my best? Why not?
How can I make the most of my time this year?
Where am I wasting time on meaningless things?

Posted in Disciplines, Thinking | Leave a Comment »

Kind Hearts

December 27, 2023

Kind hearts are the garden,

kind thoughts are the roots,

kind words are the blossoms,

kind deeds are the fruits.
John Ruskin

We are approaching the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. Think not of New Year’s Resolutions or goals. Or even “I resolve to be a kinder person next year.” These never succeed.

No, rather, look at yourself. What sort of person are you? What sort of person would you like to be? Perhaps write in your journal or calendar (diary) a brief description of the person you would like to be. Here is a suggestion. Write, I will be the sort of person who

Cultivates a kind heart,
Redirects thoughts and feelings intentionally toward kindness,
Pauses before speaking then speaking with kindness,
Instinctively acts toward others with kindness.

At the conclusion of the year, people will say about me, “there went a kind person.”

Posted in Compassion, focus | 1 Comment »

After Christmas, So What?

December 26, 2023

This morning a young boy was trying out his new scooter for the first time. At first hesitant. Unsure of balance. Within five minutes joyfully pushing along the sidewalk at speed.

Christmas gift. Joyous.

An early (the first) theory about spiritual life applying to Jesus explained the complete difference between spiritual and physical life. Everything physical (called the flesh in Biblical translations) is bad, dirty, evil. Everything spiritual is pure, light, good.

And never the twain shall meet.

A substantial chunk of the first writing about Jesus emphasized his physical side. He gestated within a woman. Was born, a baby, had to be fed and cleaned, and rocked to quiet. He had to learn to walk and speak the language (most likely more than one). No story of him in ministry even suggests that he was something other than a male human being.

Ah, but another chunk of writing tries to explain how Jesus was so uniquely filled spiritually. Writers have great difficulty trying to explain spiritual things. But several letters and other writings took great pain to try to explain how Jesus was so completely filled with the spirit of God.

(Later a bunch of smart theologian types came up with the theory of the Trinity to try to explain spiritual things in human terms. It remains a hard concept to understand for many people. I understand that difficulty and sympathize.)

These writers carefully and logically disputed the Gnostic view of life. (I’ve simplified so that I don’t have to write an essay.)

After Christmas we have a life of a real man. And he taught and showed how we can each have a part of that. He wanted everyone, not just the chosen few, to have a better life. Paul tried to define that life as the fruit of the spirit—found in chapter 5 of the Epistle to the Galatians: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

We will all shortly be considering how to live in 2024. Rather than some list of “resolutions” that we’ll never follow, we could say “I want to be the kind of person who lives that life.”

Posted in Christianity, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Merry Christmas

December 25, 2023

In the old tradition a Feast Day of Celebration. Not necessarily Jesus’s birthday, since that exact day was not recorded. But a celebration with a fancy theology word—incarnation. A special human was born who was filled with the spirit of God. God coming to earth.

Today is almost anti-climax celebration for us. The family gathered Saturday. We attended Christmas Eve 11 pm service last night. My wife is celebrating by making cinnamon rolls from scratch for breakfast. As an enneagram type 1, it warms her heart to cook special meals and treats.

This season brings out connections that may happen only occasionally. I reached out to a nephew in prison. He has no parents. My wife reached out to a former student who suffers from mental/emotional problems. She responded with a Merry Christmas text.

Those remind us that not everyone’s celebration is without a mixture of grief or sadness. To those we reach out sending the spirit of comfort.

Still, we send wishes of Love, Hope, Peace, and Joy to everyone everywhere. Pause, take a deep breath, and bring those into your spirit, at least for a bit, today.

Posted in advent, Christianity | 1 Comment »

A Blessing for this Day

December 22, 2023

I am writing this the day after the Winter solstice. For us in the Northern Hemisphere the days will be getting longer each day for the next six months. Christmas is a feast day celebrated in ancient times as the day they definitely knew that the days were getting longer and the optimism of light and warmth grew.

It is only natural that the early Church co-opted the day to celebrate the light of God entering the world. It’s a celebration. I hope you all can find a way to celebrate this year.

I leave you with this blessing for the day from John O’Donohue:

May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,

Clear in word,

Gracious in awareness,

Courageous in thought,

Generous in love.
John O’Donohue

Posted in advent, Grace, Gratitude | Leave a Comment »

Strengthen Body to Strengthen Mind

December 21, 2023

Yoga, it was taught when I took teacher training, was developed to strengthen the body so that a person could sit in mediation longer and more fruitfully. This idea goes back thousands of years.

“We treat the body rigorously,” Seneca said, “so that it will not be disobedient to the mind.”

Seneca was a contemporary of the apostle Paul. He was a Stoic philosopher back when philosophy was the study of how to live a better life. Much of what he wrote sounded so much like Paul it was eerie.

Wendy Suzuki, PhD, professor, and neurobiology researcher, discovered that physical activity had many positive impacts on the brain.

Getting exercise as you are able has been shown to improve tendencies of depression.

Developing spiritual practices in your life benefit from adding physical practices. Paul used many examples from athletics in his letters—that was probably not an accident. He saw the benefits of the discipline and health of those athletes.

When you feel stronger and healthier, your study, prayer, and service become easier.

Try a couple of these several times per week:

Running
Sprints alternating with jog or walk (high intensity interval training)
Walking
Cycling
Resistance training (with weights or bodyweight)
Yoga
Pilates
Water Aerobics
Swimming

Switch it up to keep it interesting.

It’s the holidays, a time where weight gain is easy. Exercise will help a little to counter that.

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To Whom Do You Listen For Guidance?

December 20, 2023

Have you noticed that often when trying to think of something success comes when you stop trying so hard? Trying to remember a name? Stop trying, divert attention. Ten minutes later, “Aha! That’s the name.”

Maybe you are in your prayer position—sitting in a favorite chair, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, the tradition on your knees posture. You are earnestly trying to receive a message from God. Nothing. Then you take a walk around the neighborhood or at a nearby park. Something comes to you. Probably God speaking in the wind or sun.

Sometimes we may slip into a mood of taking counsel from the voices feeding our anxiety, particularly those who benefit from our worry. Get off social media and TV news. See the above taking a walk therapy.

Sometimes we have friends of acquaintances who have more opinion than perspective. Rather than taking guidance just nod slowly and then go, well, for that walk.

Matthew begins his story of the birth of Jesus with God talking to Joseph through an angel in his dream. Joseph listened and acted. Luke begins his with an angel with a message for Mary from God. She listened. She acted.

God is weird. He comes to us in the most unexpected moments in the most unexpected ways. We cannot force it. Therefore to constant advice about being ever vigilant, like the story of the bridesmaids waiting for the husband’s arrival. They were prepared (extra oil, just in case) and vigilant.

Here we are. Almost at the end of Advent. Still vigilant I hope. Still expectant. Welcoming a new presence of God. Are you ready?

Posted in advent, Waiting | Leave a Comment »

Growth Cycle

December 19, 2023

I came across this bit of wisdom from a newsletter:

“The three stages of career development are: 1. I want to be in the meeting 2. I want to run the meeting 3. I want to avoid meetings.”

I have lived that wisdom. I was honored to be included in meetings as s youngster. Before long I began to think that the meetings would be so much more useful if I ran them. Yes, I longed to be in charge. Then I was in charge a few times. I tried to dispense with meetings.

Beneficial meetings exist in certain contexts. I was on a school board for a few years and on the boards of non-profits at times. Meetings where the point is making decisions to take the organization forward are essential. Meetings to talk about stuff—I can live much better without.

I’ve seen the cycle so many times. I long to be in charge. I am in charge and that feels great. Well, being in charge really isn’t that great; I just want to get things accomplished.

Do you think that Jesus’s disciples went through that cycle? Maybe they didn’t understand that Jesus skipped part 2? He shunned being King in the power-over-others sense. He taught. He led. He sacrificed.

This time of year we strive to remember his coming and struggle once again with why. It’s a time to pause and consider.

Posted in Growth | Leave a Comment »

Joy–The Third Advent Candle

December 18, 2023

One neighbor came to the neighborhood Christmas party last weekend. She kept checking her phone. No, she was not being anti-social. They were expecting their first grandchild at any time. Expectation. Anticipation.

My wife received a message this morning. Baby girl. 7 lbs. Everyone well. Joy in the neighbor’s family. And the neighborhood.

That is like this season of the Christian calendar. Anticipation. Expectation. Then, Joy.

This morning I read from Matthew. He begins with the genealogy of Jesus. It was important for him to place Jesus in the context of Jewish history. The history of God working through people.

His next report is short and to the point. Mary finds herself pregnant without having had sexual relations. Then her fiancé, Joseph, hears about it (you can’t keep a secret in small villages, I know, I grew up in one). He is described as honorable. He decides he’ll just quietly divest himself of her but in such a way that she won’t be stoned. Well, a dream, an angel, God speaks. It’ll all be OK.

Dread. Expectation. Anticipation. Joy. A baby was born. They named him Joshua (the Lord saves) or in English Jesus.

Joy can be described as a temporary emotion triggered by a happy event. I think of it more as an attitude of life resulting from the indwelling of the Spirit. Joy helps us weather the inevitable disappointments and tragedies. Not at the time, but as we ride out the storm and come to a new normal living with the Spirit. Now Joy, like Peace, takes us to a deeper place.

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