God's will?
I don't think God charts a path for us like choosing a path in a maze--life is not a maze with only one possible way through.
God gave us free will, and that's not just free will to choose right or wrong--on the path or off the path--but it's free will to be creative and open. There are many possible paths we can choose, and there isn't necessarily a single right one. God wants us to be creative and imaginative in how we live out the call to follow Jesus, to love each other, and to love God.
Which to me is a very freeing thought.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Friday, November 19, 2004
Being Happy with What You've Got
Part 2
This sounds counter-intuitive, but the spiritual practice of giving will actually help you be happier with what you already have.
It helps to have a sense of a larger scheme of life, to believe there are spiritual realities beyond your comprehension that help the universe to turn in mysterious and sometimes beneficial ways.
Jesus talks about it like this:
If you look at flowers, God dresses them more beautifully than any emperor, but in a few weeks or months they'll get thrown in the wood chipper. And God loves you so much more than flowers! Or, if you look at a little bird, God knows every time it lands on a new tree branch. And God knows you so much better than a little bird. Don't worry about what you'll wear or what you'll eat, because God will take care of you. God knows you and knows what you need. (See Matthew 6 for the whole speech)
What's the best way to really believe this? Not by sitting around and repeating it to yourself, but by acting on it. Because sometimes we don't believe something first and then act on it. Sometimes we have to act first and believe afterwards.
So if you really would like to believe that God will take care of you, act on that assumption: write out a check to a charity, or find some time to spend volunteering. You'll still have enough, and you'll still be taken care of. Because that's what it takes to be happy with what you've got: really believing that what you have is enough.
Part 2
This sounds counter-intuitive, but the spiritual practice of giving will actually help you be happier with what you already have.
It helps to have a sense of a larger scheme of life, to believe there are spiritual realities beyond your comprehension that help the universe to turn in mysterious and sometimes beneficial ways.
Jesus talks about it like this:
If you look at flowers, God dresses them more beautifully than any emperor, but in a few weeks or months they'll get thrown in the wood chipper. And God loves you so much more than flowers! Or, if you look at a little bird, God knows every time it lands on a new tree branch. And God knows you so much better than a little bird. Don't worry about what you'll wear or what you'll eat, because God will take care of you. God knows you and knows what you need. (See Matthew 6 for the whole speech)
What's the best way to really believe this? Not by sitting around and repeating it to yourself, but by acting on it. Because sometimes we don't believe something first and then act on it. Sometimes we have to act first and believe afterwards.
So if you really would like to believe that God will take care of you, act on that assumption: write out a check to a charity, or find some time to spend volunteering. You'll still have enough, and you'll still be taken care of. Because that's what it takes to be happy with what you've got: really believing that what you have is enough.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Being Happy with What You've Got
About six months ago a friend told me about a disappointment: he had been expecting his yearly raise to be of a certain amount, and, based on that expectation he'd made reservations for a big beautiful trip to the Carribean. But the raise wasn't as much as he'd expected and he had to cancel the trip.
So you can see this problem in two ways: on the one hand, my friend didn't get the raise that he was hoping for, and so the problem is that he doesn't have enough. But on the other hand you can see the problem as being that he was planning ahead for the next raise before he even knew what it would be. The problem, in other words, is not that he didn't have enough, but that he wanted too much.
Probably this is a subtle distinction, but it's really the key to happiness. We'll never have everything, but we can learn to be happy with what we've got.
About six months ago a friend told me about a disappointment: he had been expecting his yearly raise to be of a certain amount, and, based on that expectation he'd made reservations for a big beautiful trip to the Carribean. But the raise wasn't as much as he'd expected and he had to cancel the trip.
So you can see this problem in two ways: on the one hand, my friend didn't get the raise that he was hoping for, and so the problem is that he doesn't have enough. But on the other hand you can see the problem as being that he was planning ahead for the next raise before he even knew what it would be. The problem, in other words, is not that he didn't have enough, but that he wanted too much.
Probably this is a subtle distinction, but it's really the key to happiness. We'll never have everything, but we can learn to be happy with what we've got.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Poverty II
Was just watching Bill Cosby on TV talking about encouraging disadvantaged people to be somebody. And it seems like he is working on this personal responsibility piece of the poverty equation. And it's amazing the kind of resistance people put up (or at least the kind of resistance Paula Zahn of CNN kept quoting, anyway). But really, what's so bad about encouraging people to be their best selves? Being a victim of circumstances does not take away your ability to act.
Of course, it can limit knowledge, choices, and self-esteem.
So how does real change come about? Both at the macro and the micro levels. And christians concerned about poverty will work at both ends of that spectrum.
I think we're in a particularly good position, in some ways, to do this. First of all, God's with us. Second of all, a community is both a source of nurture and a source of strength--a church can help people make better choices, and it can work for change on a society-wide level.
I appreciate what Shannon said in response to my last post--she wishes churches would get moving and start acting. There are at least two things to address, however:
1. Focus. Poverty is such a large problem it's impossible to address the whole thing. So finding a place for focus and passion is necessary.
2. The church's tendency to preserve itself. This is true of any organization--they are first built to achieve a goal, but the process of maintaining the institution can get in the way. Church can become another way to maintain the status quo.
This are both difficult problems, and not easily overcome. But if your calling is to be a christian, then this is part of that call. A christian's relationship with God is not soley for their personal benefit, but so that they can help make a difference in the larger world.
Was just watching Bill Cosby on TV talking about encouraging disadvantaged people to be somebody. And it seems like he is working on this personal responsibility piece of the poverty equation. And it's amazing the kind of resistance people put up (or at least the kind of resistance Paula Zahn of CNN kept quoting, anyway). But really, what's so bad about encouraging people to be their best selves? Being a victim of circumstances does not take away your ability to act.
Of course, it can limit knowledge, choices, and self-esteem.
So how does real change come about? Both at the macro and the micro levels. And christians concerned about poverty will work at both ends of that spectrum.
I think we're in a particularly good position, in some ways, to do this. First of all, God's with us. Second of all, a community is both a source of nurture and a source of strength--a church can help people make better choices, and it can work for change on a society-wide level.
I appreciate what Shannon said in response to my last post--she wishes churches would get moving and start acting. There are at least two things to address, however:
1. Focus. Poverty is such a large problem it's impossible to address the whole thing. So finding a place for focus and passion is necessary.
2. The church's tendency to preserve itself. This is true of any organization--they are first built to achieve a goal, but the process of maintaining the institution can get in the way. Church can become another way to maintain the status quo.
This are both difficult problems, and not easily overcome. But if your calling is to be a christian, then this is part of that call. A christian's relationship with God is not soley for their personal benefit, but so that they can help make a difference in the larger world.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Poverty
I'm sure this is the kind of sexy title that's going to draw a lot of interest.
But poverty is one of the core issues that all christians need to be concerned about, whether we are rich or poor.
Like I was explaining in my section on weight loss (below) God loves our bodies, and understands that we have material needs. Poverty strains our bodies and puts us at risk of not having our basic needs met. It is wearing, worrying existence.
Individual circumstances that can lead to poverty:
Poor personal choices, single motherhood/domestic violence, coming to the country poor, substance abuse, health problems.
Institutional causes of poverty:
Unfair labor practices, poorly designed government policies, racism, lackluster education, outrageously expensive health care.
These are some of the causes. Christians can make a difference. Let's consider together how.
I'm sure this is the kind of sexy title that's going to draw a lot of interest.
But poverty is one of the core issues that all christians need to be concerned about, whether we are rich or poor.
Like I was explaining in my section on weight loss (below) God loves our bodies, and understands that we have material needs. Poverty strains our bodies and puts us at risk of not having our basic needs met. It is wearing, worrying existence.
Individual circumstances that can lead to poverty:
Poor personal choices, single motherhood/domestic violence, coming to the country poor, substance abuse, health problems.
Institutional causes of poverty:
Unfair labor practices, poorly designed government policies, racism, lackluster education, outrageously expensive health care.
These are some of the causes. Christians can make a difference. Let's consider together how.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
The Election
I'm sad John Kerry didn't win, especially because of the things that were at stake this time around--Supreme Court justices, the environment, gay rights, and so on. And wouldn't it have been nice to not have to worry about health insurance the next time I'm unemployed?
But this election season has been a good one for me, I think. I've started listening a little more closely to hear what people on the other side of the fence are saying. I've become less likely to think of the opposition as monolithic, and have learned far more than I ever wanted to know about political strategy. These are gifts.
One thing that I wish had been different about this race: I wish that instead of telling us what they were going to do for us, or attacking each other, that our candidates had said more about what we as a nation can do together. Sure, politicians are in public service, but part of that service is to inspire us to be more than we are--our best selves and our best nation.
My wish list for 2008: less fearmongering, less pandering, fewer promises, and more responsibility and power given to ordinary Americans.
It would also be nice to hear about poverty now and then. And our crazy prison system. And...
In the meantime, I'm trying to think of reasons why it's good for me that Bush is in office. Here's a start:
1. His sudden interest in civil unions (is that a flip-flop, George?)
2. I might get to misspend my own Social Security money now, rather than having the government do it for me. (Penny stocks, here I come!)
3. Continued fodder for the Daily Show.
I'm sad John Kerry didn't win, especially because of the things that were at stake this time around--Supreme Court justices, the environment, gay rights, and so on. And wouldn't it have been nice to not have to worry about health insurance the next time I'm unemployed?
But this election season has been a good one for me, I think. I've started listening a little more closely to hear what people on the other side of the fence are saying. I've become less likely to think of the opposition as monolithic, and have learned far more than I ever wanted to know about political strategy. These are gifts.
One thing that I wish had been different about this race: I wish that instead of telling us what they were going to do for us, or attacking each other, that our candidates had said more about what we as a nation can do together. Sure, politicians are in public service, but part of that service is to inspire us to be more than we are--our best selves and our best nation.
My wish list for 2008: less fearmongering, less pandering, fewer promises, and more responsibility and power given to ordinary Americans.
It would also be nice to hear about poverty now and then. And our crazy prison system. And...
In the meantime, I'm trying to think of reasons why it's good for me that Bush is in office. Here's a start:
1. His sudden interest in civil unions (is that a flip-flop, George?)
2. I might get to misspend my own Social Security money now, rather than having the government do it for me. (Penny stocks, here I come!)
3. Continued fodder for the Daily Show.
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