Balanced

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” – Ephesians 4:2

He was at it again.  News reports yesterday told of yet another high wire act by Nik Wallenda.  He walked a narrow wire some 200 feet above a busy highway in Florida.  Why?  I have no idea.  It is just something his family has been doing for generations.  I’m guessing he is just a victim of bad genetics.

Sometime when I read the apostle Paul, I get this feeling that the Christian life is a balancing act.  Sometimes Paul seems harsh and judgmental, i.e. “hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed….” (visit 1 Corinthians 5:5)

And then we’ll read, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”  Is Paul confused?  No, he is balanced.  The Christian walk is a balance, sometimes not so unlike the walk of those Wallenda-gened people.  On one hand, we need to make some careful judgments about right verses wrong; we do.  On the other hand, we can never do so in any frame of mind other than being “humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” It is as Peter wrote, “love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (visit 1 Peter 4:8)

Speak truth, yes.  Do so always with the goal of love.  When we are tempted to lash out; OK, when I am tempted to lash out (I can’t speak for any of you), let Ephesians 4:2 provide a braking mechanism.

Of course, if you are like me, maybe it’s just best to avoid that high wire in the first place.  Count on Christ to direct your walk…..

Pancakes

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8

This passage is an attitude changer.  If your life is like mine, not every day is a bed of roses.  Everything is not perfect.  Everyone is not happy. Sometimes there is just not enough pancakes.

So the apostle Paul has the antidote.  Consider, as we go through the everyday trials, all the good things the Lord has laid upon your life.  If you really, really consider your true circumstances in the Lord….

When asked the question, how am I doing, I usually answer, “Better than I deserve,” a true enough thought although sometimes that phrase hides what is going on.  And then Paul writes, “…Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

So.  Ok.  I think of pancakes.  Seriously.  There is nothing that a good breakfast featuring pancakes can’t smooth over or mellow out.  And it’s not that so much that I love pancakes, I think just the smell on the griddle puts me in a good place.

Pancakes.

Ok, maybe it’s not the pancakes. Maybe the pancakes represent something greater.  Like grace. For me, all I have to think of is grace (ahem, not pancakes)…and my attitude changes.  Oh, I also have plenty of other things in my life that fits into Paul’s phrase…but even they have their origins and promises in God’s grace.

I am blessed.  I have no excuse for a bad attitude.  None.  Pancakes…or not.

What about you.  What do you think of in your life that is right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praise worthy?  Create a list if you need to.

And have a great day!  And enjoy being better than anyone of us deserves!

Rocci

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” - James 1:5

An old high school friend of mine passed away last week.  I hadn’t seen him since, well, the summer after high school.  About 100 years ago.

He was a cancer survivor, but ultimately he could not survive what it took to overcome the cancer.  The various treatments took a terrible toll on his body, and a month ago, after yet another stay in the hospital, he put himself into hospice care.  If I remember correctly, he made a statement to the effect that he needed to take quality of life over longevity of life at that point.

Rocci and I, as older wizened adults, had little in common.  He held many opinions that simply that I did not agree with.  I always thought that as we got older, we got more conservative.  I certainly have.  Rocci flagrantly bucked that trend.  I called him my Facebook provocateur; his posts frequently amazed and irritated me…sometimes though, they made me think and evaluate why I disagreed with him.  That was never a bad thing.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  Maybe I’m not so sure how wise Rocci always was; he probably thought the same of me.  But it seems that he made a decision soaked in wisdom when he went into hospice care.  And seemingly handled it with a grace that I can only pray to muster when my time comes.

I’m praying for Rocci’s family.  But I’m also praying for wisdom.  And depending on grace for all involved.

Rocci is missed.

Here is a link to his obituary, which he wrote just prior to his death....

Sow

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8

The apostle Paul did not have to tell us this. We all know this by experience.  We reap what we sow.  Good or bad.  And we are all familiar with the outcomes of what we sow.  ‘Tis the human condition to sow…bad and good.

We’ve all done both.

However, there is a lot of good news in this passage.  The good news is this: “…whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”  There are things in life to strive for.  If we have our overall priorities right, we will more often work to “please the Spirit.”

Since it’s still early in the year…how about making this your New Year’s resolution?

To work at pleasing the Spirit.  To sow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Visit Galatians 5:22,23)

And….

When we fail (notice I say, ‘when,’ not ‘if’), may we not forget, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (Visit 1 John 1:9)  Yes God cannot be mocked, Paul is right. But if we are His then…God’s faithfulness is a grand affair that includes forgiveness.

We are loved by the one who wants us to do things that please His Spirit.  Let us be more and more about that.