The other night I was flipping through the channels and caught the end of the moving Armageddon – the one with Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler and Ben Afleck. I always cry when Bruce has his last conversation with Liv, a single father, saying good-bye to his only daughter just before he saves the world. I cry even harder just as he pushes the button on the nuke and his life with Liv, including the future he will miss, passes before his eyes.
And, if possible, I collapse further when all the military, NASA technicians, politicians and scientists embrace, slap each other on the back, whoop and holler with glee. But I am not watching them. I am watching Liv Tyler, separated from the group and looking down at the revelry, detached from it all. You can read it on her face, “yes, the world is saved, but I have just lost my father.”
Finally, Billy Bob Thorton’s character looks up and understands what she is going through. He goes to Liv and holds her while she cries on his shoulder.
This world is a hectic place. Our lives are busy. Our days are full. Most of us move about in a rush from one item to the next on our never-ending “to do” lists – never noticing the hurting people around us. You can spend your whole life doing the important, necessary, legal, moral and right things that make up our daily chores, but still miss out on our biggest opportunities to impact the lives around us.
You and I are not very likely to be called upon to literally save the world. But probably every week of our lives we have the opportunity to spend a few minutes making someone else’s life better with a card, a kind word, a phone call, a visit. It doesn’t take much time or even any money.
It does require an ability to focus on things outside of the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life.
I confess that this is a problem for me. At this point in my life I just want to come home from a long day at work, eat dinner and vegetate. I often end up doing household chores and just preparing for the next day. Sometimes I have work for DCM to do.
Recently, I had a friend in the hospital. I wasn’t able to visit her before I took off on a trip for work. When I got back, I came down with the flu. I still have not been to see her. I do call, but it isn’t the same for my friend. She feels the need to see me.
My life is busy. I am doing meaningful things – earning a living, working at DCM, trying to keep myself healthy with exercise a few days a week, trying to build my marriage. I find that there are people who are important to me who are getting left out of the equation. Yet, if you asked me I’d say relationships are very important to me, but, big sigh, there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
Truth is, I need to focus on each thing before me, and not lose focus on what I say is most important. So, I guess this blog is for me. But I hope it touches you too. There are enough hours in the day – not to meet everyone’s needs, but to meet a few, even in the busiest day. I’m going
to try. You should too.
Love, Nancy
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
I remember once being so sick with a sinus infection that it was all I could do to get my older kids off to school before I’d collapse on the bed again, with the TV on to entertain the youngest child, trying to gather my strength to make lunch in a couple of hours. It didn’t last long, but for a time I knew that I could only do the very most basic, necessary things. I literally had no energy to spare for anything but caring for my children’s most basic needs.
It is strange how a near-death experience, a devastating illness, the death of a loved one, a job loss or a natural disaster will change your focus, at least for a time. Suddenly, you pare your life down to what is most important. More often than not, you slow down either to enjoy the remaining moments or because the illness or injury requires that you do.
What things in life bring you the most joy? What things give you the most satisfaction? When asked these questions, people routinely list the simple things in life – those that don’t really cost anything – like walks in the woods, hearing their children laugh, eating with friends and even enjoying the company of a beloved pet.
Why do we humans need some external force to propel us to what should be the core focuses of our lives any way? One reason could be that we have come to consider being busy as a badge of honor. We are a busy people here in the USA.
But could it also be that we have forgotten what David said in Psalm 39:4-5 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand…” (New Living Translation)
The truth is, we are all dying – even if you have just received a clean bill of health from your doctor. If it were not for the plan of God and the sacrifice of Christ, that would be the end of it. We can be thankful there is more after this life has ended.
We should also be thankful for the time we have in this life – here on earth, as human beings. This life isn’t just to be endured through gritted teeth. There is a lot of joy to be gained, if we use our time wisely, knowing that in this life, time is finite resource.
Life isn’t always good. Bad things happen. But we don’t have to be diagnosed with cancer in order to focus on the most important things in life.
Why not reconcile with a long, lost friend now and enjoy some quality time? Why not invest more time playing with your kids, use some time to really talk your mate, spend time gazing at the stars and contemplating the universe now? If these things are the kinds of activities to which we assign the highest value (and they are), if they are the things that bring us the greatest sense of satisfaction (they are), if they are the things we would do if we had six months to live (that is what we say), why aren’t we doing them now?
Why wait for some external force to realign your priorities? We have “all the time in the world.” It just isn’t enough time that we can waste it on things that don’t matter. Your days are numbered and, most likely, you don’t know when your number of days will be up. So, spend the time of your life wisely.
Love, Nancy
It is strange how a near-death experience, a devastating illness, the death of a loved one, a job loss or a natural disaster will change your focus, at least for a time. Suddenly, you pare your life down to what is most important. More often than not, you slow down either to enjoy the remaining moments or because the illness or injury requires that you do.
What things in life bring you the most joy? What things give you the most satisfaction? When asked these questions, people routinely list the simple things in life – those that don’t really cost anything – like walks in the woods, hearing their children laugh, eating with friends and even enjoying the company of a beloved pet.
Why do we humans need some external force to propel us to what should be the core focuses of our lives any way? One reason could be that we have come to consider being busy as a badge of honor. We are a busy people here in the USA.
But could it also be that we have forgotten what David said in Psalm 39:4-5 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand…” (New Living Translation)
The truth is, we are all dying – even if you have just received a clean bill of health from your doctor. If it were not for the plan of God and the sacrifice of Christ, that would be the end of it. We can be thankful there is more after this life has ended.
We should also be thankful for the time we have in this life – here on earth, as human beings. This life isn’t just to be endured through gritted teeth. There is a lot of joy to be gained, if we use our time wisely, knowing that in this life, time is finite resource.
Life isn’t always good. Bad things happen. But we don’t have to be diagnosed with cancer in order to focus on the most important things in life.
Why not reconcile with a long, lost friend now and enjoy some quality time? Why not invest more time playing with your kids, use some time to really talk your mate, spend time gazing at the stars and contemplating the universe now? If these things are the kinds of activities to which we assign the highest value (and they are), if they are the things that bring us the greatest sense of satisfaction (they are), if they are the things we would do if we had six months to live (that is what we say), why aren’t we doing them now?
Why wait for some external force to realign your priorities? We have “all the time in the world.” It just isn’t enough time that we can waste it on things that don’t matter. Your days are numbered and, most likely, you don’t know when your number of days will be up. So, spend the time of your life wisely.
Love, Nancy
Saturday, October 11, 2008
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TRAUMATIZED ELEPHANT?
“What do you do with a traumatized elephant?” seems like the start of a joke, but an August 15 article in the Dallas Morning News (written by James C. McKinley, Jr.) brought up that exact question. The debate was over whether to send Jenny (a 32-year-old African elephant) to a 300 acre drive-through park in Mexico or a 2,700 acre sanctuary in Tennessee.
Jenny had been orphaned, “stolen” from Africa, sent to the circus in the USA and beaten by her trainer. The experience left her with mental problems which resulted in self-mutilation and depression. For the past 22 years, Jenny has been given humane and loving care by the Dallas Zoo.
The debate was about whether she should live out her “last years” in seclusion, considering what human beings have put her through. Elephants have about the same average life-span as human beings (70-80 years). Jenny may have many years left to live with her emotional scars.
If you’ve ever watched the Dog Whisperer, you know that traumatized dogs can be rehabilitated. If we can go by the movie The Horse Whisperer it seems that the same goes for traumatized horses. So, I wonder why, after 22 years of tender loving care, Jenny still has her emotional scars. Perhaps this gives credence to the old saying “an elephant never forgets.”
It is not my intent to review your responsibility to go to an injured brother to ask for forgiveness. Nor do I intend to cover the need to forgive others.
What I want to say is, after the forgiveness occurs, after the war is over, after amends have been made, there is still the trauma and emotional scars in need of healing. You and God have to deal with those.
The book of Jonah deals with this subject. Jonah had some hurt feelings and reason to be a bit depressed about the forgiveness of Ninevah, knowing, as he did, that they would ultimately oppress his people. God dealt with Jonah privately, teaching him a lesson through the miracle of the gourd about compassion.
Jonah had to be willing to learn, be willing to let go, and be open to God’s teaching. Otherwise, the hurt and trauma he felt could have haunted him for the rest of his life.
People do mean, ugly things, sometimes deliberately. When they repent, when reconciliation and forgiveness occurs, sometimes there is still healing to be done that only God can do. I encourage you to seek His healing for all your emotional needs. Don’t carry them around for the rest of your life and let them influence your behavior. You are the one that is hurt by that, more than any other.
God is the Human Whisperer. Only He can rehabilitate traumatized humans. And He will if you seek His healing.
With love,
Nancy
Jenny had been orphaned, “stolen” from Africa, sent to the circus in the USA and beaten by her trainer. The experience left her with mental problems which resulted in self-mutilation and depression. For the past 22 years, Jenny has been given humane and loving care by the Dallas Zoo.
The debate was about whether she should live out her “last years” in seclusion, considering what human beings have put her through. Elephants have about the same average life-span as human beings (70-80 years). Jenny may have many years left to live with her emotional scars.
If you’ve ever watched the Dog Whisperer, you know that traumatized dogs can be rehabilitated. If we can go by the movie The Horse Whisperer it seems that the same goes for traumatized horses. So, I wonder why, after 22 years of tender loving care, Jenny still has her emotional scars. Perhaps this gives credence to the old saying “an elephant never forgets.”
It is not my intent to review your responsibility to go to an injured brother to ask for forgiveness. Nor do I intend to cover the need to forgive others.
What I want to say is, after the forgiveness occurs, after the war is over, after amends have been made, there is still the trauma and emotional scars in need of healing. You and God have to deal with those.
The book of Jonah deals with this subject. Jonah had some hurt feelings and reason to be a bit depressed about the forgiveness of Ninevah, knowing, as he did, that they would ultimately oppress his people. God dealt with Jonah privately, teaching him a lesson through the miracle of the gourd about compassion.
Jonah had to be willing to learn, be willing to let go, and be open to God’s teaching. Otherwise, the hurt and trauma he felt could have haunted him for the rest of his life.
People do mean, ugly things, sometimes deliberately. When they repent, when reconciliation and forgiveness occurs, sometimes there is still healing to be done that only God can do. I encourage you to seek His healing for all your emotional needs. Don’t carry them around for the rest of your life and let them influence your behavior. You are the one that is hurt by that, more than any other.
God is the Human Whisperer. Only He can rehabilitate traumatized humans. And He will if you seek His healing.
With love,
Nancy
Saturday, October 4, 2008
THE RIGHT TO DIE, FOR ONLY $5.00
This blog is not what you think. It isn’t about actually dying. What sparked the idea was a recent article I read about a tradition at a particular Buddhist temple in Thailand that allows visitors the opportunity to lie in a coffin for a couple of minutes while monks chant a funeral dirge. When the visitors climb out, they believe they have been cleansed of their pasts.
Those who spend the 180 baht to go through the ritual (about $5 US) believe the bad karma has been sucked from their lives. Many of the followers use the term “reborn” to describe how they feel. As Spock would say, “Fascinating.” I don’t think I could do it – lie in an actual coffin – not even for a few minutes – not even with a 11 other visitors doing it at the same time.
I understand the desire to remove the bad feelings (not to mention potential repercussions) created by our past actions, but spiritual rebirth has already occurred for you if you are a believer who has been baptized – and it didn’t cost YOU a thing. It certainly cost Jesus plenty. Once you’ve done it, you don’t need to go through it again, unlike the temple visitors who go through the service multiple times.
Colossians 2:12 says that we are “buried with Him (Jesus) at baptism.” Continuing in verses 13-14 we find – “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.”
We were already dead because of sin, became buried at baptism and then resurrected to a new life. Of course, our new life looks a lot like the old one when we first come up out of that watery grave. But it isn’t the same. We have a new life and we have the opportunity and the responsibility to walk in “newness of life.”
Upon receipt of the Holy Spirit, we also have the will and the means to live a new life – our past sins no longer held against us. And it cost you nothing – God’s free gift to you.
Jesus gave His life so that we can have a new life in Him. With all past sins and the penalty of death wiped away a baptism, with the Holy Spirit to guide, with Jesus as our example and our advocate with the Father, the life ahead will be different from the one behind.
The past cannot hold onto us. It is gone. Sure, sometimes a penalty for our past sins will continue with us – like the fact that, even though God forgave King David of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, He still allowed their first son to die.
But as far as God is concerned, the sin is gone and so is the death penalty your sin has earned for you. Now eternity within God’s Kingdom is our future. Hallelujah! If that isn’t reason to feel fresh, new and unburdened, I don’t know what is.
Whenever we are tainted by a sin from baptism forward, we can repent, pray for forgiveness and immediately have that sin forgiven and removed from us. No coffin required. You are free to spend your $5 on a Latte at Starbucks or, better yet, use it to reach others who don’t know this good news.
With love,
Nancy
Those who spend the 180 baht to go through the ritual (about $5 US) believe the bad karma has been sucked from their lives. Many of the followers use the term “reborn” to describe how they feel. As Spock would say, “Fascinating.” I don’t think I could do it – lie in an actual coffin – not even for a few minutes – not even with a 11 other visitors doing it at the same time.
I understand the desire to remove the bad feelings (not to mention potential repercussions) created by our past actions, but spiritual rebirth has already occurred for you if you are a believer who has been baptized – and it didn’t cost YOU a thing. It certainly cost Jesus plenty. Once you’ve done it, you don’t need to go through it again, unlike the temple visitors who go through the service multiple times.
Colossians 2:12 says that we are “buried with Him (Jesus) at baptism.” Continuing in verses 13-14 we find – “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.”
We were already dead because of sin, became buried at baptism and then resurrected to a new life. Of course, our new life looks a lot like the old one when we first come up out of that watery grave. But it isn’t the same. We have a new life and we have the opportunity and the responsibility to walk in “newness of life.”
Upon receipt of the Holy Spirit, we also have the will and the means to live a new life – our past sins no longer held against us. And it cost you nothing – God’s free gift to you.
Jesus gave His life so that we can have a new life in Him. With all past sins and the penalty of death wiped away a baptism, with the Holy Spirit to guide, with Jesus as our example and our advocate with the Father, the life ahead will be different from the one behind.
The past cannot hold onto us. It is gone. Sure, sometimes a penalty for our past sins will continue with us – like the fact that, even though God forgave King David of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, He still allowed their first son to die.
But as far as God is concerned, the sin is gone and so is the death penalty your sin has earned for you. Now eternity within God’s Kingdom is our future. Hallelujah! If that isn’t reason to feel fresh, new and unburdened, I don’t know what is.
Whenever we are tainted by a sin from baptism forward, we can repent, pray for forgiveness and immediately have that sin forgiven and removed from us. No coffin required. You are free to spend your $5 on a Latte at Starbucks or, better yet, use it to reach others who don’t know this good news.
With love,
Nancy
Saturday, September 27, 2008
I NEED A HERO
In the midst of the banking crisis, on the eve of a bailout to the tune of $700 billion dollars … $700,000 BILLION, with housing prices plummeting, crushing fuel prices, and with the sound of my 401K screaming “I’m melting, melting, melting…” I watched the first presidential debate. No disrespect to these two men vying for the right to take on this mess, but I don’t feel it is possible to for either one of them to save this country from the greed and corruption that got us where we are today. Makes me wonder if a sane person would be running for office right now. But someone has to be willing to try.
I have Christian friends who intend to vote for Obama and those who intend to vote for McCain and some who do not intend to vote at all. They all seem to have very well thought out reasons for the stances they have taken.
All I can tell you is that we – the USA as well as the rest of the world – we all need a hero – a real hero, like Superman. Someone unstoppable. Someone incorruptible. Someone with the power to change human behavior by changing the human heart.
We need Jesus. There is no other solution. I pray God will speed the day of His return to take over this mess and make sense of a world gone crazy.
You can vote for whomever you want or you can abstain, that is your right as an American citizen. But real, true change will not occur until Jesus returns. So, what is a Christian to do? Pray. Praying isn’t a “do nothing” position. It is, in fact, the best thing we can do. Praying for national leaders is addressed in I Timothy 2:2, where Paul encourages us to “pray for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace…”
Pray for Jesus to return and in the meantime, pray for our leaders, no matter who they are. God ultimately places them in office any way (see Romans 13:1-4). They need YOUR help. It is right and proper to pray for whoever becomes president of this country. I urge you to spend significant time each week, before and after the election, praying for the leaders of this nation and the world and praying for the coming of the one, true hero who will ultimately save us from them all: Jesus.
God speed that day. I need a hero. Don’t we all?
With love, Nancy
I have Christian friends who intend to vote for Obama and those who intend to vote for McCain and some who do not intend to vote at all. They all seem to have very well thought out reasons for the stances they have taken.
All I can tell you is that we – the USA as well as the rest of the world – we all need a hero – a real hero, like Superman. Someone unstoppable. Someone incorruptible. Someone with the power to change human behavior by changing the human heart.
We need Jesus. There is no other solution. I pray God will speed the day of His return to take over this mess and make sense of a world gone crazy.
You can vote for whomever you want or you can abstain, that is your right as an American citizen. But real, true change will not occur until Jesus returns. So, what is a Christian to do? Pray. Praying isn’t a “do nothing” position. It is, in fact, the best thing we can do. Praying for national leaders is addressed in I Timothy 2:2, where Paul encourages us to “pray for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace…”
Pray for Jesus to return and in the meantime, pray for our leaders, no matter who they are. God ultimately places them in office any way (see Romans 13:1-4). They need YOUR help. It is right and proper to pray for whoever becomes president of this country. I urge you to spend significant time each week, before and after the election, praying for the leaders of this nation and the world and praying for the coming of the one, true hero who will ultimately save us from them all: Jesus.
God speed that day. I need a hero. Don’t we all?
With love, Nancy
Saturday, September 13, 2008
MORE THAN THE "BIG BANG" FOR YOUR BUCK
Sandwiched between articles on the political fray of the coming elections in the US, hurricane Ike and remembrances of 9/11/01, I found the extremely significant story of physicists trying to recreate the “god particle” – that initial particle that defined the start of life, from non-life. The physicists are trying essentially to recreate the so called Big Bang and the beginning of evolution.
I have one question for them. If you succeed in recreating the start of life, what are you going to do with it? I’m not talking about the obvious answer of using it to “prove” the theory of evolution. I’m asking, now that you have become a creator, what will you do with your creation?
After all, mankind has a history of creating things for one purpose and ultimately using it for another (and often more destructive) purpose entirely.
I am not an evolutionist. I am a creationist and very thankful to be a part of the creation of caring and thoughtful Creator God who planned every aspect of this life and the next prior to beginning the project. God knew what He intended to do with each part of His creation before He brought life to any of it. He did not make anything without a reason for its existence.
God also knew exactly what it would take to make that plan work and He has been working that plan ever since. I don’t know God’s schedule. I am not privy to exactly where we are on His timeline. But I can be confident that His timing will be followed, because He has always been a faithful Creator – always stuck to His own master plan.
What is that plan? “To bring many sons to glory.” (See Hebrews 2:10) God created us to be His sons, forever in His family as Spirit beings. His plan is drawn out for us in the Bible and those of us who keep the Holy Festivals outlined by God (Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day) are privileged to act out that plan in these annual observances.
I won’t go into the details of the plan of God here or the Holy Days and their meanings here. We have all sorts of booklets on the Dynamic Christian Ministries Web page that will explain them and answer any questions you might have about them or God’s plan and purpose for mankind.
However, while physicists work hard to reproduce the “god particle” that they hope to use to prove the evolutionist theory of creation without a creator, I will be observing the fall Holy Days, which actually give to all of us details of God’s plan and our purpose in that plan.
Eternal life in the family of God is way more exciting than life beginning with a sudden, scientific event. For me, it represents way more bang for my buck than anything man could envision for the new life these physicists hope to create.
With love,
Nancy
I have one question for them. If you succeed in recreating the start of life, what are you going to do with it? I’m not talking about the obvious answer of using it to “prove” the theory of evolution. I’m asking, now that you have become a creator, what will you do with your creation?
After all, mankind has a history of creating things for one purpose and ultimately using it for another (and often more destructive) purpose entirely.
I am not an evolutionist. I am a creationist and very thankful to be a part of the creation of caring and thoughtful Creator God who planned every aspect of this life and the next prior to beginning the project. God knew what He intended to do with each part of His creation before He brought life to any of it. He did not make anything without a reason for its existence.
God also knew exactly what it would take to make that plan work and He has been working that plan ever since. I don’t know God’s schedule. I am not privy to exactly where we are on His timeline. But I can be confident that His timing will be followed, because He has always been a faithful Creator – always stuck to His own master plan.
What is that plan? “To bring many sons to glory.” (See Hebrews 2:10) God created us to be His sons, forever in His family as Spirit beings. His plan is drawn out for us in the Bible and those of us who keep the Holy Festivals outlined by God (Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day) are privileged to act out that plan in these annual observances.
I won’t go into the details of the plan of God here or the Holy Days and their meanings here. We have all sorts of booklets on the Dynamic Christian Ministries Web page that will explain them and answer any questions you might have about them or God’s plan and purpose for mankind.
However, while physicists work hard to reproduce the “god particle” that they hope to use to prove the evolutionist theory of creation without a creator, I will be observing the fall Holy Days, which actually give to all of us details of God’s plan and our purpose in that plan.
Eternal life in the family of God is way more exciting than life beginning with a sudden, scientific event. For me, it represents way more bang for my buck than anything man could envision for the new life these physicists hope to create.
With love,
Nancy
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Smoke and Mirrors
It has gotten to the point that might cause us to wonder if anyone, anywhere can be trusted to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about anything. Are we a world where “smoke and mirrors” are perceived as being necessary to success?
Forget athletes and their steroid scandals. Forget politicians, whom we have come to expect to lie, misdirect and hedge. Forget accused criminals who might lie to get out of trouble. In the same way that you might find fashionistas saying “grey is the new black,” I wonder if it has come to the point where the reality is that “perception is the new truth.” In other words, what we want the world to believe about us is as good as the truth.
In an August 11 article in Information Week, Thomas Claburn reported that China provided an altered video of the fireworks at the Olympic opening ceremony. Apparently, event organizers feared they would not be able to capture the pyrotechnics live on camera. In an August 12 Associated Press article, Cara Anna reported that a member of China’s Politburo asked for a last minute change to the Olympic opening ceremony that resulted in a “cute” girl lip-synching the “Ode to the Motherland” because the actual 7-year-old girl who sang it had crooked teeth.
Call me crazy, but I think China’s national reputation could have handled the “ill effects” of less-than-stellar footage of fireworks and a 7-year-old singer with crooked teeth. Considering their horrible record on human rights, China might actually have come out looking more genuine and less plastic if they had allowed these minor imperfections.
China may be an easy target to call out on this issue, but don’t think they are unique to the human race. I believe that each of us has to fight the tendency to white-wash our lives. After all, it isn’t easy to admit our flaws. But when we fail to be as open to criticism as we are to praise, we do two negative things.
First, we inhibit our own ability to change. I don’t like criticism any more than the next person; but you and I have to be open to seeing our flaws if we want to change. We have to be open to having our flaws pointed out by God’s word in our personal Bible study, from the pulpit, and one-on-one by friends and foes alike. It may be tough to swallow; but, if you are wrong you are wrong, even if the person pointing it out to you is doing it from a wrong motive. We have to be willing to accept accurate criticism, even if it comes out of the mouth of a proverbial donkey. We have to be willing to look at the validity of the criticism itself, regardless of the source.
Second, we inhibit our ability to help others see their own faults and make changes. When we go to others with faults and problems (even those that are not sins), we should be going out of love and genuine concern. We don’t want to be seen as the donkey used by God to call out another’s mistakes. However, if you cannot take criticism brought to you, others might have trouble accepting even the gentlest guidance from you.
The final step, after accepting your faults, is occasionally that we have to admit them publically. Occasionally, we will have to openly say, “I messed up here. I was wrong and here is what I’m going to do about it.”
To be sure, we do not need all our sins and faults made public. I’m not advising we air dirty laundry as standard operating procedure. I am suggesting that there will be times these things need to be acknowledged and dealt with in a public forum. I am suggesting that being human, making mistakes and sinning is as natural to human beings as breathing. I’m saying that your good reputation can withstand the accurate criticism of others. I’m suggesting that your reputation can actually be improved by being willing to admit your mistakes and flaws. And I’m advising that the place to start is by being able to accept criticism and learn from it no matter what the source.
For Christians, reality is the only truth. We Christians don’t need smoke and mirrors to clean up our lives for the sake of standing in the community or ego or reputation. We need to be genuine – crooked teeth and all. For Christians, it is the only way to live.
With love,
Nancy
Forget athletes and their steroid scandals. Forget politicians, whom we have come to expect to lie, misdirect and hedge. Forget accused criminals who might lie to get out of trouble. In the same way that you might find fashionistas saying “grey is the new black,” I wonder if it has come to the point where the reality is that “perception is the new truth.” In other words, what we want the world to believe about us is as good as the truth.
In an August 11 article in Information Week, Thomas Claburn reported that China provided an altered video of the fireworks at the Olympic opening ceremony. Apparently, event organizers feared they would not be able to capture the pyrotechnics live on camera. In an August 12 Associated Press article, Cara Anna reported that a member of China’s Politburo asked for a last minute change to the Olympic opening ceremony that resulted in a “cute” girl lip-synching the “Ode to the Motherland” because the actual 7-year-old girl who sang it had crooked teeth.
Call me crazy, but I think China’s national reputation could have handled the “ill effects” of less-than-stellar footage of fireworks and a 7-year-old singer with crooked teeth. Considering their horrible record on human rights, China might actually have come out looking more genuine and less plastic if they had allowed these minor imperfections.
China may be an easy target to call out on this issue, but don’t think they are unique to the human race. I believe that each of us has to fight the tendency to white-wash our lives. After all, it isn’t easy to admit our flaws. But when we fail to be as open to criticism as we are to praise, we do two negative things.
First, we inhibit our own ability to change. I don’t like criticism any more than the next person; but you and I have to be open to seeing our flaws if we want to change. We have to be open to having our flaws pointed out by God’s word in our personal Bible study, from the pulpit, and one-on-one by friends and foes alike. It may be tough to swallow; but, if you are wrong you are wrong, even if the person pointing it out to you is doing it from a wrong motive. We have to be willing to accept accurate criticism, even if it comes out of the mouth of a proverbial donkey. We have to be willing to look at the validity of the criticism itself, regardless of the source.
Second, we inhibit our ability to help others see their own faults and make changes. When we go to others with faults and problems (even those that are not sins), we should be going out of love and genuine concern. We don’t want to be seen as the donkey used by God to call out another’s mistakes. However, if you cannot take criticism brought to you, others might have trouble accepting even the gentlest guidance from you.
The final step, after accepting your faults, is occasionally that we have to admit them publically. Occasionally, we will have to openly say, “I messed up here. I was wrong and here is what I’m going to do about it.”
To be sure, we do not need all our sins and faults made public. I’m not advising we air dirty laundry as standard operating procedure. I am suggesting that there will be times these things need to be acknowledged and dealt with in a public forum. I am suggesting that being human, making mistakes and sinning is as natural to human beings as breathing. I’m saying that your good reputation can withstand the accurate criticism of others. I’m suggesting that your reputation can actually be improved by being willing to admit your mistakes and flaws. And I’m advising that the place to start is by being able to accept criticism and learn from it no matter what the source.
For Christians, reality is the only truth. We Christians don’t need smoke and mirrors to clean up our lives for the sake of standing in the community or ego or reputation. We need to be genuine – crooked teeth and all. For Christians, it is the only way to live.
With love,
Nancy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
