One Thing: Superlatives

Biggest

Best

Greatest

Enormous

Immense

Humongous

Massive

We hear these words daily from every source imaginable.  Texas-sized is expressively important to our society.  There’s an insatiable need to demonstrate the win-of-importance as judged by sheer magnitude.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Matt 20:25-28

Choosing to be last is counter-cultural. We are not conditioned for this as our expectations are fulfilled only with superlatives.  

But the choice to care is right there in front of us.  We are given fortuitous opportunities to serve if we live in anticipation of possibility.

Yesterday, I read the following news story.  The whole interaction must have taken just a few minutes. There was no grandeur associated with the actions.  There were no news cameras, no crowds, no fanfare. It was only a moment of compassionate service.

This is how I want to live.

Mystery Soldier from Minnesota

One Thing: 500 Pages

A recent TED talk by physicist and entrepreneur Riccardo Sabatini demonstrated that a printed version of the entire genetic code for one person would generate close to 262,000 pages consisting only of 4 different letters and a lot of commas. 

Of those pages, only 500 would be unique to each person. 

Bound together into 175 books weighing a total of nearly 1,000 pounds, the uniqueness of this one person would total one-half of just one of these books.

. 

The Code for Eye Color: TED Talk, Riccardo Sabatini

I choose to be grateful to a good and faithful God for my uniqueness.  

I will celebrate the 500-page uniqueness that has been given to others. 

I will spend my thoughts, words, and actions demonstrating gratitude for the commonality I share within the remaining 261,500 pages.

 

And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? Mark 11:17 

One Thing: At What Point

At what point will an innocent child become despised 

by those of another tribe?

At what point will an innocent child learn to hate in return?

At what point does a beautiful child become worthless 

in the eyes of another tribe?

At what point does a beautiful child learn to call 

other beautiful children worthless?

Credit Robert Collins @robbie36

How does this happen?

Why does this happen?

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Ephesians 4: 30-32

One Thing: Think First

As I think, so I will speak.  

As I speak, so I will act. 

I am the sum of each decision I make.

"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

One Thing: Missing

I had no idea that when the ‘word of the year’ was decided, EVERYBODY would be missing.  Still, it is never too late to do something about it.

It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. Genesis 31:49

One Thing: Addiction

One of the most difficult things to fight is addiction. It comes in many forms.   A shortlist includes alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, comfort foods, sugar, and even excessive screen time.

Being "RIGHT' is another.  Your map is not the territory.

One Thing: Children

 

"You are a marvel. You are unique. In all of the world there is no other child exactly like you. In the millions of years that have passed there has never been another child like you... You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. 

And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is like you, a marvel? 

You must cherish one another. You must work—we must all work—to make this world worthy of its children."   

Joys and Sorrows; Reflections by Pablo Casals

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:1-3

One Thing: Support

Someone lifted you up at some critical juncture in your life. 

They supported you.  

At some significant crossroads, 

we are called to do the same for another.

Photo Credit Neil Thomas 

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1

One Thing: Reverberations

We might never live long enough to see how much our generosity matters, 

but even small gestures can influence generations.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 

Galatians 6:9

  

One Thing: Right

It is never more important to be right than to love your neighbor.

"And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that."

Luke 6:33 

NOTE:

I jumped in.  I produced an opinion piece on this site and then posted it on social media. 

Perhaps I'm just tired, or maybe, I've got thin skin. Either way, I'm a bit exhausted with an apparent lack of compassion, diplomacy, and considerate discourse that seems so evident in our polarized society.

My first reaction said, "To heck with all of them. It does not matter what I think - or even what you think."

My second reaction was to make amends, to apologize for an opinion that has apparently offended others.

Continued reactions only provided more confusion and depression.  

The answer was obvious - just withdraw.  Let others argue, demean, and ridicule with abandon. There is no need to contribute to division.  There is no justification for escalating already frayed nerves.  There is no fulfillment when the result is rooted not in communion, but increased contention.

But withdrawing is not the answer. 

Beginning today, I will be changing this format a bit.  I'm not going to offer opinions, although they will be quietly evident.  At least for the next month or so, there will be a couple of new articles each week. They will be designed for the consideration of just one thing. There will be no preaching. They will not include any type of debate and will avoid even the concept of, "'Just the facts, ma'am." 

I need to ground myself, yet again.  

I need to recognize that my opinions are valid - and so are yours.

I need to pray that my heart will be accepting of calm and divergent viewpoints while still allowing me to be a loving person - with no exceptions.