Humility is a Thing of Beauty

You’re Not Winning

I see two ways you can read this headline: Wow, you’re right I’m not or You’re crazy, I’m killin’ it.

To be clear, I’m not talking about sports or things that actually are competitive. I’m talking about life and of the two reactions above the first is the honest one and the second is a cover up. Deep down there’s a part of each of us that feels like we’re losing, maybe not always but certainly at times. The saddest thing about this is that we’re doing this to each other. This world has a way of pitting us against each other under the illusion that if I can prove I’m better than you or at least convince others I am, then maybe I’ll start to believe it myself and If I really dominate, it may even come true.

The truth is, you’re not winning but the great news is you’re not losing. Life is not a competition, it’s a collaboration. We have nothing to lose by lifting people up. Caring, supporting and valuing others is infinitely more fulfilling than spinning our wheels trying to be superior. If you want to feel great about yourself today, make someone else feel especially loved.

Who’s Watching?

Religion is what you do for God that everyone can see. Faith (trust) is how you live with God when no one is watching or keeping score.

Love Follow Up

Love is a choice, it must be freely pursued. Love is also selfless; it does not seek its own. Therefore, how and why are much more relevant to our conversation on love and obligation than what or when. I guess it doesn’t matter what we call it: duty, obligation or even expectation as long as the motivation is love. I freely choose to love and am willing to take whatever may come with it. Lastly we can’t forget the sacrificial aspect of true love, choosing to surrender.

Today

Greet one another with a holy kiss. Maybe even a big hug. What an opportunity we have today.

What’s Best?

What’s best isn’t the same as what’s best for me.

Unlike Him

We’ve been talking about being like Jesus lately and today I came across a thought from E. Stanley Jones, Mr. Jones contends that if our standard of goodness is Jesus (and it should be), then any departure from that goodness is sin or in other words anything that is un-Jesuslike is sin. Which brings us back to abiding; He’s in us we just have to get better at less us.

Help is on Its Way

These Little River Band lyrics really spoke to me today:

Hang on, help is on its way
I’ll be there as fast as I can
Hang on, a tiny voice did say
From somewhere deep inside the inner man

Don’t you forget Who’ll take care of you
It don’t matter what you do
Form a duet, let Him sing melody
You’ll provide the harmony

I want my life to be a duet and sometimes a chorus but please never a solo Lord.

Two

I’ve known two kinds of Christians, those that love and those that love to be right.

Deciding

I’ve had the chance to watch someone make the best out of what’s going on around them this week even though the surroundings are not necessarily what they would choose on their own. It’s been great to see how it’s possible to decide you’re going have a good time and actually have a good time when it would be just as easy to focus on yourself and have a crappy time. Thank you for your example.