Do not assume that mere
Reading will suffice without fervor,
Speculation without devotion,
Investigation without admiration,
Observation without exaltation,
Industry without piety,
Knowledge without love,
Understanding without humility,
Study without divine grace.
One Big Mistake
Al (or Albert as his mother named him so very long ago)
was going out as I was coming back.
We paused, as country folk do,
in a overgrown field
in a small dip at grey dusk–
He was in shadow, I in part-light.
“My life has been one big mistake.”
Smoke poured out of his nose,
then he flicked the butt.
He spat,
and gummed where once were teeth,
thinking of all he’d done.
Then,
“Where’d ya go?”
“Church.” I said.
He spat,
and gummed some more.
“I’m not good enough to go.”
“No.” I agreed.
“Nope. And them that go are liars—
Big fat phonies.”
“I’ll give you that.” I nodded.
The slanting sun’s rays
caught his beetle brows, all furrow-creased.
Lines criss-crossed his cheeks, picnic-cloth style.
A nearby thrush piped his evening song.
Al’s old hound lay down and heaved a sigh.
Al spat.
“So, why’d ya go?”
I shifted–
the light moved from my face
and I could see his brown-yellow eyes:
“’Cuz I’m not good enough.
I’m a liar and a phony.
Because of that,
I can’t not go.”
Charity Johnson © 2011
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
It has been said that you eventually become what you think about continually.
If, for example, you dwell on how to make more money, that eventually is the target of every waking (and sleeping) dream of your life.
Naturally, when you lose your money, then, you lose everything that makes you what you are-and so often, you lose those things which cannot buy money: health, peace of mind, happiness and friendships.
Likewise, if you think about what people’s opinion of you is, your job, your appearance, your prestige, and so on.
The question we need to consider is what is worthy of my continual and deep consideration, if not myself? I would submit that navel-gazing is the fastest route to neurosis.
Mental health is most quickly achieved and held if one’s life focus is on God, the Father, who created you, and Who loves you eternally. I can almost hear you wondering out loud: “how do we “think” about Him properly?”
The primary revealed source for that is the scriptures. I realize this is a repulsive thought for some people who have been abused or mishandled by those who claim to believe the Bible. Does the abuse of something good really able to lessen the worthiness of that thing? Of course not. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is not the answer. Still, since emotions have been involved, this kind of thinking is skewed (though understandable).
It is similar to me adding figures incorrectly and passing the incorrect sum along to you: my inaccuracy handling the operation does not invalidate the entire mathematical operation of addition.
God remains, no matter what, the only one worthy of our focus and once we get beyond our resistance to the scriptures and we understand what we are reading, we have another hurdle to get over. We have a deeply-rooted desire to grasp beautiful truths which reveal God’s compassion and His faithfulness. But how do we get to the point that His message of love closes down and rings louder and truer than all the other noise in our heads? We need to work a bit at that by meditating on God. A certain writer responded to this (language is a bit antiquated):
“(but)…I have no time for this work (of meditating on the scriptures). (If) you would meditate on God and the things of God, then take heed that your heart, and your hands be not too full of the world and the employment thereof.
Friends, there is an art, a divine skill of meditation which none can teach but God alone. (If)…you would have it, then go and beg of God (for) these things.” – William Bridge
A Celtic Poem
God’s will would I do,
My own will bridle;
God’s due would I give,
My own due yield;
God’s path would I travel,
My own path refuse;
Christ’s death would I ponder,
My own death remember;
Christ’s agony would I meditate,
My love to God make warmer;
Christ’s cross would I carry,
My own cross forget;
Repentance of sin would I make,
Early repentance choose;
A bridle to my tongue I would put,
A bridle on my thoughts I would keep
God’s judgment would I judge,
My own judgment guard;
Christ’s redemption would I seize,
My own ransom work;
The love of Christ would I feel,
My own love know.
- Unknown
I’d rather see a sermon than to hear one any day;
I’d rather one would walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
I may misunderstand the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,
I’d rather see a sermon than to hear one any day!
