Daily Stop & Thinks

Purpose

Fulfill your life purpose. Living with purpose should bring more joy than reaching your goals. (Tom Roy, sports figure, author)

We’re often challenged to pursue our goals with diligence and persistence. It’s a worthy challenge, but Roy suggests another motivation. Aiming for specific achievement is important, but even more essential is having a reason for what we’re doing. What is our purpose? Why do we do what we do? Fulfilling our purpose brings great satisfaction along the way.

Our purpose is to please God, not people. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. (1 Corinthians 9:26)

Loneliness

The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. (Audrey Hepburn, late British actress)

It’s another way of saying what John Donne wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself.” We have all experienced times of loneliness when we cry out for someone to be near, “If only there were another person to talk to, someone to share my burden!” The psalmist wrote, “I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.” We’re human; we need companionship.

 It is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed. (Psalm 55:13-14)

Thinking

When all men think alike, no one thinks very much. (Walter Lippmann, 20^th century journalist)

If we spend all our time with people who think just like we do, we may reinforce our own ideas and opinions, but we won’t learn much about the rest of the world. It’s easy to be satisfied with our own ideas, failing to recognize other worthy opinions that should be considered as well. Don’t hesitate to view other ideas; you may learn something worthwhile.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. (Proverbs 12:15)

Wisdom

The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, 19^th century physician and poet)

With the increasing emphasis on youth, we’re bombarded with commercials and ads that tell us how to stay young with certain exercise equipment, vitamin supplements, or surgeries. Holmes is suggesting, however, that there might be something the older generation can offer: wisdom. And there’s only one way to get that—experience.

Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life. … How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! (Proverbs 7:12; 16:16)

Choices

May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears. (Nelson Mandela, late president of South Africa)

Mandela’s thought is echoed by author Judith Knowlton, “I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it’s only a choice of attitude.” Attitude is one of the very few factors in life that we can control. So, in spite of “bad luck” or fearful circumstances, we must exercise our ability to choose—not what is most convenient but what is best for progress and growth.

Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (Proverbs 2:11)

Warning

Mind the gap. (James Emery White, pastor, author)

White is referring to the constant refrain at the “Tube” stations (London’s underground transport system). It’s a continual warning to stay clear of the gap between the station platform edge and the trains. It’s a good reminder to us to “mind the gap”—to stay clear of anything that would be harmful to our moral and ethical integrity.

Dear friends, I warn you . . . to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. (1 Peter 2:11)

Failure

Failure is not fatal. (William Ward, 20^th century American writer)

In fact, according to author Dale Turner, “Some of the best lessons are learned from past mistakes, the error of the past is the wisdom of the future.” While all of us have failed at one time or another, no one has ever accomplished anything of value without learning from his or her mistakes and moving on with persistence.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. (Proverbs 24:16)

Idolatry

Human beings are idol-making factories. (John Calvin, 16^th century French theologian)

Perhaps you don’t think that’s a fair statement for 21^st century people. After all, most of us are not bowing down to idols of wood and stone. In fact, many would claim to be worshipers of God. Idolatry, however, is anything that stands in the place of God. What are we spending our time, energy, and money on? Temporary passing fashions?

You must not have any other god but me. (Exodus 20:3)

Examples

The one thing we learn from history is that we do not learn from history. (Georg Hegel, 18-19^th century German philosopher)

Have we not learned from that often quoted observation by George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Why is it that we seem to ignore the lessons of history and make the same poor judgments again and again? Is it a matter of pride that we think we can do better this time because we know so much more? Better to humbly learn.

These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. (1 Corinthians 10:11)

Pride/Humility

Pride is a mirror that reflects self; humility is a window that sees others. (Dick Dahlquist, teacher)

With the great emphasis today in raising children to have a good self-image, we may sometimes go a little too far. It’s important, of course, to teach children about themselves and their relationship with others. It’s equally important to help them learn as early as possible how to recognize and respect others. Mutual appreciation is necessary for successful companionship.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Words

He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word. (Joseph Conrad, novelist)

Even strong arguments may be lost because of ill-chosen words. Language is filled with synonyms, and the choice of a specific expression can be critical in an exchange of ideas. Commentator John Stonestreet adds, “Even . . .  if you have to make the word up.” Have a solid argument, and be careful to express it with the right words.

Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words. (Ecclesiastes 10:12)

Difficulties

Providence has hidden a charm in difficult undertakings, which is appreciated only by those who dare to grapple with them. (Anne-Sophie Swetchine, 19^th century Russian mystic)

Many of us go out of our way to avoid difficult situations. We want life to be easy without complex issues that require time, money, and lots of effort to overcome. Yet, as Swetchine suggests, the people who are willing to confront those hard issues and wrestle with them, will often gain so much that they learn to respect the hard times as valuable learning experiences.

God to Paul: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Paul: “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses.” (1 Corinthians 12:9-10)