Daily Stop & Thinks

Unless you increase, in equal measure with your knowledge, your judgment, and character, you will fail in the only thing that is important. (Antonin Scalia, late Supreme Court justice).

According to Scalia, everything flows from good judgment and character. He continues, “[Without those qualities], you will not be making yourself the best person you can be.” He seems to say that “the only thing that is important” is continual self-improvement which creates a reputation and character above reproach.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:11).

The nation’s morals are like its teeth; the more decayed they are, the more it hurts to touch them. (George Bernard Shaw, 19^th-20^th centuries Irish playwright)

For anyone who has ever had a toothache, Shaw’s picturesque metaphor is easily understood. Hurting teeth are painful, obviously, but, apart from an accident, painful teeth don’t just happen. Neglect is the cause of many human pains, and that may be a clear diagnosis of the moral problem in today’s society. How much more important are good morals than good teeth?

When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability (Proverbs 28:2).

In a life well lived, each succeeding day becomes better than the last. (John Homer Miller, former Marine officer)

Miller continues, “Each day, each year, each experience does not stand alone; it cannot be separated by what has happened before or what may happen after.” In our obsession with the future and what might or might not happen to us, we are tempted to overlook the value and importance of the present. Give full attention to today’s task, and the future will care for itself.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries (Matthew 6:34).

Silence is not wasted time, but useful time spent. (Mr. Rogers, late TV personality)

We don’t “hear” much silence today. In modern society, noise is omnipresent whether it’s ringing smart phones, blasting TVs, or frenzied musicians at a concert. Rogers, no doubt, was thinking of a more ideal world, where people would try to find idle time just to relax, think, or meditate. Such time can revive one’s spirit to face that noisy world.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him (Psalm 62:5). In quietness and confidence is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different? (C. S. Lewis, 19^th-20^th century British writer)

It is strange, isn’t it, that after the mundane day-to-day work has morphed into months and years, things look so much different in hindsight? We couldn’t see any significant change as we did our work, but those minute advances accumulated amazingly. Lewis implies an important lesson: develop a long-range perspective; keep the distant goal in mind and work hard for it.

If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. (Romans 8:24-25)

Time is your greatest asset…how you choose to spend it determines your legacy. (Dan O’Deens, third-world worker)

He continues, “Choose to spend your life on behalf of others who have less than you, then you will have chosen to live real life.” Rather than striving to build a great business empire or achieve fame through sports or entertainment, O’Deens suggests there are higher goals that will leave a living legacy more far–reaching than material gain.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? (Luke 9:25).

Worse than Failure

“Coach, I am not afraid of failing, I am afraid of being successful at something that doesn’t matter.” (An athlete to Coach Morris M. Michalski)

Is there something worse than failure? After all, we can learn a lot when we don’t succeed in reaching a particular goal. Those lessons can be invaluable as we move forward. Michalski’s student highlights an even more valuable lesson. Our goal should be to achieve something of value, something that really matters. To do anything less is unworthy of the effort.

We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

Easy Work

The only people for whom the job is easy are those who’ve never done it. (Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court associate justice)

There are a lot of “sidewalk superintendents” who stand around, watching others working hard to do their job. Such self-appointed bosses often think there’s a better or easier way to do what they’re watching. Thomas’ observation, however, is most often true. Until you’ve set your hand to the job, you can’t really know how hard it is.

Pay attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. (Galatians 6:4)

Reading

To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark. (Victor Hugo, 19^th century French dramatist)

People who read a lot—no matter what the source—have very likely forgotten what it was like not to be able to read. Where would we be if it weren’t for this most valuable means of communication, second only, perhaps, to speech? We must not take the ability to read for granted; in fact, we should encourage wider reading to our youth.

He must always keep that copy [God’s Word] with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. (Deuteronomy 17:19)

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Choices

Life imposes things on you that you can’t control, but you still have the choice of how you’re going to live through this. (Celine Dion, Canadian singer)

We don’t get to choose everything that surrounds us or happens to us in life. We have to deal with what comes, and it isn’t always something good or pleasant. But we do have a choice, as Dion says, and how we choose to deal with those unwelcome circumstances will determine whether we can move forward, stronger from the experience.

We can rejoice… when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. (Romans 5:3)

Struggles

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly. (Anonymous)

What do you suppose goes through caterpillars’ minds when they began to sense changes happening in their bodies? If you ever face such a struggle, wondering what’s happening and unable to imagine what will come next, like the caterpillar, press on with the hard changes. You can also learn to trust God for the outcome.

Is not all human life a struggle? (Job 7:1)

This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God. (1 Timothy 4:10)

Confrontation

Confrontation is not a matter of tact, diplomacy, and smoothness of tongue. It is basically simplicity of speech, empathy in attitude, and honesty in response. (David Augsburger, author)

Very few people enjoy confrontation; most of us try to avoid it at almost any cost. Augsburger’s observations can be really helpful when we face such difficult times. If we put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, figuratively, and intentionally speak peacefully and honestly, we may discover the other party is willing to do the same.

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking. (Proverbs 15:28)

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak… (James 1:19)

Instead, we will speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)