Daily Stop & Thinks

Bloom

When you’re in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you’ve been buried; perhaps you’ve been planted: bloom. (Gabriela Eric)

Sometimes life is so difficult that it may seem that we’ve been buried under unrelenting circumstances. Whether it’s personal, job-related, or a social difficulty, we long to be relieved. But consider this Mexican proverb: They tried to bury us; they didn’t know we were seeds.”

[Those who] delight in the Lord… are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. (Psalm 1:2-3)

Veterans Day

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. (Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India’s independence movement)

Today in America we honor the veterans who served in the military to protect our country and our freedom. Many of those men and women experienced great changes in their life’s purpose as they encountered multiple changes in their military careers. In those transforming years, they began to discover a new identity as they lost themselves in the service of their countrymen.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

Success (or Disappointment)

The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment. (Deborah Moggach, British writer)

Moggach offers two really important ideas. Some people don’t want to try something new because they’re afraid it won’t work. The fear of failure often keeps a lot of people from moving ahead. The other observation has to do with disappointment. Everyone faces it from time to time. How we overcome it and move on is a success in itself and should be celebrated.

Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. (Proverbs 23:17-19)

Relief

When things get really bad, just raise your glass and stamp your feet and do a little jig. That’s about all you can do. (Leonard Cohen, Canadian novelist and poet)

Is Cohen’s advice really helpful? Are we to deal with our concerns by ignoring them and masking them with frivolity? Surely, that’s not a happy way to live—nor will it lead to overcoming difficulties and finding success. There is a better way because we do not have to face our trials alone.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Perspective

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century poet)

This oft-quoted axiom has been argued by many thinkers. It is true that if you hold to an erroneous view, continuing to support it makes you look foolish, if not completely ignorant. On the other hand, what may appear to some to be foolish might indeed be a newly discovered truth or a new perspective on ideas that have to be looked at with openness.

You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. (Proverbs 8:5)

Confession

Here’s what’s cool: Admitting you were wrong. (Warren Buffett, wealthy philanthropist)

This is no. 6 in Buffett’s list of cool things. It may be cool, but we don’t see a lot of it. This is because it’s so hard to do. Do you remember a TV situation comedy a few years ago when the Fonz just couldn’t say, “I was w-w-r-r-ong”? It’s often pride that keeps us from admitting our errors. Yet, doing so can restore a broken relationship as well as give us a great sense of freedom.

I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done. (Psalm 38:18)

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

More than Facts

Don’t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin. (Ivan Pavlov, 19th & 20th century Russian physiologist)

“Just give me the facts” was a frequent line in an old detective TV show. That would be important in solving a crime, but the inquisitive student who researches the beginnings of things and the intricacies of their development may discover the real significance of those facts as they relate to life. Meaningful learning must go far beyond mere knowledge of the facts.

Aspects of [God’s] deep wisdom that were hidden away, He shows in plain sight. (Job 12:22)

Work Your Dream

If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery, 20th century French writer)

Sounds like out-of-the-box thinking, doesn’t it? We usually begin our construction projects by developing plans, hiring the workers, and overseeing the construction. But Saint-Exupery makes a challenging point. If we want people to join us in any worthy project, we have to help them imagine the desired result, planting the seed of hope; then, they’ll be ready to work.

A dream fulfilled is a tree of life. . . It is pleasant to see dreams come true. (Proverbs 13:12, 19)

Serving & Leading

If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you. (Anonymous, quoted by Jed Record, marketing specialist)

Societal values are changing. A good work ethic was very American for most of our country’s history. But now, a lot of people seem to think that the government or someone else owes them a living. They want to have everything provided for them. Such people probably won’t learn the lessons that will equip them to be good workers, much less rise to leadership roles.

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant. (Matthew 20:26)

Character

Talent without character is like a kite without a string… worthless! (Jamy Bechler, leadership trainer)

Do you remember how frustrating it was when you lost your grip on your kite string? Or when you gave the baby a balloon and he or she almost immediately let it go? Both resulted in a lot of unhappiness, didn’t they? How much more significant is the warning by Coach Bechler! No matter how high our aspirations, without integrity and good character, the outcome will be frustrating.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (Philippians 1:11)

Human Nature

You can learn more about human nature by reading the Bible than by living in New York. (William Lyon Phelps, 19th-20th century scholar, author, critic)

With its broad spectrum of ethnic origins, levels of education, and social differences, you might think that a study of the people of New York City would render a pretty accurate description of human nature. Phelps is suggesting, however, that a better and unbiased viewpoint on the full and accurate picture of humanity is to be found in God’s own perspective, the Bible.

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants… These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. (Galatians 5:17)

Opportunity

The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. (Orison Swett Marden, 19th-20th century inspirational author)

Marden continues, “It is not in your environment, it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone.” While waiting for that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to knock on your door, you may miss many chances for advancement. Instead of looking for the “break” to come, listen to your heart’s hopes and motivations and pursue them.

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone. (Galatians 6:10)