Precious metal measure? OK, a cheap attempt to gain interest in a subject
line by dumming down the commonly known "golden rule", which was the topic
of the sermon I listened to and pondered on this morning. I find it very
interesting because of the embedded human behavior results one gets from
following this rule. I am always interested in "what makes people tick",
or "how have folks gotten to the place they are now, from where they were
in their time of need or youth". It is like an Arial view of human
behavior seeing what way people could have gone, but didn't and the
results it gave them, not much different than watching a mouse find the
cheese in a maze. Each route has different turns and directions with
different results in the ending destination. Some desired, and some not so
desired, and what was done to satisfy the drive to press onward. Anyway,
human behavior and its built in compass to follow, and whether we choose
to follow the inner compass reading or go it alone determines how far off
the path we go. In reading CS Lewis' "Mere Christianity" I enjoyed the
reference to "unselfishness" which was the topic of today's sermon. To put
aside what we might want to do or how to behave and "do unto others as
you'd have done unto you". Lewis writes:
"Think of a country where people were admired for running away in battle,
or where a man felt proud of double-crossing all the people who had been
kindest to him. You might just as well try to imagine a country where two
and two made five. Men have differed as regards what people you ought to
be unselfish to-whether it was only your own family, or your fellow
countrymen, or every one. But they have always agreed that you ought not
to put yourself first. Selfishness has never been admired."
What a simple and powerful observation, "selfishness has never been
admired". Hmm. For centuries ancient stoic philosophers of varying
wisdom have had their sayings held in regard, and were referenced in the
sermon this morning with basically all very similar counsel of, "Do not do
to your neighbor, that which angers you". It was pointed out that in all
five of similar reference sayings were spoken in the negative as in "do
not", while Christ said "do unto". It reminded me of a teaching on a
similar topic where it was spoken to not be so concerned of all the ways
not to act but study how you were to act and anything different would
stand out. In that particular talk the example of US currency was used in
that people are trained to identify counterfeit money not by looking at
all the ways a fraud might appear, but rather to study every detail in how
an authentic currency note appears and if what they see is different, no
matter the differing detail, it is a fraud. We might say as well that "a
Rose by any other name is still a rose". Imagine if a Daisy was passed off
as a Rose by calling it as such? It would be obvious it is not. We
wouldn't study the Daisy's features against a Rose's to make determination
whether it was a Rose or not, just as we'd not study an Orchid's
characteristics in detail and then match it up to the Rose, as we'd have
to study every flower known to man to make like comparison to the Rose,
but rather simply study a Rose and anything different than that is not a
Rose. How does that compare to human behavior? For one, we would not have
time enough in our life to study the many ways man has become immoral, but
more importantly would be the requirement of bathing in negative and
immoral behavioral characteristics that would constantly be soaking into
the pours through osmosis that is dangerous as well. There are those who
focus on demonic activity so much so that although they proclaim
Christianity, you can sense a great dark cloud in their presence. Very
similar are those who claim to be a trumpet for the last days preaching
doom and gloom and horrid things happening and wrenching every word of
fear until their isn't a drop left in it worth watering, they too seem to
have a backwards negative sense. "Do not do unto others " has a level of
truth and can be a wise message, but is likened to saying stay away from
drowning by not inhaling while underwater, by not cannonballing in the
water and just sitting there holding your breath, by not swimming past the
point of return, by not swimming out in fast current, by not swimming in
rip tides, by not challenging under toes, by not swimming with a 50 pound
rock tied to your waist, and so on and so on. That perhaps is why
Christ said "Do unto others..." and not as others have said "do not do
this, do not do that, and etc."
The point I found interesting of "unselfishness" and the "golden rule" is
a great bi-product of it that comes from it. I'll ask you, rhetorically
with no need to reply, but in your mind think of ten people you know. Just
random people, maybe a couple relatives, a couple neighbors, a couple
Internet people, just a smattering of people but at least ten. Now in your
mind, consider each one individually and make discernment of putting them
in one of two categories. Happy or unhappy. Are they happy, peaceful,
joyful, and smiling and so forth? Or are they ornery, mad, angry, bitter,
and otherwise just not happy people? Once you'd made discernment on them,
you might be surprised to learn what recent findings have found on people.
Those who are happy are those who are unselfish and giving people, and
those who are bitter, angry, fearful, and etc. are those who have selfish
tendencies. We as a church in July, will be doing things for the
community, giving of our time in any way we feel we can or have gifted
areas and I'm sure this message was a primer for that time, but it is
interesting in my own life that when I look at my low times, it was times
when I was reserved, pulled back, became fearful of giving anything
because I felt I had nothing to give. At times when finances were tight or
not enough, I felt I in no way could give. When my time was demanded I
wondered how could I give more. When I was so preoccupied with my own
lack, or unwillingness to give, I found I was most unhappy. And it was in
the times that even when yes, I had concerns for finances, and the future,
but yet I gave money I didn't have out of abundance to give, or time or
service in some way, that yes, even in the midst of stressful times, I
felt happy and joyful despite what I ought have felt. What a great
observation to have not only for the sharing of folks we know but also to
help understand the inner programming God has blessed us with. In Lewis's
book I love the metaphoric reference to that of a piano or music. He said
in reference to our moral law, which if put in Christian perspective would
be phrases as "still small voice" or "sensing the Holy Spirit". In his
reference of the "moral law" he cited that we have human instincts. Things
like self-preservation or protection, empathy for others in trouble, and
yes even that of which to populate. I digress. The instincts then are the
notes and the sheet music is the moral law. The notes do not tell
themselves when and where to play, but rather the sheet music. We might
all agree that love of humanity is an important instinct but if that is
the only note plated the sheet music has no balance and if in life we are
ruled by only that very important instinct, we would find ourselves
protecting humanity out of love in unjustified or even immoral ways.
Perhaps we'd lie in a courtroom to protect a human, we might not know what
we'd do in the name of "love of humanity" if only guided by that note
instead of relying on the sheet music, in our case the still small voice,
which has the balance and depth of our lives music. As well with us if we
saw a man trapped in a car catching fire, we have a natural instinct of
self-preservation to steer clear of it, and yet we have empathy
and humanity instincts to help which tell us to go save him. Each of
these pulling at each other and while self-preservation is the ultimate
and stronger instinct we are guided by "moral law" or that still small
voice telling us to save that person. How unselfish is that? It reminds me
of Jesus saying no greater love is showed than a man laying down his life
for a friend. On the news the other day I saw a quick interview with a
woman who in her apartment complex, walked out her apartment, saw a young
boy laying the bottom of the community pool. She jumped in, dragged him
up, gave him CPR and he was in the hospital recovering. She spoke which
such glee she could help. She was not a stranger to this as she did the
same thing for a infant in that same pool last year or the year before.
The feeling she got, the affirmation of heroism, and not to mention the
fact she was able to save a human life, two of them in fact, put no doubt
in my mind that she'd be on that man in the burning car like spark on a
struck match. It is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the easier it
is to work it. I'm reminded as well of an exercise I heard a school
teacher had done with her class where she assigned the class to write
anonymously on a piece of paper, something you liked about, admired in, or
otherwise found to be a positive encouraging thing about each class mate.
The notes then would be handed to the class and the results were
surprising in that the kids learned things about themselves they didn't
realize they displayed. One boy had a note in his wallet for years after
that exercise, I want to think he was perhaps killed in a war or the like
and it was on his person, something like that but it doesn't matter, the
point is the smile and benefit it gave the recipient and the giver as
well. Our pastor at the end of his sermon, asked for four volunteers with
the following four qualifications:
* At least 21 years of age
* A proactive person
* Responsible and trustworthy
* Creative
Of course he had to have back up folks to call on if folks weren't going
to volunteer. It was amazing, before he ever got close to any asking for
volunteers of anything, out of doing something nice for someone
immediately, in response to his basic message , I saw myself in my mind
stand up and say "I'll be the first one to go out this week pastor" and
then saw myself turning and looking at the congregation and seeing
another stand up saying "Me too pastor" and another and another and an
other until everyone was standing. What a great little vision.
Unfortunately, I chickened out when he asked for volunteers :. I'm not
much for that kind of "OK Brad thanks for volunteering now come on up to
the front of the church and we'll put you on the spot" bit so I sat tight
lipped. So he got four folks, brought them to the front, pulled out his
wallet and gave them each a $50 bill and their assignment was to spend it
on doing something for one or more folks and report back in three weeks
what difference that made to them and to the people they helped. Who
doesn't like to get compliments, or affirmation they are making a
difference, or get a card in the mail just because someone was thinking of
them, or a little gift of even little value monetarily but just the idea
they were thought of and an action was taken, or maybe show up at a
stranger's house and rake their leaves, fix a broken step or something
totally unexpected and not asking for anything in return, who doesn't like
that? I can't think of anyone. A friend of mine got a grass
cutting contract by accidentally doing the wrong property four or five
times last year so he was even repaid for his mistake, but he felt good
even when he found out the address was wrong. Perhaps that is something we
ought consider more, particularly if we find ourselves short of feeling we
are happy or joyful, to do something nice for someone, and not just
friends or family or folks we know, what about strangers or, or what
about, what about those that do not like us or we are not
particularly fond of them? Jesus said it said easy to love your friends
but how much more noble is it to love your enemy. Paraphrasing obviously
but the point is friends know you love them so don't go fishing in your
live well, or preaching to the choir, but put the pole outside the boat
and do some fishing. So in closing I'd encourage or challenge you, in the
next weeks and even better, as a life habit, to do something for someone
just because. Scan a book for them if you know they are looking for it,
pick something up at the store on your travels, bring them a dinner on a
day you know they won't have time to fix one, and for strangers maybe if
you have a police scanner or other means of finding someone who just lost
a loved one that day, had a fire, got into an accident and is home
recovering and lost time at work, or some form of need, maybe run
something to them. The smile, the open mouthed amazement will make you
feel wonderful because you made them feel wonderful you might even find a
new friend or two. This latter bit on helping folks in urgent need has
been on my heart for a couple weeks myself. We live near a fairly busy
road, it runs right behind our house, and we hear emergency vehicles run
by frequently and I often think of the person laying in the car hurt, or
folks standing outside their burning house, or a frantic spouse with hand
over mouth as their loved one is carried off to the hospital or coroner,
in such times how much of a need they must have. I remember when I lost
my brother, folks in my church demanded the keys to my vending route and
house and said "Go, your family needs you and you need them, don't worry
about a thing we'll take care of it". I was amazed at the weight that was
lifted off of me. When we returned back in town that night there was a
lasagna, and French bread in the oven hot and waiting to be eaten. That
was so powerful to us.
How can you, make a difference in folk's lives this week, and weeks to
come, and are you willing to reach out? If so wouldn't it be neat to post
it here.
Brad
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