Lip Service

A while back I wrote about my experience with a guy at Quick Trip (The Art of Art). Let's call him Ted. Ted was an engaging young man who, in the spirit of pleasant communication and well, a quick trip, shared the art of customer service. This morning, it was a bit different. The young man behind the counter (let's call him John) certainly said some things that would be constituted as customer service, or engagement, but it did not ring of authenticity. Again, John's words, were near the same as Ted's, but they were not felt. At least not by me.

When solely lip service is paid (or appears to be), and someone seems to be simply going through the motions, is this worse than no communication at all? Perhaps this sort of communication is the best one can do in accordance with their job, their standards, or their environment.

While words do mean things, the spirit behind them means more. It validates. Or points a finger towards what is behind the words—their inspiration.

What is behind our words:

• Ourselves?
• Others' interests?
• Our perceived best interest for others? 
• Selfishness?
• Career advancement?
• Our wisdom?
• Love?

Relationship plays out in the words we use, I guess. It may simply be a transactional relationship like John's which wouldn't necessarily cause me to come back. Or it can be an authentic engagement which can have a positive experiential impact—creating a desire for more.

Maybe this is a little heavy when all I was doing was getting a Red Bull...

Idle Worship

In the not too distant past, I removed the Facebook application from my smart phone. Nothing against Facebook, its just that I was spending way too much time checking in on things. I soon found that I actually was able to occupy thoughts in my down time in a different capacity. I found time for contemplation, conversation, etc. Well recently, I'd taken up an online word-play game which while very fun and creative, soon for me became overly competitive and a bit addicting. It started filling what little white space in my life there was—encompassing a good bit of my thought first thing in the morning and continuing throughout the day.

I had to throw in the towel. I've found that when I fill any hint of white space in my life up with busyness or just plain stuff, I lose opportunities to live a life of worship. I used to think that worship is mostly the music, closed eyes, and hand-raising thing. As I've grown, I realize that worship truly shows itself in how I live. I can't have this type of worship sit idly by while I numb myself with whatever the white-space-sucker-of-the-day is for me.

A couple weeks ago, a friend who'd just spent a good bit of time with a Brazilian missionary spoke as to how, upon seeing all this missionary was doing, he realized he was living in a Movie About Me. Man, that is so true! I live in Movie About Me a lot. I don't need that starring role. I need to push more and more for the best supporting actor performance in Movies About Others. And I need to use time to do this. Not waste my time.

"We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies." 2 Thessalonians 3:11

Peak Performance

I was in conversation with a dear friend last week—discussing parenting and faith. We began talking about the energy that we must put forth into relationships. With God, children, spouses, friends, and colleagues. And it does take energy (as those with kids can surely attest).

I think that sometimes my faith in God can turn lazy. I can have a relatively "hands off" approach to my faith walk. Not an "I don't care" hands off, but an "I do care, but I trust God more than I trust myself, so I'll just leave this one alone"*. This can become a Pontius Pilatesque-out of my hands washing, which is not appropriate when action or participation needs to take place. Conversely, some can become too meddlesome with their faith walk, and not leave enough room for chance experience, or for God's intentions to differ from theirs.

Now there is a fine line we need to walk in faith. Its takes energy. And core strength. And balance. The below illustration came to mind as I imagined the struggle to maintain the right path in faith.

When we balance across the "peak", we realize how quickly things can shift if we are not paying attention to where we are going or what we are doing. A little leaning can turn into quick careening.

God calls us to walk along the peak. Matthew 7:14 shares "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."And in order to do this we have to recognize those things which will cause us to lean over to far and have our momentum carry us. As well as keep our antenna up to those things which will grab hold and pull.

For me, when I start to "lean lazy", I may not be participating at a level I need to as a Dad to my boys. Conversely, when I start to "lean controlling", I can have my own conclusions begin to differ from what God may have in mind in a given situation.

We have to perform at the peak—the narrow road.

May we stay energized through communication and community. Keep our core strong through prayer and time in the Word. And keep our lives open and available to be counterbalanced when needed.



*I do believe that an abandoned faith is a good thing, and that when we relinquish control to God we are in a good place, however, clearly God calls us to and for action, and not to simply stay put.

No Solo

Another tweet from Bob Goff that grabbed me: "God brings us together to be a symphony, not just soloists. Independently capable; collectively unbelievable."

Do we allow a concert of community into our lives?

• Do we go it alone?
• Do we embrace transparency?
• Do we seek out others' strengths?
• Do we find joy in our shortcomings?
• Do we keep our ears open?
• Do we make time for others?

And do we really ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" and mean it? And if we figure out the answer, do we act on it? And by we, I mean me.

On Earth

"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

A tall order. On EARTH as it is in heaven.

I frequently take a couple of different approaches to this concept of "thy will be done on earth". Either a "My will be done or earth", or a hands-off, "Hey, thy will be done on earth, Lord".

Clearly doing my will on earth is off target. But all to often the case. I will try to own a lot of things here on earth. Be it professionally, personally or even things surrounding my activity with God. We can try to craft things. Well intentioned, but not exactly Thy will being done. Sometimes we are too smart for our own good. Too planning. Too driving.

Conversely, the hands-off approach—while altogether a pretty good thing—can often times turn into passivity. Now there is a good bit to consider here. I don't believe God wants us to simply be inactive and more or less simply just let His will be done. And I don't believe God wants us to force His issues. But I do believe sometimes we can be, more or less, along for the ride.

We sometimes consider this life our "Christian walk" (when I hear this I think of Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks skit). And we can concentrate too much on specific guidelines or ways of living that will therefore equivocate with being a Christian. But a walk is an active thing. There is movement. And WE are the one's doing the walking. Doing the work. Not a stroll—but making strides.

I wonder. Am I setting my own course? Simply strolling along? Or actively engaged in movement?

Everymoment. Everyday.

Grace Space

Have you ever been at a social gathering and met anyone for the first time, and felt that guarded space between you and the person? How much do I share/not share. Us guys typically fall back onto the "what do you do" or weather conversation. I suppose there are some social etiquettes which have us keep this buffer. I am not a very good buffer keeper. I tend to want to dig right in, and sometimes will showcase some of my more personal goings on that may breach the social acceptance—perhaps sharing something about how my boys clogged the toilet bowl and held of reporting to Dad for a plunge for two days (TWO DAYS—needless to say it was pretty bad. I mean how could the continue to go about there business without making mention of this—but I digress). So maybe I am a social space cadet.

But what about the space of grace? The space that says its okay to be open. Its okay to share. Come into my space and life. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. 

What about the "churched", the "believer", the "christian", the "saved". Is our space littered with closed ears, impatience, piety, over-education, judgment, political or personal opinion?

Or do we provide "grace space". A space that is less a buffer and more a a sponge—where story, issue, problem, strength, need, gift, can be held between two (or many). And the sponge can be absorbed in honesty—and be wrung out in encouragement, supply, forgiveness, support, strength, shelter. A space that speaks— "When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged...", Acts 11:23.

Oftentimes I don't think the Church behaves this way—even with our own. We keep our private things private. We don't share. I know folks who live in two worlds. All the while grace provides the space to erase the need to keep our world's separate.

Full disclosure is risky. You've got to have trust, hope, faith, vulnerability. You've got to receive grace. And give it.

Too much risk management going on—and not enough unmanaged grace.

Thinking and Knowing

I have a friend who's dad was once in a conversation with a friend, lets call her Glenda. And Glenda was going on and on about "Well, I think such and such" and "I think that fill in the blank" and "I think we need to blah, blah, blah." To which my friends dad interjected "Glenda, what do you KNOW." "Tell us what you KNOW."

There's nothing wrong with thinking. I think a lot. I also know some. I wish I knew more. It is our heart in our thinking, and the source of our knowledge, which impacts the effectiveness and truth of our thoughts and knowledge.

When thinking, where is your heart? When knowing, what is your source?

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

Something for all of us to think about...