Pelicans – and Beauty Contests

We live in a culture obsessed with outward appearances. Magazines annually declare the “most beautiful woman” and “most gorgeous man.” Celebrities strut the red carpets prior to awards events, eager to display how incredible they can look, whether dressed conservatively and tastefully, garishly and outrageously, or somewhere in between.

Proud moms trot out their little darlings at mini-beauty pageants, teaching them early the strategies for leveraging a pleasing look to achieve recognition and success. And each spring, as another summer approaches, advertisements and commercials exhort women to utilize various products and services to achieve that “perfect bikini body.”

When I was an adolescent, one of my friends enjoyed repeating, “Beauty is only skin deep – but ugliness goes clear to the bone!” But that’s not true. Striking outward appearances can deceive, and an unattractive exterior may belie great quality within.

Up close and personal, this pelican
wasn't much to look at.

I was reminded of this during a recent beach vacation – and it didn’t involve a shapely young woman in a swimsuit. My reminder was a lone pelican bobbing in the water at a marina near a restaurant where we were eating.

This feathered fellow apparently was accustomed to being gawked at by strangers. In fact, he maneuvered toward us in case we wanted to get a better look. This creature with overly extended beak and beady eyes would never win an avian beauty contest. In fact, he would have made a humble sparrow look downright regal by comparison.

But later in the week I observed a flock of pelicans – the solitary bird I had seen earlier might have been among them. As they soared overhead in formation, fluidly riding the wind currents, or skimmed the waves just offshore, hovering just inches above the water’s surface, they looked majestic – and beautiful. They demonstrated aerodynamic synchronicity pilots in the Navy’s Blue Angels or the Air Force’s Thunderbirds would admire.

That same day I read a description of William Wilberforce, the British statesman in the late 1700s and early 1800s who campaigned for decades, relentless in his determination to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain. He was widely described as “an ugly little man with too long a nose.” Not the kind of guy who’d catch people’s eye at a social event, I suppose. Yet, as a white man, he merits special honor and appreciation in black history books.

The Bible makes clear our fascination with superficiality is contrary to God’s perspective. When the prophet Samuel was sent by the Lord to identify the successor to Saul as king of Israel, the prophet inspected Jesse’s sons and believed several passed “the eye test.” But each time Samuel asked, “Is it this one, Lord?” he received the answer,  “No, not him…. No, not him either.”

Finally the lowly shepherd boy, David, who hadn’t been voted most likely to succeed in his high school yearbook, was ushered onto the scene. This unlikely tender of sheep was God’s chosen one. Then Samuel was informed, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Elsewhere, David’s son Solomon, who succeeded him as king, affirmed that truth: “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2). What’s going on inside is what matters to God.

These pelicans could soar with as much
precision as trained jet pilots.

So it’s interesting that the homely pelican, one of God’s bountiful array of curious creatures, was designed to display a marvelous grandeur in flight, especially in the company of other pelicans. And without possessing outward handsomeness by any measure, the inner winsomeness of William Wilberforce – largely the outworking of profound devotion to Jesus Christ – was manifested in his resolve to extricate a noble race of people from the horrendous, dehumanizing institution of slavery.

From God’s perspective, looks really aren’t everything! In fact, it seems He doesn’t place much stock in externals at all. Jesus made that clear when He addressed the religious leaders of the day: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27).

So next time you find yourself preening a bit too much in front of a mirror, or feel the temptation to pass judgment on someone based on their outward appearance, remember the pelican. Not much to look at, but wow, can he soar!

Hypocrisy Everywhere We Look

One of the most common criticisms of the Christian church is “it’s full of hypocrites.” Duh! I want to ask people making that statement, “Have you taken a good look at the world around you lately? The world is filled with hypocrites. Why should the Church be any different?”

Certainly we indulge in hypocrisy when our actions don’t equate with our high-sounding words. In fact, the root of the word means to play a part or to wear a mask. If you’re fond of the saying, “Do as I say, not as I do,” chances are you’re quite adept at hypocrisy.

We all like to hide behind masks that
conceal our true inner selves.

We show how hypocritical we can be when we pleasantly greet people, only to sneer at them or talk about them as soon as they’re beyond the sound of our voice. Or when we drive to a friend’s home for a dinner party, arguing with our spouse the entire way, but the moment we step out of the car we’re all smiles, as if we’ve just been selected happiest couple of the year.

The news media go on lengthy, holier-than-thou diatribes about prominent people caught uttering offensive comments, such as Donald Sterling, the mean-spirited, loose-lipped former owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, or other public figures. Generally such attention is warranted. But I wonder how many of those same news people, if a tape recorder had been available at some critical time in their past, could be revealed as guilty of making similar statements or even worse (maybe more than once)?

Hypocrisy seems especially abundant in that great bastion of self-righteousness known as Hollywood. Every so often we see or read about movie stars and entertainers speaking out on behalf of the poor and needy around the world, some oppressed group of people, the disease-of-the-month, or some other noble cause. Then we read about some of these same celebrities spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions, on lavish, self-indulgent events to entertain fellow rich people. Seems to me if they were so concerned about the cause célèbre, their money could be put to better use than wasting it on themselves.

Then we have the content of TV programming and movies the Hollywood elite foist on the public, all in the name of “entertainment.” Violent crime shows and films with body counts that challenge even the most sophisticated calculator. Salacious comedies and dramas that demean the virtues of genuine love, treating sex as casually as a handshake and of no more social or emotional consequence than a quick trip to the restroom. Even hyper-violent video games that make mayhem look like tons of fun.

These are for entertainment only, the Hollywood honchos argue. Everyone knows they’re not real, they insist. So these perverted, mind-numbing productions have absolutely no impact on the fragile and formative psyches of younger viewers. They deny any culpability when a deranged individual with a history of wallowing in such material carries out horrendous acts of one form or another, similar to those witnessed on the screen.

Funny thing is, many of these same film studios create TV commercials costing millions to air, along with advertising to promote their uber-violent, super-sexed movies. These commercials have powerful persuasive influence on the consuming public (justifying the high cost of producing and presenting them), but the “entertainment,” we’re told, does not. How exactly does that work?

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ often addressed hypocrisy. In fact, at times He confronted it directly. In Matthew 23, Jesus used the term “hypocrites” repeatedly, denouncing religious and community leaders for their overt displays of piety while concealing their deceitful inner motives:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence…. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:25-28).

Wow! Jesus obviously wasn’t taking a page from Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Concluding hypocrisy is a universal human trait, do we just shrug our shoulders and offer the excuse, “I can’t help it. That’s just the way I am”? Not at all. In fact, the Bible instructs us to be intentional in rejecting this sin by pursuing a changed heart and changed mind.

The apostle Peter exhorted followers of Jesus, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:1-2).

Another apostle, Paul, offered similar sentiments when he wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

Proverbs 23:7 states, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” So a key for overcoming our seemingly natural hypocritical tendencies is to “reprogram” our thinking and concentrate on things good and uplifting, not the cerebral garbage that bombards our minds every day.

As for those that complain about hypocrisy within the institutional Church, I would say, “Come join us – you’ll fit right in.”

Making Misjudgments About ‘Judging’?

There’s an awful lot of talk these days about “judging,” and I’m not referring to the Miss America beauty contest, the annual American Kennel Club canine soiree, or even the annual flower show at the mall. No, it’s the judging that is presumed to take place when we comment unfavorably on the behavior of another person or group of people.

Aren’t we tempted to judge when we hear reports of the latest shenanigans of a Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan or Miley Cyrus, once seemingly pure and pristine child stars that have leaped from fame into infamy? And we have a tendency to rush to judgment upon learning of the misdeeds of prominent business leaders and politicians. There is, as the Bible says, “no one righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10), right?

Jesus taught His followers before condemning others,
they should take an honest look at themselves.

The Scriptures teach, however, judgment is God’s job not ours. In reality, sins that trouble us most tend to be ones that mirror our own. When I notice a person wrestling with anger, acting in an inconsiderate manner, or speaking in brash, overbearing tones, maybe it bothers me because it’s like looking at my reflection. It helps to remember that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and leave it at that.

But sometimes we confuse judging with not agreeing with or not condoning the actions of another. I might disagree with someone politically, ideologically, or not share their values, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I am “judging” them any more than I’d want them to judge me for not seeing things as they do.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Live and let live.” And I suspect most of us have tried to abide by that philosophy. The problem arises when that saying is changed to mean, “Live – and give hearty approval to the way I live, like it or not.”

Pastor and author Rick Warren makes this observation: “Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.”

Over my many years of meeting with men in mentoring relationships, friends have admitted to many kinds of sin, but never have I responded with judgment or condemnation. That’s not my responsibility. Besides, I’ve been guilty of some of the same failings. A wise person has noted that given the right place, the right time and the right opportunity, we each could succumb to any temptation. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 states, “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

At the same time, when these men willingly confided in me, knowing what they said wouldn’t be shared with anyone else, I didn’t pat them on the back and say, “Way to go!” or even offer the convenient excuse, “Well, hey, you’re human, right?” They knew what they had done wasn’t right, and bringing their failings into the open, admitting them to a trusted friend, was a big step toward redemption and change.

We find the scene in the Gospel of John where Jesus intervenes on behalf of a woman about to be stoned by the town’s religious leaders after she was caught in an act of adultery. They remind Jesus that Moses’ law mandates stoning. Then they ask, “Now what do you say?”

Jesus proceeds with a cryptic act that’s not fully explained. The passage says, “Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her’ (John 8:6-7).

We don’t know what Jesus wrote, but He clearly was showing the self-righteous leaders that before condemning someone else, they should take an honest look at themselves. But what’s most important is what happens next. After her accusers left, Jesus asked the woman, “where are they: Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10). When she responds no one remains to condemn her, Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you.” His next statement is most telling.

While not condemning her for wrong behavior, Jesus did not say, “You go, girl!” or, “Hey, I understand. A woman's got to do what a woman's got to do.” No, He simply admonished her, “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).

He wasn’t passing judgment on the woman, but neither was He endorsing her behavior. Even though being the Son of God, He had every right to do so. Instead He offered forgiveness, demonstrating compassion and understanding – and pointed out there was a better way to live.

We’re not to judge the wrong behavior of others – but we’re not to condone or endorse it, either. As Dr. Warren said, we don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate. Jesus gave us the example; I can’t think of a better one to follow.

He Knows Your Name

The story is told of a fellow, let’s call him Joe, who had such an engaging, magnetic personality it seemed everyone was his friend. Everywhere he went, people would see him and excitedly call out, “Hi, Joe!” “How are you doing, Joe?”

One day Joe and several friends decided to tour some countries in Europe, and one of the places they chose to visit was Vatican City. On the day they arrived, the Pope was making a public appearance. The friends were standing among the throng of thousands in St. Peter’s Square waiting for the Pope to appear and address them. Suddenly uniformed men approached Joe, spoke with him briefly, and then led him away.

Joe’s friends looked at each other wondering what had happened, whether Joe was in some kind of trouble. A few minutes later the Pope appeared on the balcony accompanied by another man. A peasant in the crowd looked up, pointed, and said, “Hey, who’s that up there with Joe?”

One of the distinctives of sheep is they know their
shepherd and respond uniquely to his voice.

Silly story? Sure. But wouldn’t it be something to be known like that? To be instantly recognized and welcomed, whether by someone like the Pope, the President of the United States, a mega-wealthy businessperson like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett or Oprah Winfrey, or perhaps your favorite athlete or entertainer?

You go to a ball game and Lebron James spots you in the crowd, smiles and waves you down to the court. Or you’re standing alongside the red carpet prior to the Academy Awards, and Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock or Morgan Freeman points to you, strides over and gives you one of those big, longtime-no-see hugs. Your friends standing nearby can only let their jaws drop and stare. Wouldn’t that be something?

You’re probably thinking, “In your dreams!” But there’s something even better. Much better.

If you’re a Christ follower, the Bible declares He knows you – and as with Joe in the story above, He knows you by name. Jesus used the metaphor of sheep to describe His relationship with His followers:

“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep…the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice…. I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:2-14).

Knowing the President personally, whether you’re in agreement politically or not, would be impressive, wouldn’t it? If you went to a concert by an iconic musician like James Taylor, Steve Wonder or Eric Clapton, and you received first-class treatment just because they knew you, that would be incredible, right?

Well, consider that God, the Creator of the universe knows you in that way. Even with the billions of people in the world, not to mention those who have died, He knows you – by name. Not only that, but the Scriptures state He did something unbelievable, unprecedented, for each of His children. After declaring, “I know my sheep and they know me,” Jesus adds, “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15).

Even if I knew the President personally, or a famous actor or athlete, none of them could claim they had given their life on my behalf. Jesus makes that startling, bold, even audacious claim – and the Bible teaches us that it’s true. It’s not a myth, fairy tale or allegory, but truth supported by the witness of history, as well as countless lives that have been transformed as a result.

In spite of our warts, our flaws, our sins, the Lord of all eternity knows us – and He’s not ashamed to admit it. Now that’s amazing. We might even call it…amazing grace.

When Unity Doesn’t Mean Uniformity

Overcoming the vast divide afflicting our nation today seems
as difficult as leaping the Grand Canyon in a single bound.

A blogger friend of mine recently addressed the subject of unity. This got me to thinking: Our nation is called the United States of America, but in some ways it seems we’ve never been more divided. Perhaps – and I tread gently as I say this – even more divided than during the days leading up to and during the Civil War.

Politics, an arena in which compromise and negotiation once seemed possible and desirable, has become divided to such an extreme the only common ground is agreement that “never the twain shall meet.” Achieving “middle ground” appears as realistic as crossing the chasm between the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon with a pogo stick.

Ideologies concerning gender, socio-economics, beliefs, lifestyles and even race despite progress we’ve celebrated since the 1960s, seem just as severely separated. Other divisions currently afflicting our once proudly United States come to mind. Perhaps national spell-check got confused and switched the spelling to “untied.”

Without intending to sound simplistic, one factor in these growing disunions could be confusion between unity and uniformity. The differences are considerable.

I remember back in the ‘60s – yes, I’m old enough to recollect them. Those were days when the hippie generation and young people across the country were attempting to display unity by length of hair, clothes they wore (and didn’t wear), the music they listened to, and the vocabulary they spoke. But as they conformed to their unique brand of non-conformity, what they really demonstrated was not unity but uniformity.

Bell-bottom pants, tie-dyed shirts, determination to be “out of sight” (which morphed into “far out”), espousing the virtues of free sex, the pressure to “turn on and tune out,” along with a resolve to “question authority,” had many of us marching in the lockstep of uniformity for a time. Conformed to a singular image of non-conformity, but united? Not really. For the most part, everyone was just looking out for themselves in the comfort of a crowd.

Seeds of that era have spawned current versions of uniformity (political correctness) and disunity (intolerance of anyone holding a view contrary to your own opinions and ideology).

Maybe it would be good to grasp the differences between uniformity and unity, recognizing that while a house divided against itself cannot stand, as Jesus stated in Mark 3:25, all the parts of the house don’t need to be identical.

It’s amazing how, in one way or another, the Bible talks about unity and its importance. It presents unity in terms of teamwork: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17) and “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work…. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9,12).

When God created man and woman, He did so to provide unity and a complement for the other. Uniformity obviously was not the goal. As the French saying goes, “Vive la difference”!

And writing to believers in the ancient city of Philippi, the apostle Paul placed great emphasis on unity. “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his hope, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:1-4).

That’s an intriguing definition of what unity should look like. At the same time, Paul made clear this unity did not require uniformity. In fact, uniformity would have impeded unity. He wrote, using the metaphor of the human body to describe the Church, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body…. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

So how can we once again become united in the midst of diversity, truly United States without having to become Uniform States?   As the apostle wrote above, stop focusing on our own interests, cultivate true humility, and strive to become one in spirit and purpose. Emphasize the common bonds that can unite us rather than the differences that can divide us.

Hardly a complete solution, but it could be a great start.

Fathers: An Underappreciated Resource?

Upon receiving his award for Most Valuable Player in the NBA, Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant gave an emotional homage to his mother, who as a single parent raised Durant and his brother. It was a wonderful, stirring tribute to a woman who had toiled and sacrificed mightily to provide a livelihood for her sons. But underlying Durant’s glowing words of gratitude was an unanswered question: Where was their dad?

In no way do I wish to diminish the loving devotion demonstrated by Durant’s mom. She – and all single mothers like her – deserve accolades for the incredible challenge they accept each day in holding down jobs while also raising their children, hoping to build them into responsible, productive adults. The mom of Dr. Ben Carson deserves similar commendation, providing the inspiration and motivation for a young man who came from the ghetto to gain acclaim as an accomplished neurosurgeon, author, speaker and – in the view of some – become a credible candidate for President.

Yet for every wonderful story about a single mother and her family, there’s also a back-story of an father missing in action. In many cases the dad never played much of a role in the lives of his progeny; sadly, in too many cases the biological father was absent from day one.

Having joined my wife in raising our children, and now watching them guide their children (our grandchildren) through the various stages and phases of childhood, I know how difficult the job of parenting is. How a single parent can pull it off successfully is almost beyond my comprehension. Ecclesiastes 4:9 states, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.” This passage clearly relates to the workplace, but also holds strong meaning for the home and parenthood.

I greatly admire my sons-in-law as I observe their devotion to nurturing their own children. In some cases they’ve made work decisions to ensure they don’t spend too much time away from the kids. Regrettably, I think back to my own career as a newspaper editor and have to admit I spent far too many hours at the office and not nearly enough watching our daughters grow up. If I could do it over again, yes, I would do it differently.

My father, shown with me and my sister, wasn't a man
of many words, but he served as a good example.

My own dad was not a hugging, touchy-feely type of man. Few from his generation were. But he modeled for me the virtues of hard work, integrity and marital fidelity. He, like myself, wasn’t extremely vocal, but his actions spoke loudly and true.

I think of my uncle Joe, my dad’s brother, who in many respects served as a second father. He also built into me a work ethic, a vision of what I could be, and instilled a sense of confidence. Many times after some professional accomplishment, I couldn’t help but wonder, "What Uncle Joe would think about this?”

The Bible speaks extensively about fathers and their importance for society as well as the family. The Scriptures assign fathers the primary responsibility for spiritual training of children, a role too many fathers today have neglected. “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). They – along with mothers – are told to provide instruction and discipline. “Train them (your children) up in the way they should go (follow their natural bent), and when they are old they will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

When fathers do wrong, there are consequences. The Bible speaks of the “sins of the fathers” affecting multiple generations of children (Exodus 34:7). This doesn’t mean God holds children responsible for their father’s misdeeds, as other passages make clear, but they often endure “collateral damage.” We see this today with the rise of broken homes and the emotional toll children suffer; abuse in the home, and many other problems resulting from family strife.

But this Sunday, Father’s Day, is a time to focus on the positive, celebrating the vital contribution dedicated, caring dads have in their homes and society.

It’s also a time for remembering the only one we can count on with complete confidence, our heavenly Father – Jehovah God. Jesus assured His followers, “do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?” or ‘What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’…your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:31-33).

Our earthly fathers may have failed us at times, even many times, but the Lord promises He never will. “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”” (Hebrews 13:5). From personal experience, I can attest that’s true.

Success, and the ‘10,000-Hour Rule’

Do you consider yourself successful? What would you cite as necessities for someone to achieve great success?

Whenever there’s a discussion of what constitutes success, opinions are plentiful. Innate abilities, sometimes also referred to as “giftedness” or aptitude, can certainly make a huge difference. Education and training usually are significant contributors. And you can’t discount the level of one’s determination and perseverance – willingness to continue pressing forward in the face of obstacles and adversity.

As someone has said,
before trying to climb
the ladder of success,
make certain it's
facing the right wall.

Years ago in Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell examined success from many perspectives. He introduced the “10,000-Hour Rule” as a key factor for attaining high levels of success. Drawing from Swedish psychologist Anders Ericsson’s research, Gladwell proposed spending at least 10,000 hours practicing a specific skill as a prerequisite for mastering it.

Predictably, Gladwell’s declaration met criticism from experts arguing time and repetition alone can’t guarantee success. The saying, “practice makes perfect,” falls flat if you practice making the same mistakes again and again, they noted. Maybe that’s why the adage was later amended to “Perfect practice makes perfect.”

In reality, both sides are right – and wrong. Large quantities of time will produce success only if practice and repetition are done with quality. And practice, even if done with precision, will foster success only if done in sufficient quantities to make excellence almost second nature.

Thinking about Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule, only a handful of things I’ve done over the years would qualify. When I took Personal Typing as a junior in high school, learning the “home row” seemed impossible, and I couldn’t imagine typing without looking directly at the keys. After many years of work as a journalist, learning to think and compose at the keyboard, I became very proficient as a typist. In fact, my typing surpassed many of the secretaries and administrative assistants wherever I worked.

I couldn’t begin to calculate how much time I’ve spent writing, over more than 40 decades as a newspaper reporter and editor, magazine editor, book author, columnist and blogger. But the hours must total tens of thousands. On happy occasions when someone is kind enough to compliment my writing skills, I’m thankful. But it also occurs to me, “Well, I’d better be a pretty good writer. I’ve spent enough time doing it!”

Contrast that with pursuits I’ve enjoyed but never invested enough time to perfect. It was fun playing the drums in high school, but after a couple of years of formal lessons, my percussion practice consisted only of random “bang sessions.” As a result, I never became the drummer I would have liked to be.

In college I spent many hours on tennis courts playing recreationally. Over time I became reasonably skilled given my athletic limitations, but because I never invested the time demanded to become a good player, I never advanced beyond mediocre. Ten thousand hours practicing tennis? Not even close.

So what’s all this got to do with anything? Well, for one thing, the mantra, “It’s the quality that counts, not quantity,” is a copout. For instance, in parenting, children want quality time – but they like it in quantity. If you want to have a good, growing marriage, you need to give your spouse quantity time – not an occasional quality hour or two. Successful parents – and successful partners – aren’t afraid to invest whatever time is necessary. Maybe even 10,000 hours or so.

Spiritually it’s much the same. The average Christian seems to think attendance at a worship service and maybe a Sunday school class or small group is sufficient for spiritual maturity. “Hey, God, I gave you a couple of hours on Sunday. What do you want?”

Granted, we have work, family obligations, time for eating and sleeping, maybe a few community activities thrown in. And we need time for TV and just chillin’, right? But how can we experience success spiritually if we spend more time eating chips than we do speaking and listening to God?

In reality, He wants us 24/7. That doesn’t mean we walk about with hands folded and heads bowed. But the Bible does say, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), which means doing that in the classroom, during a business meeting, while disciplining our children, cooking meals, even driving the car. Praying does not require closed eyes or opened mouths.

The verse preceding that tells us to “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). This applies to good times and bad, victories and defeats, happy times and sad. Because being successful spiritually involves trusting the Lord is with us no matter what.

Do you really want to know God? It’s going to require a lot more than reading “the verse of the day” that arrives by email every morning. King David understood this from personal experience when he wrote, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9,11).

Imagine if, over the course of your lifetime, you were to invest 10,000 hours or more in prayer, Bible study and meditation. Do you think that might result in spiritual success? It sure would be worth a try.

Not ‘Just a Layman’

We all, to one extent or another, think about status. In school we see smarter, more studious classmates earning the lion’s share of recognition and rewards. High-performing athletes receive applause for their accomplishments. In the workplace, pay raises, bonuses and promotions are based at least in part on how we rank among our peers in the quality and quantity of our work.

Parents proudly display bumper stickers on vehicles to proclaim their children are honor students at such-and-such school. They watch and listen as their offspring perform at various functions – dance or instrumental recitals, athletic competitions, even spelling bees – and take note of their children’s standing compared to those of their friends.

We rate ourselves according to the cars we drive, houses we own, portfolios we accumulate, vacations we take, even places where we eat. We can equate much of what we do in terms of status – perceptions of who we are.

Where did we ever get the idea that legitimate
spiritual service must be confined to a
sanctuary or religious facility?

Life in the spiritual realm, I’ve noticed, can be very similar. I attended a Christian institution’s send-off for young people advancing to the next level in their academic climb. The speaker gave the customary challenge, encouraging them to lofty aspirations, suggesting roles such as pastors, missionaries, even business people – adding the latter can contribute financial resources to support various ministries.

I’m sure the speaker meant well, but it seemed implied that pastors and missionaries – those engaged in vocational ministry roles – rank as the elite in the institutional church realm. They are holders of the greatest status. Everyone else, as a business friend described himself to me years ago, is “just a layman.”

That perception lacks biblical support, however. Years ago we attended a church where at the close of the worship service, people regularly walked forward to declare their commitment to “full-time Christian service.” This always confused me, since there is no such thing as a part-time follower of Jesus Christ (either you are or you aren’t), and as His followers we’re each called to serve God and other people. Sure sounds like full-time Christian service to me.

Yes, I know these fine people meant they were determined to give their lives to pursuits such as preaching, working full-time with specific segments of the congregation, or expressing their willingness to venture to a foreign land, live in an alien culture and learn to speak an unfamiliar language, all in the name of telling other people about Jesus.

There’s nothing wrong with any of those things. What troubles me is the perception that if you’ve not done any of those, you’re somehow a second-class citizen in God’s kingdom.

I remember having lunch with a business executive who told me, “I’d do anything to go full-time for God.” Looking him in the eyes, I asked, “Why do you think you haven’t already done that?”

A good friend works with business owners and top executives, meeting with them monthly to encourage them to live their lives and conduct their businesses in a manner that honors God and upholds the truths, values and principles of the Scriptures. To remind them that as business people, they have a high calling from God to serve their customers, employees and suppliers in His name, my friend gives each leader a little sign they can affix to the inside of their office doors. Walking out they can read, “You are now entering the mission field.”

Somehow we’ve been seduced by the notion that if you’re really serious about God, you need to attend a seminary, get a degree, and then have people refer to you “the reverend” or “pastor” or “sister.” I once thought that myself, and appreciate people that qualify for such titles, but the Bible doesn’t make this distinction. For His closest followers, Jesus chose lowly fishermen, tradesmen, even a despised tax collector. The author of one gospel, Luke, was a physician, not a clergyman. None of them attended Jerusalem Theological Seminary, nor did any hold diplomas from Bethlehem Bible College.

Jesus told His followers, “...let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). That exhortation meant any good works, not only those performed in a religious context.

Later, the apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). Again, he didn’t offer these remarks at a graduation of seminarians or commissioning ceremony for foreign missionaries; he was writing to every follower of Jesus in the ancient city of Colossae.

So next time you’re tempted to spiritually demean your vocational role, whether as a teacher, engineer, grocery clerk, corporate executive, burger flipper or business manager, and the thought, “I’m just a layman,” crosses your mind, remember: You – and every worker that professes the name of Jesus Christ – are in full-time Christian service!

The Elijah Syndrome - and Each One of Us

This archival photo shows a wringer
washing machine, perhaps the
origin of the phrase, "Going
through the wringer."

Are you old enough to remember wringer washing machines? I’m talking about the kind with an agitator to jiggle the clothes around as they were washing, and a wringer to squeeze out moisture so the clothes wouldn’t be soaking wet hanging from the clothesline.

The clothesline? Really? Yes, but that’s fodder for another post. My mom had a wringer washer. She’d remove just-washed items from the basin and run them through the wringer to remove most of the water. (Not a good place for fingers.)

I wonder: Have you ever had a time in your life when because of work demands, or life in general, you felt like you’d been dragged through a wringer like this?

Recently a friend mentioned feeling mentally, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. I’ve been there a couple of times. During one particularly stressful period at work, I had pushed the so-called envelope as far as it would go. Physically depleted, I wound up with an illness that required heavy-duty medication and physician’s instructions to stay home and rest.

I did as advised, determining to salvage the time by catching up on reading I’d been putting off. For several days I’d sit down with a book, read a paragraph or two, and promptly fall asleep for a couple of hours. During those days I didn’t read nearly as much as I’d hoped, but got much-needed rest so I felt renewed and recharged when I returned to work.

Thinking about mental and spiritual exhaustion, I love the biblical account of Elijah in 1 Kings 18-19. In case you’re not familiar with the story, feisty prophet Elijah singlehandedly confronts hundreds of false prophets to a showdown. Elijah and the imposters prepare sacrifices on altars and then call upon their respective deities to consume the sacrifices by fire.

Despite elaborate demonstrations and even self-mutilations, the false prophets’ “gods” fail to respond. Elijah, after demanding to have his sacrifice and altar drenched with water three times for emphasis, calls upon Jehovah God and sees the entire offering instantly consumed – even the water in a trench around the altar. The false prophets, deceptions exposed, are then executed.

Next Elijah accurately predicts a torrential rain ending a three-and-a-half year drought. Quite an amazing day for the lonely ambassador for truth. A great demonstration of faith. But right after the downpour, someone informs Elijah evil Queen Jezebel has ordered his death.

That is the proverbial straw that breaks Elijah’s back mentally and spiritually, and he takes off running. He’s reached his limit. “He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep” (1 Kings 19:4-5).

However, rather than chastising Elijah for having weak faith (as many preachers have accused him in their renditions of this story), God sends angels to minister to him, feeding him and letting him rest. “All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’… He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time…and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you’… (1 Kings 19:5-8).

So why, after defeating hundreds of false prophets and predicting a miraculous shift in weather, does Elijah head for the hills at the news of Jezebel’s threat?

For starters he was human. Years ago Dr. Archibald Hart, in his book, Adrenalin and Stress, explained during major events in life – good and bad – the body’s stress hormones are activated. Enough stress, regardless of whether it comes from positive events like marriage, getting a job promotion, buying a house or becoming a parent, or negative events like financial hardship, the death of a loved one or losing a job, and we can become tapped out physiologically. It happens.

Elijah also must have felt as one of his successors, John the Baptist, would feel centuries later – like a lone voice crying out in the wilderness. He said, “’I have been very zealous for the Lord God almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me’” (1 Kings 19:14). Honestly, can you blame Elijah for reaching the end of his rope?

The good news is God did not denounce or discipline him. He understood the prophet’s physical limitations, letting him rest and feeding him. Then, when the prophet was restored, God said in essence, “Okay, Elijah, get back into the fray. And contrary to your opinion, you’re not alone!”

So while he might have fully depleted his physical, emotional and spiritual reserves, Elijah hardly lacked for faith in his God. If anything, the prophet displayed more faith than most of us could ever imagine. We often collapse even under minor burdens, while Elijah repeatedly put his own life on the line, trusting God to come through. Which He always did.

So Elijah offers a simple yet important lesson. When the press of life has taken away everything you’ve got, take a break. Then regroup, restore, and re-engage!