Shining Spirit

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many people you talked to, engaged in conversation. It’s how you talked to them. It doesn’t matter how many acts of kindness you did during that day. It’s about sincerity and compassion; about motivation. Life is not about scorekeeping; it’s about promise-keeping. You and I were taught as children to keep promises; hollow agreements are not promises; shallow commitment is not commitment.

I’ve put up a few shelves in my life, extra shelving in a closet or in the garage. And I have never used Scotch Tape to secure the shelf to the wall. Find the wooden support behind the drywall, locate the center point, measure twice/cut once, then sink the wood screw through the support, through the drywall and into the framing. If you simply attach the new shelf to the drywall, watch out. You need an anchor point to hold the shelf up, and that piece of framing, unseen but present, is the promise. Strike a bargain with that framing, a mutual agreement, and you’ve got a sturdy shelf.

Consider that your spiritual life is not about how many nice things you do, but how you do those things; the reason behind the doing; the motivation that prompts the moment. And I suggest that the motivation is directly related to promises made…the one you made with Christ as Source and Guide of life, and the one(s) Christ made with you about presence and meaning and purpose. Mutual agreement to be kept as practice and principle. When I was a kid, more than once I heard grownups say: “Ok, we’ve got a deal. Let’s shake on it.” That’s a promise, and a promise is foundational to faith.

I’ll bet you’ve had this thought: “He or She always does that task so effortlessly. I wish I could do that with even half his or her talent.” When I have thought that (and you, too) I’ve compared myself to the other person, their skill level, their experience, their training. I focus on my deficiencies compared to their accomplishments. Here’s a plan for the new year…no more comparisons to the other person. I’m going to shift the focus back to my own experience. Did I do better this time as compared to the last time I tried to…. Am I making progress compared to my previous experience? Is the cake as good or better than the last one I made? Is there positive growth in my writing, or painting, or knitting…whatever the task? Am I improving, getting better, developing?

Maybe life would be more satisfying or happier if I stopped judging myself on the standards of someone else’s accomplishments. You and I both have gifts and skills that can bless the world…but not in exactly the same way my neighbor might do it. So, be grateful for little steps forward. Small steps of growth and personal development add up and help us become who we are meant to be. Press on with gratitude for the gifts you’ve been given and use them for blessing.

Three quotations that are worthy of thought…and maybe a chuckle:

“The afternoon knows what the morning ever suspected.” Robert Frost

“Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.” W. Disney

“I’ve reached the age where my train of thought often leaves the station without me.” (?)

I’ll own all three…how about you? Be open today…be wise…be you. The world needs you.