We Are All Still Learning…

“Don’t be discouraged. Those people who seem to know exactly what to do in life are wanderers just like you. We are all still learning here.”

Morgan Harper Nichols

Yesterday’s blog suggested that cultivating a life that is both genuinely good and feels good requires slowing down and paying attention. For me, part of my attentiveness is on the scriptures. I believe that this book of God can help me learn what is good in his eyes, and that will give me a better understanding of what a good life for me means. But it takes a long time and a lot of curiosity to actually figure out what the bible is teaching us - at least, that has been true for me.

During a recent Sunday message Scott, our associate pastor, unpacked a passage of scripture in a way that really helped me learn something new. It’s a common passage and I suspect we students of scripture have often missed its point in favor of a misinterpretation that often leads to unintentional shaming or slightly off-the-mark applications of the text to our daily lives.

No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 CEB

Historically, and I think with good reason, most of us have focused on the word “temptation” because, well, it is used three times in the passage! But there is a good reason we do not cherry pick verses and try to make a point with them. Like any decent reading, it’s important to look at the context of a word, sentence, paragraph and so on.

Here is what does not make sense if you read this passage in context. This passage does not mean that we should be able to set our mind on losing ten pounds and expect God to block and tackle our way through the inevitable temptations that come our way. It does not make sense to use this passage to blame a person with a compulsion (substance use disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorder, etc.) for not being about to “just stop”.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at what makes a bit more sense. But for today, consider this: What if we could all embrace the idea that we are all still learning? Would that change how we engage in conversations with folks who do not share our certain way of seeing a subject? Would it help us get more curious about the context and meaning of this text so that we don’t use it to beat ourselves or others up needlessly?

A Life That Feels Good…

“Instead of hustling to build a life that looks good, what if you slowed down and cultivated a life that feels good?”

Erica Layne

Although I appreciate this quote, I think it requires some unpacking. Obviously, building a life that only “looks good” is easy to digest. Describing one’s life as “looking” good but building a life that is not objectively “good” reminds me of fake rings. It sparkles until you wear it for a week and then you end up with a finger that looks like gangrene is setting in.

This morning I had a protein smoothie packed with fruits and vegetables. In a sense, it feels good to swig it down. I know it is nutritious and I love a good smoothie. I “feel” good about making a healthy choice to start my day.

But you know what else FEELS good? An egg Mcmuffin. Specifically - a McDonald’s egg Mcmuffin. Last week I chose to eat one of those after an early morning visit to my doctor to draw blood in preparation of my yearly physical. That hot, crunchy muffin with perfectly melted cheese, egg and Canadian bacon was delish. I LOVED it and it FELT like a little slice of heaven sliding past my lips and into my tummy. This is a once in every five years or so food choice for me. It is not a deadly sin but it is also not the most healthy food choice a human can make.

So we have to beware, don’t we? We have to be careful about how we evaluate “good”. I appreciate Erica’s advice. Slow down. Cultivate a life that is good and feels good. I continue to find satisfaction in my protein smoothies so long as I slow down and pay attention to what really feels good. It feels good to fit into my britches. It feels good to be able to run down the street with my grandchildren. It feels good to have stamina for long days and the occasional short night. It feels good to slow down and figure out how best to take care of the only body my soul has to reside in.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message

Slow Down

“I lied and said I was busy. I was busy but not in a way most people understand. I was busy taking deeper breaths. I was busy silencing irrational thoughts. I was busy calming a racing heart. I was busy telling myself I’m okay. Sometimes this is my busy.”

B. Oakman

A friend and I were zooming about her anxiety and grief. She told me that she was struggling to find meaning in her life. Recently retired, she speculated that perhaps after decades of being mind numbingly busy, maybe this new season of rest was waking up all the skeletons in her closet.

Disruptions in our routines can do that. Many of our routines are actually created to keep us perpetually distracted, numb and out-of-touch with ourselves. This short term solution is attractive but over the long haul? Not great.

Productivity addiction is like those weird diets we fall in love with - attractive for the immediacy of the relief but inevitably we return to our pre-carrots-only diet weight. Too hard to think of slowing down? I know. I feel you. But let’s try.