Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Giving My All

I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things
true, noble, reputable…gracious—the best, not the worst…

Philippians 4:8 (The Message)

I knew a “church lady” who gave her “all” to her congregation. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, embraced her role on the elder board, never missed a church social and always was first on the prayer chain. To a casual observer it appeared as though the congregation couldn’t possibly do without her. Her fellow church goers appreciated her ability to get things done. But eventually they discovered that her “all” was tearing holes in the congregational fabric—her “all” came with a need to control and criticize just about everything.

There two categories of individuals— pessimists or optimists. When I stand in line I like to listen to conversations and I’ve discovered that pessimists rule. Restaurants to churches to schools are filled with people whose need to control their surroundings hasn’t been realized. Nothing or no one measures up to their personal standard!

When I fill my mind on the best, not the worst requires that I step outside my personal vision and take in the God created landscape I always find it far more unique, complex and exhilarating!

Why then is filling one’s mind with the true, noble and gracious things of life so challenging? The truth is that often we meditate on my ideas, fill our minds with my desire, seeing everything through my custom eye glasses. Difficult as it may be, the “all” of a Jesus follower is focused attention on all that is best, avoiding even a glance at the worst.

Creative God, when You completed each creative season
You saw that it was good.
Change my vision from one of self-focus to filling my mind with Your created best.
Amen.



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