“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
– Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
“Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body.” – George Carlin, Humorist
“Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success.”
– Henry Ford, Industrialist
“My daddy said: Don’t do anything in the day that will keep you awake at night.”
– Older gentleman on “American Pickers” History Channel TV program
A number of well-phrased quotes have recently caught my attention, and rather than slipping right out of my memory, they have stayed with me, at least for a while. (Always something to be grateful for) The comments printed above are from people who are very different from one another, each unique in his own way. I have an appreciation for those who can express a thought with a few well-chosen words. Short, sweet, and to the point – it’s a goal for many of us who try on a modest level to express ourselves in written form. Crafting a concise statement of genuine substance is often more difficult than writing pages and pages on a subject!
These observations provide us with a refreshing reminder that God speaks to us in many ways and through many voices. Living our lives in hope and not in fear is a recurring message throughout Jesus’ ministry as he taught of a loving, forgiving heavenly Father. He further taught that material goods will not satisfy the longing for true happiness. Paul’s letters to the early churches are filled with themes of encouragement and advice on how to work toward a common goal. And throughout the Bible, we can find simple and straightforward lessons on conducting ourselves with integrity and honesty.
I was intrigued to notice a common thread as I read and reread these quotes. Look at these values as the means by which we express our faith in our everyday lives. To be hopeful, to know what is important, to be willing and able to work together, and to live respectfully are among the most fundamental principles of the Christian life. They make it possible for us to worship and witness as we live in community with one another. So . . . what one ordinary person considers at first glance to be interesting, thought-provoking comments may not be as random as they first appear.
“You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers