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| Countdown to conversation, with or without candy. |
I get what they mean. “Happy Holidays – Enjoy a Blessed
Season of Peace and Understanding.” But it seems to me that if the holidays are
to be a season of peace, then it would seem prudent to avoid any actual
understanding, especially—as the saying goes—regarding religion and politics.
It’s understandable. We avoid discussing our most deeply
held beliefs. Why risk the potential for frustration, misunderstanding, and
emotional pain? This isn’t the time of year to damage our relationships, so
let’s not try anything that might deepen those relationships, okay?
But what if we did? What if we talked about the ways we
derive meaning from life? What if we shared with others the value we place on
the various aspects of our lives? That’s what spirituality is about. Even if we don’t have specific religious,
doctrinal categories to call them, spirituality is about the meaning of life
and the value we place on its elements. It’s the largest part of what makes me me. And if I claim that we have a
relationship, shouldn’t you know what that meaning and those values are?
Shouldn’t I know the same about you?
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| If this is where you're spending Christmas... |
Of course, if we’re already arguing over whether turkey or
ham (or standing rib roast) should be the main course, or whether mashed
potatoes come in a box (they don’t) or cranberry sauce in a can (it does), then
it might be better to wait until we’re drowsy from the tryptophan (because
“turkey” is the right answer to the question above) before we jump into the
spirituality discussion.
Still, my hope is that at some point during the holidays you
will choose to take the risk and open the door to a deeper relationship with
your friends and family. Toward figuring out a way to do that, I’ll go first.
In the next few posts, I want to share with you a part of how I derive meaning
from life and assign value to its elements. Many of you already know that a
great deal of my spirituality centers of Jesus Christ. You may even have heard
me define the gospel: we trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ as both necessary and sufficient to restore our broken relationship with
our Creator, God, and to receive eternal life. I won’t go into all the details
of that right now. But there are some aspects of what I understand Jesus Christ
to be that might help you understand better who I am and why.
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| Sometimes it's understandable that you want to eat quietly. But... |
In Isaiah 9:6-7, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and
says that the Messiah to be born will fulfill five roles, four of which He
names as being “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of
Peace.” The fifth has to do with the government being on His shoulders, but
we’ll get to that in due time.
I also want to invite you to comment on whatever aspects of
your own spirituality you might choose to share, whether by name or
anonymously, in the comment section below. I find that questions from others
often help me think through parts of my own spirituality more clearly. But I also
enjoy seeing how others put theirs together, even if they come from very
different perspectives and build with very different pieces than I work
together in mine. So, thanks in advance for simply reading my thoughts, and
special gratitude to those of you who will choose to share as well.
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