“. . . you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”  – Numbers 20:12 

“I have a dream . . .”   For the majority of us those are the words most often associated with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We remember them not only because of Dr. King’s often quoted famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in August of 1963, but it was in the context of that passionate address that he defined his life’s mission and purpose, summarizing all his courageous acts, brilliant writings, and inspiring speeches.  Arguably, and as some scholars have claimed, it may have been the greatest speech of the twentieth century.  But one thing is for sure, by the time he stepped down from the podium that day not only did the world understand Dr. King’s dream, more importantly he inspired others to share in it, and continues to do so today.

Like Moses, though, who never made it to the Promise Land Dr. King’s own life was tragically cut short by an assassin’s bullet before he could experience the fulfillment of his dream.  But even if he were still living today would it be so?  The honest answer must be that we are still far from the peaceful, civil, racially equal society of his dream.  Progress has been made for sure, but his dream was so big and audacious it will likely still be a work in progress generations from now.

Moses’ led the historic Exodus with a dream of the Promise Land, and Dr. King led the Civil Rights Movement with a dream of racial equality.  Both dreams are examples of what Jim Collins, in his best-selling books Good to Great and Built to Last, referred to as BHAGs, an acronym for “Big Hairy Audacious Goal.”  “A BHAG,” according to Collins, “is a huge and daunting goal – like a mountain to climb.  It is clear, compelling, and people ‘get it’ right away.  A BHAG serves as a unifying focal point of effort, galvanizing people and creating team spirit as people strive toward a finish line.”  Moses and Dr. King both certainly accomplished that, didn’t they?

Moses’ BHAG has outlived him by thousands of years as the Exodus story continues to inspire generation after generation.  And Dr. King, whose BHAG has thus far outlived him by several decades, continues to inspire our society, and will no doubt continue to do so.  It makes me wonder, then, about our own big dreams.  If they are not expected to extend beyond our own lifetimes, are we dreaming big enough dreams?

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me.”  – Matthew 25:45 

This past Wednesday, January 6, 2021, was undoubtedly one of the darkest days in the history of the United States of America.  Like most Americans, and the world at large, I stood in front of my TV screen appalled that such an attack on our nation’s capital could be happening before my very eyes, and by an angry mob made up of none other than my own fellow citizens.  Like most Americans I find myself caught up in emotions of anger, fear, and sadness all at the same time.  What has happened in America is heartbreaking.

These Abundant Living articles are not intended to be a forum for commentaries on current events, nor would it be a subject for this issue except I question if I too am part of the problem, if not in some ways as guilty as the mob that stormed the Capital.  Jesus admonished us that, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”  And here I have been a person of privilege all my life, born and raised in a loving home with access to a good education, successful careers, a beautiful family, and financial stability.  Yet, how often have I turned away a neighbor in need while feeding my own selfish desires?  How often have I betrayed someone or been unkind?  I ask myself, has my behavior contributed to the hate and anger we witnessed last Wednesday?

“For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. . . I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”  If I have failed my neighbor and my Lord, what then must I do – starting today – that in some small way will help us heal?  Maybe I need to start with this humble prayer:

“Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.  I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself.  I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.  For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of you Name.  Amen.”  (Book of Common Prayer, revised to first person.)  May God Bless America!

“Wisdom is better than strength.”  – Ecclesiastes 9:16 

As a teenager growing up in a small farming community, my buddies and I would sometimes hire ourselves out during the summer months to local farmers to help them haul their freshly baled hay from the field and stack it in the barn.  What always puzzled me back then was how those farmers who were forty or fifty years our seniors, could labor alongside us all day long, matching us bale for bale, and hardly break a sweat, while we strapping young high school athletes would be exhausted by the end of the day.

It was not until years later after I was well seasoned in my own career that I discovered the answer.  While we were out there flexing our muscles, tossing those seventy-pound bales around with brute strength, those farmers had figured out how to get as much done using sort of a rhythmic finesse I cannot exactly describe, but that required far less effort.  It was a great demonstration of what wisdom is.

Society, as it always has, admires physical strength, just as it does wealth, fame, and power, beauty, athletic ability, artistic talent, intellect, and academic achievements, to name a few.  What is often overlooked, unrecognized by the masses, is wisdom.  Even though it is more effective – like the farmers demonstrated – wisdom is not always heard, and wise people often go unheeded.  Why is that I wonder?

Too often, I think, we use the words knowledge and wisdom interchangeably, and while the two characteristics are not mutually exclusive, neither are they synonymous; for not all highly knowledgeable people are necessarily wise, nor wise people those with the most knowledge.  Knowledge is something we learn by being taught, either by other learned people or our own endeavors to study and learn.  Wisdom, however, is something that must be discovered by experiencing life.

That was the great wisdom demonstrated by the farmers; for I suspect when they had been young men like we were at the time, they too were out there flexing their muscles, tossing haybales around with brute strength.  But after years of experiencing life, they eventually discovered more effective ways of getting the job done with far less effort, realizing that “wisdom is better than strength” – always!

“In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

• John 16:33 

If there is one single thing we probably all agree on in this deeply divided age we live in, it is that the year 2020 has been a year from . . . well, you know where!  That sentiment is no doubt universal, as the COVID pandemic has impacted everyone on the entire planet, no nation or society has escaped.  Except perhaps for World War II, this fatal disease has been like nothing any of us has ever experienced.  Couple that with already existing social, political, and racial unrest during a highly contentious election year, it is almost a perfect storm.  And as much as we long for great leadership to unify us in solving the problems of our day, that remains doubtful regardless of one’s political or philosophical stripes.  No, more than a great leader, what we need is a great savior.

Well, take heart my friends, we have one, a Savior who has power to heal our deadliest and most debilitating diseases, calm the fiercest storms, and bring peace in the bitterest of conflicts.  Centuries before his appearance on earth the Prophet Isaiah foresaw his character.  “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.  He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.  Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.  The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.  The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.  The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest.  They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”  (Isaiah 11:3-9) 

All this from a tiny baby born in a stable two thousand years ago to humble parents from an obscure village!  He’s just the Savior we need, one who is with us always, even in 2020, a year from . . . well, you know where. “In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus told us.  “But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  I think I’ll put my trust in Him.  Hope you will too.  Merry Christmas!  Abundant Living will return January 4, 2021.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways . . .”  – Psalm 37:7 

How many of us have made the mistake of turning around and leaving the dock just before our ship came in?  I certainly have.  In my younger days I was often in a big hurry, attempting to fast-track my career and move ahead of the pack.  Chalk it up to ambition, but in retrospect my haste sometimes caused more setbacks than advancements, such as the time I uprooted my family for an “opportunity” in another city.  What I thought would surely lead to a giant leap in my career, and our family fortunes, turned out to be a near disaster.  Thankfully – and literally by the grace of God – my mistake got redeemed and all turned out well.  Looking back, though, I now realize that if I had waited patiently instead of leaving the dock my ship was about to come in anyway, and without subjecting my family and myself to the struggles of a near disaster.

If there is any consolation to this story it is in knowing that I am not the first person to ever jump the gun and mistakenly take things in my own hands.  Thousands of years ago there lived an elderly couple by the name of Abraham and Sarah who remained childless. But despite being beyond childbearing age, God appeared to Abraham promising him more descendants than the stars in the heavens (talk about a promise of your ship coming in!).  Years passed, though, and Abraham and Sarah were still without a child.  Finally, out of desperation Sarah offered her maidservant Hagar to Abraham to bear a child, a son named Ishmael, so there would be a descendant.  And what was consequence of that, but hard feelings, a jealous dispute between Hagar and Sarah, and ultimately a split-up in the family.  Yet – literally through God’s grace – their mistake got redeemed when Sarah finally did bear a son who they named Isaac.  And the rest we know is history.

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways.”    How many of us have made the mistake of turning around and leaving the dock just before our ship came in?  I certainly did, as did Abraham and Sarah thousands of years before, hard lessons to remind us that things work out best when we are patient and wait for the Lord.  Indeed, in this very moment we are being assured our ship is coming in soon to rescue us from COVID-19.  Oh, that we remain patient, and restrain ourselves a little longer from leaving the dock too soon.