“I have not come to abolish [the law] but to fulfill them.” – Matthew 5:17 

For thirty years I worked in a highly regulated industry, which often put me in the uncomfortable position of being an enforcer of rules, playing policeman at times, which among my duties was my least favorite. Fortunately, though, the vast majority of people are honest and fair-minded in their business dealings. It’s those few who are not who tested my wits and patience.

Upholding the “letter” of the law was seldom the issue. The challenge was dealing with the gray areas, and with laws, rules and regulations there inevitably exist gray areas. Thus, disputes arose not about the specific boundaries set by the rules; rather, within those boundaries what was fair in a particular circumstance, and determining fairness was a gray area. As I said, the vast majority not only comply with the letter of the law, but do so within the spirit of it, that is a spirit of fairness. Those few who tested my wits and patience, however, complied with the letter of the law because they had to, but had little regard for the spirit of it.

This is what Jesus was referring to when he said, “I have not come to abolish [the law] but to fulfill them.” This was at the core of his ongoing dispute with the Pharisees who were the lawyers of his day. The Pharisees were strict defenders of the letter of the law, so much so that they had lost sight of the spirit of it. That is why when Jesus was asked which is the greatest among the commandments, he replied it is to love God and love your neighbor. “All the Law and the Prophets,” he explained, “hang on these two commandments.” Jesus, in other words, did not diminish the letter of the law, but redirected the focus to a deeper meaning, that is the spirit for which it was written.

Now is a time like no other in our collective lifetimes, to experience this most important theme of Jesus’ teachings; for the laws being imposed and the sacrifices we are being asked to make during this coronavirus pandemic, if only temporary, are indeed onerous, extreme, and restrictive. But if we can redirect our focus toward their deeper purpose, that is the spirit for which they have been established, which is to love and honor God by loving our neighbors, keeping them safe and cared for – as well as ourselves – then we will have experienced obedience to the greatest among all the commandments.

“. . . we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:4 

The air looms heavy with the threat of hard times, does it not? The fear is that if we are not able to quell the spread of the coronavirus quickly, to stop it in its tracks, our livelihoods will be in severe jeopardy, not to mention our health and safety. Individually, many of us have suffered difficult times, but few of us have experienced them universally on a national or global scale like that of, say, the Great Depression. And that is our fear, and perhaps a valid one. But since we’ve mostly never experienced it, neither are we able to predict what life will truly be like should such conditions occur.

Since I was born post the Great Depression and World War II and did not experience those dark years, except for hearing stories from my parents and their generation, I was always curious how people of that age managed. I recall once asking my mother what it was like. Her answer was simple, “we just lived one day at a time,” she said, and that was it. I don’t believe she was trying to be flippant in her response, but somehow her answer seemed incomplete. I felt she left something out, on purpose maybe, something I needed to experience or figure out for myself.

What I’ve come to believe she left out – and for me to figure out – is that when hard times do occur that is when the “better angels” of human character begin to emerge. I observe it happening even now from the phone calls we receive from friends just checking in, and the calls we find ourselves making doing the same. There are more emails and text messages floating around, staying in touch, offering encouragement, even jokes and humor to lift our spirits. It’s a strange thing, but when we face suffering it makes us more aware of the suffering of others, awakening our compassion.

As much as we all may fear the looming threat of hard times, the Apostle Paul reminds us that we should instead “rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” So, how are we to survive hard times should they occur? The same way as the generations before, by persevering one day at a time, joining in the band of those “better angels” of human character, then opening our eyes to the hope before us in the gift of God’s grace.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”

• Colossians 4:5 

Early morning seemed the best time to make a quick run to the grocery store before the crowds hit, as seems to be the case during this corona-virus crisis. We didn’t need much, just a few essentials. When I arrived the shelves were bare as expected, but except for bananas, thankfully I was not in need of any of the items that were sold out. Then, while standing in the checkout line it occurred to me how exhausted these poor store employees must be, prompting me to remark to the checkout lady, “You all deserve the congressional medal of honor for all you’re doing.” Her response shocked me as she looked up teary-eyed. “You have no idea how badly I needed to hear that,” she replied. Then, nodding toward the young woman bagging my groceries she asked, “Would you tell her what you just said to me?” Which I did, to which she also was deeply moved.

Now, before I break my arm patting myself on the back over this brief moment of compassion, allow me instead to confess to being as self-absorbed as the rest of the crowd, most of the time at least; for until that moment I had been as caught up in the frenzy as the next person. Instead, I share this experience because for me it was a wakeup call, reminding me to start paying attention to the needs of my neighbors, not just me and mine. As in the case of those overworked employees, to be more sensitive to what they really need which is to be shown a little appreciation. And it’s as simple as saying thank you.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you know how to answer everyone.” What brilliant words from the Apostle Paul, as if they were written just for us in this very moment in time.

Those store workers needed appreciation and encouragement, but some need a phone call, some need a ride, some need a friend, others a prayer, and many are hungry and need to be fed. All of us need something, don’t we? So, let us be wise in the way we act, and make the most of every opportunity to share with those in need what we have to offer – like the friend who knew my need and just delivered bananas to my doorstep!

“. . . there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.”

• Ecclesiastes 3:12 

As my two sons’ respective high school graduations approached – lo, many years ago – I invited each one to dinner for an obligatory father-son chat. In the course of those two evenings I asked each the same question, “What do you want to be?” Predictably each responded with his career choice du jour – lawyer, architect, or whatever. Yes, I replied, I appreciate what it is you want to DO, but I’m asking what you want to BE. Puzzled at first each thoughtfully considered what I meant, eventually arriving at the same conclusion. “I want to be a good person,” they said. Exactly what I was fishing for.

In his book The Road to Character, New York Times columnist David Brooks refers to the two versions of the creation story in the Book of Genesis, arguing that each version represents Adam in a different light. Brooks calls them Adam I and Adam II. Adam I is driven by his own abilities with a desire to “build, create, produce, and discover things. He wants to have high status and win victories.” Adam II, on the other hand, “wants to embody moral qualities . . . to have a serene inner character, a quiet but solid sense of right and wrong – not only to do good, but to be good.” Brooks goes on to say, “While Adam I wants to conquer the world, Adam II wants to obey a calling to serve the world.”

Reflecting on those two evenings with each of my sons, I now realize that my question, “what do you want to be?” provoked “Adam I” answers because our education system and our culture in general – and if I’m honest, my own parenting – are so oriented around the virtues of hard work and personal achievement, and less so about the “Adam II” qualities of character and morality – not to mention failing to encourage young people to listen for and respond to higher callings.

My intention with my sons was in no way to diminish the importance of striving for personal achievement (nor do I believe it was David Brook’s intention). Rather, it was to encourage them to seek higher purpose in their life and work, whatever it is they chose; for fulfillment in life can only be found in serving God and doing good while we’re alive. For while in Adam I we strive to achieve all we can with what we have, in Adam II we are beckoned to pursue a higher purpose, or as my sons would say, to be a good person.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” – Philippians 4:12 

There’s a story about a man I had once known back in my college days who became quite successful in business. Yet, despite his success and prosperity, he also became addicted to alcohol, sinking deeper and deeper until it cost him everything he had worked so hard to attain. Eventually, after hitting rock bottom he went into recovery, got sober, and with his wife’s support launched a new business venture from which he was able to regain his wealth, his health, and most importantly his dignity.

Ups and downs in life can happen to any of us. In fact, they do happen to all of us at one time or another. And it’s not always financial. Crises can occur from many situations, such as health issues, loss of a loved one, divorce, business failures, job loss, family problems, or battling addictions as with my former acquaintance, just to name a few. Misfortunes can be of our own making, or just plain bad luck.

I’ve had my own ups and downs through the years. One occurred thirty-five years-ago when I was in my mid-thirties. My career at the time was rising at a rapid pace – but unfortunately, so was my ego – when a career opportunity presented itself that was sure to be the one where I would make my fortune. So, off I went to another city, my uprooted family in tow. It only took a few weeks to realize what a mistake I had made.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty,” the Apostle Paul writes. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,” he goes on, “whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Ups and downs are inevitable. What I’ve learned over the years from experiencing ups and downs of various kinds, is to not let the ups take you down, as my ego once did with me. But if you find yourself down, know where to find the strength you need to rise back up. In other words, when you’re up find the humility to simply be thankful. And when you’re down, lean on the source of your strength, that is those who love you and the grace of God. For, it was through God’s grace and the love of my family that my career not only revived but once again thrived. And I’m pretty sure if you asked that old acquaintance of mine, he would tell you the same thing.