To grow is to change: To be perfect is to change often
~Cardinal Newman
I forget which great philosopher it was that foolishly tried to define humanity as "change," but while he was obviously off the mark, he was definitely on to something. Change exists as an important factor in our lives. However, it is not what we are, but what we do. I mean, just think about how much you have changed just recently. Can you even imagine how you would go about explaining that you are the same person you were ten years ago? However, that's just it, you are the same entity but at the same time very different.
I love the above Cardinal Newman quote, but because it can easily be misconstrued, I would add but one thing to it: Change for the better, not change for change's sake!!
Custom without truth is just old error.
~Cyprian
Which is, of course, to say that Custom with truth is only eternal reality..
But from this it must follow that I extrapolate to the Bible. After all, even the beginning church experienced its own pains from change. One such example is found in Acts. Read if you will, Acts 2:44-45 "And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. "
What? When? How? Out of context, doesn't it sound like a bunch of socialists?
Then read Acts 6:1-6. Shortened version: Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.... "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ...we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit... and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
I don't know about you, but some sort of movement from an initial small community sharing everything to a more role-oriented community seems to have occurred here.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
~Baz Lermin
I'm sorry but just thinking about what kind of things this quote might inspire me do actually scares me. So, I think that means that I have done my that scares me for today. I'll have to now think about something I can actually do tomorrow.
Life is a bridge. Cross over it, but build no house on it.
~ Indian Proverb
Positively, the best advice you could get for a Christian from a secular source. Just think, it is as simple as LUKE, one, two, three, four (12:34) "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. " Life is simply fleeting, and therefore the focus must be beyond this world.
Still dabbling with pilot lights? Go and set the world Ablaze, already!
(FYI: The above non-biblical quotes were taken from the book "God, I have issues")
3 comments:
In terms of doing something that scares you, I think the author of the quote is implying that one must take risks often to make a life worth living. These risks need not be life-threatening, but even approaching someone new to talk about things is a risk and provokes anxiety, even if it is small for those who are in the practice of doing so, and quite large for the agoraphobic.
Do something that scares me every day... does it count if I just keep taking the same route to work every morning, or does it have to be something different each day? Cause if it does I can start off tomorrow by looking in the mirror (shudders at the thought!)
I agree with your assessment Father. ^_^ Although, that said, doing something as simple as dealing charitably with someone who just yelled at you is scary enough for me.
Which ironically, I had to do twice within a week of reading the quote... remembering the quote helped me to pull courage out of nowhere each time. "Well, hopefully this is the scariest thing I have to do today..." was what I thought.
Ouji - Yeah, I think the mirror is scary too... but only when you can see your reflection. ^_^ We night-dwellers have little problem with that.
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