Tag Archives: belief

Aim for the target

 

In a beautiful morning scene in the movie, a man spoke of enjoying beauty and celebrating life wherever he went. He then fired his shotgun into the air and related his joy in shooting birds from the sky.  “I’m a contradiction,” he confessed, pausing. “We all are.”

 

Indeed we all are contradictions. We believe in eating well but we behave as if food is our salvation, the salve to every wound. Or we believe that relationships matter most yet spend our time in isolation. We ask why doesn’t someone do something about a problem that bothers us while forgetting that we are someone.  We believe that it’s best to trust God, yet often act as if everything depends on us.

 

We’ll never get it perfect this side of heaven, but there is a difference between striving-yet-missing the mark and not aiming in the right direction in the first place.

 

We always behave in a way that is consistent with our real beliefs. But our stated or desired beliefs aren’t always affirmed by our heart. Do you know what you really believe and why? What we really believe to be true is revealed by our thoughts and actions. A quick examination of our daily agenda, our checkbooks, and our pressing ambitions (if we were honest enough to unveil them) would reveal what we really believe.

 

What is your target today, this week, this year?

 

Think about what you value most right now and what you think you’ll value most at the end of life. Aim for that. Live today focused on the target.

 

 

Belief Trumps Attitude

I am learning some important lessons in this journey. For example, as strength varies throughout the day and when appetite diminishes, I learn to eat my ice cream FIRST! 🙂

I have heard many folks say we have good spirits or a strong attitude in the face of this cancer. The simple truth is this:

“Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but with POWER, with the Holy Spirit, and with DEEP CONVICTION. The word of God is AT WORK in you who BELIEVE.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5,13

None of us get this right all the time. We all get distracted. (For example, getting up the courage to eat was sometimes a struggle for me during the chemo, as was forcing myself to walk at least a half mile on my weakest days.) But God’s Word promises there is real power available to those who believe it…power to live out our moment by moment lives according to what we believe.

I remember teaching a values clarification class on stress management years ago to a group of adults with mental illness. In the middle of the discussion, a young man raised his hand and asked, “So you are saying that whenever we act in ways that contradict our true beliefs, we will always experience stress?” Exactly!

Belief is an active word. It doesn’t just refer to an historical discovery of some principle. True belief drives us to present action despite what circumstances may present themselves. We choose to love in unlovable moments. We keep quiet when we are tempted to complain about someone. We reach out when we are inclined to withdraw. We believe even as doubts cross our mind.

When the Bible says ‘believe’ it actually means “Keep on believing.” We can’t simply rely on a past decision or experience. We have to keep believing in the midst of each circumstance, the great ones and the challenging ones. True belief reminds us of our passion and purpose and doesn’t let the storms of life distract us. True belief keeps us focused with eyes firmly fixed on our goal, so we can continue to press on toward the prize we seek.

Dealing with this Leukemia requires all the prayers that many of you are offering on behalf of Marcia and me. (It matters!) And it requires believing and acting on belief, in what is and always has been true, and always will be true.