So now you have more stuff? You have had more food. You have more clothes. You have more and more. There are certain things we need more. There are some things that need to be thrown
away and not hoarded. I saw an article
the other day that suggested you put a rubber band on the hanger of all your
clothes. As you wear the clothes, take
the rubber band off. After three or four
months, the rubber bands can tell you what clothes you can give away. Notice I said, “Give away!” I did not say sell. We have lost the art of sharing! Practice it more!
Here are some things the world
could use more of in the coming year.
Will you do your part?
Generosity. Why is it so difficult to be generous? Generosity begins with God in the Judeo
Christian world. We give to the church
because we need to not for any other reason.
It centers our life. Once you
begin to understand this center, life is easier. No you are not going get rich or receive more
money because you gave. You are going to
be blessed because your life is centered.
A life centered in God becomes generous in all of life.
Kindness. Why can’t we extend simple kindness to the
world around us? It is easy to think of
other people being rude. The truth is
that we all need to be more kind to one another. Sometimes it means just being quiet. At other times it means doing something that
extends kindness. Most of the time it
means not reacting to others meanness.
Yes, people can be downright mean.
Some think it is their “God given right” to be mean. It is not.
Tolerance. To some this is a dirty word. It is compromising. As you mature in life, you will learn that it
is not. Tolerance is what statesmen
practice for the good of the country.
Tolerance is the art of Christian compassion at its best. You can still hold your blessed assurance
without being intolerant. One of the
most interesting sermons of John Wesley is entitled “On Bigotry.” He basically defines bigotry as being unable
to see God at work in ways you never would imagine—even through other
faiths. If you are in the Methodist
tradition, it might be a sermon you would want to read and reread. Tolerance is not a weakness. It is a virtue to be practiced daily!
Prayer. Most people believe in the concept of prayer
while being unable to practice it. It
is because we have forgotten the power of prayer. Prayer has turned into a version of Santa
Claus—just ask and it will magically appear.
Prayer is about relationship with God, the world, and yourself—all in
one. Begin praying this year. Spend more time in prayer than you can
imagine. The practice will change you
from the inside out. If you tell someone
you will pray for them (yes-Pray, not think!)
DO IT. Ask people to pray for
you. When you do not know what to pray,
just be still and be with God.
The world can use more of some
stuff and less of other. You can
too! Make this year one that leaves
great impact on you and the world you in which you live.
Pray for me as I pray for you.
M. Jack O’Dell
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