Friday Writings
Tim
Bacchus
23 March 2024
Have
you ever had a feeling that you needed to do some act of goodness? Maybe a name
came to your mind along with the thought, “He needs a friend; you should reach
out.” Or maybe a decision had been weighing on you, when you received a sudden
spark of clarity and somehow you knew—beyond your own reasoning—what you
should do. You may have felt a nudge to apologize to someone. Or perhaps a
message came to your heart that helped you see someone with more patience and
compassion. We often call these thoughts and feelings “promptings,” and
sometimes they’re so subtle and so unexpected, we wonder where they came from.
The answer is that if it invites you to do good, to be kind, to help others, to
love God and serve Him, it comes from God. Anciently, the prophet Elijah learned
about the Lord’s quiet promptings. Elijah was known for some remarkable
manifestations of divine power. He sealed the heavens to keep rain from falling,
and he called down fire from the sky—all in an attempt to persuade people to
turn to the Lord. But it wasn’t working. Alone, exhausted, and discouraged,
Elijah fled for his life and hid in a cave. There the Lord spoke to Elijah, but
not in a “strong wind” or an “earthquake” or a “fire.” Instead,
Elijah found Him in “a still small voice”. To hear a quiet voice, we need to
be quiet too. We may miss the grandeur of God, as well as His quiet whisperings,
if we surround ourselves with too much busyness and noise. God does want to
speak to you. He wants to whisper comfort and reassurance. He wants to offer
guidance. And there may be some prompting He wants to give, some good thing
He’d like you to do. When we settle down enough to listen to that still, small
voice, when we respond to a whispering nudge to do something good, we’re
answering a call from God. Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
11 March 2024
We
all wish we could make the world a better place. It’s just that we assume big
problems require big solutions, and our efforts seem so small. But what if,
instead of being paralyzed thinking of what we can’t do, we each picked
something simple we can do? For example, what if we decided to give others the
benefit of the doubt, to be slower to judge, and to truly wish them well? Could
a simple choice like that make a dent in the turmoil, contention and anger that
surround us? Could elevating our thoughts, actions and interactions to a higher,
holier level somehow elevate the whole world? Here are some examples of people
trying to do just that: a man says a silent prayer every time he hears or sees
that someone is hurting. Even if he is not able to offer direct help, he humbly
asks God to intervene in that person’s behalf. It may not seem like much, but
it’s heartfelt and sincere. A woman continually looks for the good in others,
even when it’s hard to find. When listening to a speaker who some might find
boring, she pays extra close attention, offering nonverbal encouragement. When
she is snubbed by someone, she considers what might be happening in that
person’s life to make them act that way. This approach always leads to
compassion, and she chooses not to retaliate. Similarly, another woman set a
goal to be more patient. She reminds herself of her goal every morning, and
throughout the day she finds herself in situations that certainly require
patience. Instead of resenting those moments, she gives thanks for the
opportunity to improve. Do such small gestures really change the world? Yes,
they do, because they change people, and people are what make up the world. The
change may not happen overnight, but it does happen — moment by moment, day by
day, one softened heart and one healed relationship at a time. Some positive
growth, some encouraging development, some promising effort is always better
than nothing. Long ago, the Apostle John expressed that kind of positive
thinking: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in
health” (3 John 1:2). May we offer that same hope, that same prayer, uplifting
each other and, eventually, the whole world. Please be Safe, Happy and have
Peace.
3 March 2024
In
1978, Nobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn spoke at Harvard’s
commencement ceremony. The students in the audience had reason to be proud of
their accomplishments. They were graduating from one of the world’s most
prestigious universities. Future success, at least by worldly standards,
probably seemed assured. To this accomplished audience, Solzhenitsyn gave a
stark and humbling reminder: We are “born to die.” And since that’s the
case, he continued, then our “task on earth evidently must be of a more
spiritual nature [than just to be happy]. It cannot be unrestrained enjoyment of
everyday life. It cannot be the search for the best ways to obtain material
goods and then cheerfully get the most of them. It has to be the fulfillment of
a permanent, earnest duty so that one’s life journey may become an experience
of moral growth, so that one may leave life a better human being than one
started it.” It’s good counsel for high-achieving college graduates and for
all of us. No matter what we’ve accomplished in the past, life is an ongoing
quest to be better. And since life on earth is temporary, that quest would feel
empty if it did not improve us spiritually. This is a spiritual quest, and it
includes not just becoming smarter and more productive but also gentler, kinder,
more patient, more hopeful, more loving. That is the quest of a lifetime. This
quest requires that we learn the difference between the temporary and the
permanent. Along the way, we come to understand that among those permanent
things are memories, relationships, wisdom, and love. We come to see that
goodness and compassion outlive us, that people matter more than things, that
God is real, and He matters most of all. We discover the truth of the Biblical
proverb: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving
favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Higher education is a
blessing. But the highest education comes as we strive to nurture our faith in
God and grow our moral and spiritual nature so we can leave this life a better
human being than we were when we started. Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
17 February 2024
The story is told of a man who was looking through his wife’s belongings shortly after she passed away. In her dresser, he found a very nice piece of clothing that she had bought on a trip many years earlier. He realized that she had never worn it; she was saving it for a special occasion. And now it was too late. Later, the husband shared this experience with a friend, adding this advice: “Don’t save something only for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion.” Those words changed his friend’s life. She said: “Now I spend more time with my family. I use crystal glasses every day. I’ll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket if I feel like it. The words ‘someday’ and ‘one day’ are fading from my vocabulary. Now I take the time to call my relatives and closest friends. I’ve called old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I tell my family members how much I love them. I try not to delay or postpone anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives. And each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day. Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.” So many of our days—with their humdrum, their pressures, and their demands—don’t seem particularly special. But the fact is that life itself is miraculous and marvelous; it is, in a word, special. That doesn’t mean every day is always sunny and sparkling. We all have hard days and challenges, some of them ongoing. But it’s also true that every day has something, some little thing, that makes the day special: a bit of beautiful music, the sound of a bird, a cool breeze on a hot day, the thoughtfulness of a friend. Usually, the little things are the big things. In waiting for a special occasion, we might miss the many special occasions happening every day. So, what if, instead of postponing life, we lived each day as a gift? After all, the fact that God has given us another day of life is surely cause to celebrate. Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
10 February 2024
We
live in a time when people value busyness. If your schedule is full and your
to-do list is long, people assume you’re living a pretty successful life. But
is that necessarily so? If we search our hearts, many of us would say we want a
close relationship with God, a happy family, good health, and good
relationships. But if we don’t make time for those most important things, then
before we know it, other demands of life quickly crowd them out. Seeing that
this was happening in his own life, one man decided to turn things upside down.
He wrote a list of his real priorities. When he put God at the top, he realized
he needed to schedule a block of time for daily prayer and scripture reading.
And he decided that time needed to come first, not after dashing about all day
left him too tired. No, he would let his first conversation each day be with
God. Suddenly the other things took care of themselves. Taking some time for
spiritual connection improved all his other connections—with his family,
coworkers, and neighbors. His life was better because his priorities were
better. When we feel dissatisfied with life, maybe our problem isn’t that
we’ve failed; it’s that we’re succeeding at the wrong things. When we’re
true to our highest priorities, we’re more relaxed, and our thoughts are
clearer, our step is lighter. We know who we are and where we’re going. When
we place eternal things ahead of material things, we are on the path toward the
only success that matters—success that lasts forever.
Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
3 February 2024
For
as long as people have put pen to paper, they have found satisfaction in keeping
journals. So many people of all ages record special moments in their lives,
expressing their inmost feelings and thoughts. Some do it to leave a record for
their posterity; others write only for themselves. There’s just something
about putting our life into words that helps us see it clearly, understand it,
and over time, make it better. Very often, the most difficult step in journaling
is simply getting started. Experienced journal keepers have found that it helps
to establish a rhythm for writing. It can be different for everyone; some
journal every Sunday afternoon, before breakfast on weekdays, on the train
during the daily commute, or just before bed. Journaling, they discover, invites
order, awareness, and peace into their lives. Some
find healing and peace in the pages of their journals. Others find deeper
understanding of their own emotions, which helps them connect better with
others. By remembering and reflecting, by writing things down, we can see how
we’ve grown over the years. And seeing how we faced challenges in the past
might give us courage to face what lies ahead. Even if we write only one line
every few days, journaling can help us while also turning our thoughts
heavenward, opening our hearts to gratitude for the Lord, His grace, and His
goodness in our lives. Please be
Safe, Happy and have Peace.
27 January 2024
As conflicts rage around the world, we may feel unsafe, helpless, even hopeless at times. But God doesn’t want His children to feel that way. He knows all about the world’s problems; yet He also knows how to give, as the scripture says, “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3). Jesus said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). Because of that belief, that trust, we can find beauty even on ugly days, light even on dark days, and peace and joy even amid turmoil and sorrow. Does that mean we just close our eyes to the suffering in the world, pretending that all is well? No. It simply means that we seek out, hold up, and promote the good, the true, and the beautiful. Real peace and joy come from the quiet assurance of a better world to come. And what will bring that better world? The patient, tireless efforts of people who, with faith in the Lord and trust in His promises, are striving to do what’s right, here and now, even when it’s not easy. Peace and joy can dwell in our souls, even when the peaceful, joyful world we envision seems far away. We get a foretaste when we allow God into our lives, when we extend to others the love and respect of our common humanity. If you asked someone what it’s like to experience peace and joy amid turmoil and sorrow, they may have trouble explaining it. The feeling is real and deep and powerful, but it’s also indescribable, unspeakable, too great to even express in words. You simply have to experience it to understand it. It comes in quiet moments, sometimes unexpectedly. As the Apostle Paul taught, “The peace of God … passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). But we do understand this: the peace of God begins when we accept the Lord’s invitation to “have peace one with another” (Mark 9:50). Peace must first come from within; then it can flow from us to the home, to the community, and to the world. Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
20 January 2024
Beauty
feeds our souls. We need food, water, and shelter to survive, but we need beauty
to thrive. So in addition to planting vegetable gardens, we plant flowers. We
build shelters, but we also paint murals, lay decorative tile, strum guitars and
build fountains. We crave the
creativity that enhances our existence, even though some might consider it
“nonessential.” We were created not just to live but to have joy. When we
create and appreciate beauty, we are following the pattern of our Creator. He
made the sun because we need sunlight, and He also made sunrises and sunsets
colorful because we need beauty. As His children, we do the same when we create
works of art like these colorful tiles — not so much because they’re
functional but because they’re beautiful. Similarly, we could state a truth,
or we could share it through poetry and music, and suddenly the truth becomes a
treasure. Beauty improves life. Just days before His burial, the Lord was
approached by a woman with “an alabaster box of ointment … very precious”
(see Mark 14:3). In a sacred and loving act of worship, she applied the fragrant
oil on the Savior’s head. Some responded critically: the oil was so expensive,
the gesture so unnecessary. But the Savior answered, “She hath wrought a good
work on me” (see Mark 14:6). The cost of the oil would soon be forgotten, but
the woman’s beautiful gesture would always be remembered. Whenever we lovingly
create, whenever we carefully beautify, whenever we lift others with our
creative acts of loveliness, we glorify God. We bring ourselves and others a
little closer to the divine. So next time you’re inclined to make something
beautiful, “reason not the need.” Make the world a little better by making
it just a little more beautiful. Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
12 January 2024
In
the court of everyday life, we often decide to become self-appointed judges,
even if we aren’t qualified or wise. That may be all right when it comes to
personal decisions about what to do and how to live. But it becomes a problem
when we start judging other people. The problem is that we don’t see clearly.
God is the only perfect judge, only He knows each person’s background,
intents, actions, and heart. As for the rest of us, if we really want to help
others with something as small and superficial as a mote or speck of dust, the
best place to start is by removing the beam—the long, thick lumber—blocking
our own vision. Unless we get that order right, we do more harm than good. Peace
can only come as we resist the damaging pastime of passing judgment. That peace
comes both in this life and the next, for the Lord also said, “With what
judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure, it shall be
measured to you again.
In other words, the measuring stick we use to judge others will someday be used to measure us. When that day comes, knowing that we haven’t fully measured up, we will all surely hope for mercy. So, it’s helpful if mercy hasn’t been a total stranger to us. In the meantime, we would do well to withhold judgment. And when we have to judge, since limited vision keeps us from judging fairly, we can at least judge mercifully. Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
5 January 2024
It takes the earth a little more than 365 days to circle the sun. Over the centuries, we’ve come to see the completion of one of those orbits and the beginning of a new one as a kind of fresh start for our lives. We use a new year to reflect on the past and anticipate the future. We ask ourselves, What have I learned? How have I changed? Who have I helped—even in small and simple ways? And what are my goals for the coming year? Of course, much is beyond our control. There are some aspects of our lives that we can’t change any more than we can change the weather or the rotation of the earth. We might face circumstances that seem to put us at an unfair disadvantage. With all the uncertainty around us, how can we anticipate a bright future? Maybe there’s an answer in Aesop’s fable of the race between the tortoise and the hare. With his strong legs and long stride, the hare started fast, sprinting ahead of the sluggish tortoise. Once he had a safe lead, the hare lay down to indulge in a little nap. Slowly and surely, one step at a time, the tortoise crept past the sleeping hare and won the race. The moral of the story is expressed in this line of scripture: “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” Whatever our strengths or weaknesses, our advantages or disadvantages, we win because we never give up. We succeed because we “run with patience the race that is set before us,” whatever that race might be. Some call it a growth mindset—focusing not on our innate abilities but on our potential to grow through hard work and perseverance. The Lord said it this way to His followers: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples. It’s not how you start the race that matters; it’s how you finish. So as the earth starts another slow and steady trip around the sun, it’s a good time to reflect on where we’ve been. But we shouldn’t let that put any limits Please be Safe, Happy and have Peace.
Updated
7 January 2024