Jim Martin's Encouragement Note #17
You may know what it is like to get up in the morning after a night’s rest, only to realize that life today will be hard. Perhaps you anticipate a tough conversation or a challenging meeting. It could be last evening’s televised picture of injustice. It might be the stark realization that the heartbreak of yesterday is still with you today. Through all of this, we navigate life, one step at a time, in the strength of God’s Spirit.
Perhaps something in the following list of five will be helpful:
What Will You Say Three Years From Now?
Suppose you were to fast forward your calendar to September 2023, three years from now. When you look back and reflect on your life in 2020 what will come to mind? What would you like to remember about your behavior, functioning, and the way you navigated life during this year?
You might say something like this:
“2020 was a very difficult year. However, I made a couple of adjustments that turned out to be significant as I attempted to navigate my life, family, and ministry.”
For me, this year has been about making such adjustments, being flexible and making changes in my personal habits/practices. These range from how I exercise to being more intentional about attempting to connect with people (even though it might be by phone call, text, Zoom, etc.)
What about you? What adjustments could you make right now so that several years from now, as you reflect on this year, you are pleased with what you might report?
For example, what if . . .
. . . you decided to no longer dump your anxiety onto your spouse or your children?
. . . you decided to stop complaining about the inconvenience, how hard this is, your child’s school, the parents, the teachers, the elders, the ministers, etc.
. . . you decided to focus on getting enough rest, sleep, exercise, and choosing a healthy diet?
. . . you decided to be conscious of the daily moments of joy (even the small ones) and to thank God for these?
Is there a change you’ve made (or need to make) that could turn out to make a significant difference-maker this year?
When You See Your Mistakes in the Rear-View Mirror
What do you do with the things that just haven’t gone well? I am not talking about immorality, sin, or ethical misbehavior. Rather, I am focused on the everyday mistakes or miscues of life.
You made a wrong decision in your ministry. It was a judgment call that was short sighted.
You realize now that you used poor judgement in buying that expensive car, house, etc.
You agreed to hire a particular person. You now regret this.
I preached for 36 years in various congregations before coming to Memphis to work with Harding School of Theology. I would prefer to talk about what went right in my ministry in the various places where I have served. However, during those 36 years, there were also times when I just didn’t know what to do. There were other times when I thought I knew what to do and I was wrong. There were still other times when I made mistakes.
If I had a “do-over,” I would go back to these congregations and do a few things differently. At times, my own insecurities got in the way. At other times, I was way too focused with negative people. Yet, typically, I did the best I could with what I knew and the available resources.
Sometimes, when we look back we may either totally focus on our mistakes or completely forget our mistakes. I would like to land somewhere between these two. After all, at the end of a ministry or job, at the end of rearing children, and at the end of life, we cling to and rest in the goodness and graciousness of God!
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” - Lamentations 3:22
Acknowledging my own blunders can give me more compassion to ministers who are now serving other congregations. My empathy can be greater. When I am empathetic, I probably speak to a particular minister more tenderly in this person’s presence and more graciously in this person’s absence.
“I know my life is better when I work from the assumption that everyone is doing the best they can.” – Brené Brown, Dare to Lead
Embrace What Takes Effort But Can Help You Grow
“Embrace things that require serious effort but will help you grow. The effort alone can make you better — no matter the outcome. Even if you fail, you win because you are demanding more of yourself.” - Thomas Oppong
Consider these words describing, Nik Wallenda, the author of Balance: A Story of Faith, Family, and Life on the Line:
Nik Wallenda, "King of the High Wire," doesn't know fear. As a seventh generation of the legendary Wallenda family, he grew up performing, entertaining, and pushing the boundaries of gravity and balance.
When Nik was four years old, he watched a video from 1978 of his great grandfather, Karl Wallenda, walking between the towers of the Condado Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico, stumbling, and falling to his death because of improper rigging. When Nik heard his father quote his great-grandfather-"Life is on the wire, everything else is just waiting"-the words resonated deep within his soul and he vowed to be a hero like Karl Wallenda. There is something to be said about simply making the effort. The effort makes me better. Yet some of us are so focused on the outcome, we don’t make the effort. As one person told me, why should I put in the effort if I am not going to be excellent at what I am doing. Yet, the process or the outcome can make such a difference.
You may not become an expert in a particular subject. Yet, reading in that area can make a difference because of your effort.
You may not be on the verge of becoming an expert at a sport. Yet, daily exercise can make a huge difference in your life.
You may not ever write a book. Yet, writing regularly can really make you a better writer.
My former professor, Dr. Thomas Olbricht, died recently. He was 90 years old. He was such an influential teacher for me in graduate school. Just weeks before his death, we exchanged e-mails and he sent me some documents. He asked questions. My sense is that he continued to grow, think, and develop all of his life. Yet, his confidence was clearly in the Father. On June 29, 2020, he sent me a short e-mail containing only these tender words from an old familiar hymn:
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
So what about you? This year, 2020, is really hard for a lot of people. It certainly is challenging for me. As a Christian, I don’t want to be a pessimist and focus on the negative. Nor do I want to be a complete optimist and ignore the brokenness, injustice, and chaos around me. Rather, I would to be a faithful realist whose confidence for the present and future rests in the certainty of our hope in Jesus.
Today, you and I can pray, depend on the Spirit of God living within us and take one step forward. Life is on the wire. But Jesus has already gone ahead of you and me (Heb. 12:2).
Read These “Night Prayers”
One of my favorite writers is Trevor Hudson, a South African believer, whose writing has blessed and nourished me. He describes himself as an “amateur Christ-follower.” Trevor has written these “Night Prayers” for seven years. His intention is to make these prayers a part of the rhythm of one’s day. They are posted on Twitter almost daily (@Trevor040451). I read them regularly and find them to be a great source of encouragement and blessing.
A sample:
Night Prayer: Lord, be close to those we know who have suffered great loss that they may know your comfort which goes beyond human words; help us to know how best we can be with those who grieve in a way that makes real your loving Presence. (August 26)
Night Prayer: Lord, thank you that, as we learn how to live each day with you, we experience a loving and gracious power greater than ourselves that gradually restores our lives to sanity, even in the midst of our crises and challenges. (August 25)
Night Prayer: Lord, thank you that, even though you are always immeasurably greater than what we can ever think or imagine, you are also closer to us than what we can ever comprehend. (August 21)
Night Prayer: Lord, thank you for those friends who go ‘the second mile’ for our sake and reveal your friendship-heart towards us; help us also to be the kind of friends who reflect the faithfulness of your divine friendship with us. (August 11)
Night Prayer: Lord, as we enter a new week, help us to face our crises and challenges as opportunities to deepen and express our confidence in the reality of your living, active and loving Presence with us. (August 2)
You can follow Trevor Hudson (@Trevor040451) and see these regularly. Or you might enjoy his books, such as Beyond Loneliness: The Gift of God’s Friendship or Discovering Our Spiritual Identity: Practices for God’s Beloved.
Resources You Might Enjoy
“33 Things I Stole From People Smarter Than Me” in Medium, June 17, 2020, by Ryan Holiday. Reading through this list reminded me of what I could add to the list based upon what I have learned.
“Why I’m Changing My Mind About Technology” by Carey Nieuwhof. This is well worth reading.
“Preachers are a Pain” in Faith and Leadership, August 13, 2020 by William Willimon. Willimon always makes me think.
Navigating Through 2020. Don’t miss this interview with my friend, Dr. Robert Creech, one of the co-authors of the excellent book, The Leader’s Journey.
Each Thursday/Friday, I post about ten tweets especially for ministers and other believers as they anticipate Sunday. You can find me @jimmartin.
I serve as Vice President of Harding School of Theology, Memphis, Tennessee. You can find me at God-Hungry.org. You can find me on Facebook - @jim.martin. My e-mail address is: jmartin9669@gmail.com. Feel free to write. I would love to hear what is encouraging or helpful. — Jim Martin
