My Life Beyond the Blog
Monday, 20. October 2008, 17:49:55
I've been informed by several of my readers that I don't blog enough. So I'm going to post part of one of my school assignments from a few weeks ago (actually the piece I will post was about 1/3 of a typical week's English homework), responding to a quote from Mere Christianity. Yes, it sounds wooden and lame and out of place and forced. But, hey, 'twas a formal writing assignment, and thus will always sound forced on a conversational blog. I don't expect you to enjoy it, but it will at least give you an idea of what I write in all the hours I am not blogging. (As a side note, I've put a few pictures I took for photography class in a new album on my photos page.)
“A real desire to believe all the good you can of others and to make others as comfortable as you can will solve most of the problems” (Mere Christianity, 89).
Lewis reminded me of one of my own most tenacious faults as he expounded this general principle regarding Christians’ attitudes toward others. Though this remark appears in a description of how different generations condemn each other for their varying standards of decency, Lewis does not limit his advice to that situation alone. Indeed, if Christians practiced this rule more generally in their lives, many who do not struggle with generational divides would find other problems resolved. Pessimism, complaining, judgmental attitudes, and pride all receive a blow when we try to “believe all the good [we] can” of our situation and companions. Undoubtedly this rule of thumb has its limitations, as when dealing with false teachers, but it opens a new perspective on daily life.
Though his understanding of loving our neighbor runs in a different direction, Lewis recognizes the importance of simply looking for the best in people and trying to do our best by them. And certainly recognizing people’s virtues makes them easier to love. Approaching life with an attitude of criticism will not uplift us or those we come in contact with. Instead, when we look for evil we will certainly find it, and we develop judgmental, proud, pessimistic attitudes. By turning our eyes to the good in others, we contemplate that which is of God; we focus our attention on reflections of his character, and what we see will humble us by emphasizing our faults. We will not like what we see in ourselves after we have seen all the good in others, which should drive our thoughts to God, who alone can help us improve. Dwelling on goodness edifies us and others, just as placing a tulip in a sunny window will encourage it to grow toward the light. Once we have gotten into the habit of seeking out goodness, we will also find the practice of making others comfortable far easier. Though our pride revolts at taking a dinner to that coarse neighbor who always shouts and laughs like a mechanical Father Christmas, we will find it quite a pleasure to bring food to the cheerful man next door who always has a kind word and a smile. Focusing on the faults in others leads to a habit of comparison and turns our thoughts self-ward; focusing on the virtues in others leads to a habit of edification and turns our thoughts outward and upward.
I fall easily into the habit of focusing on the bad in situations and people, as it involves less work and more self-gratification than looking for good. This negative attitude has often led me into complaining and uncharitable views of those around me and prevented me from giving God the glory he deserves for his graciousness to me. Lewis’s remark reminded me of the importance of this seemingly-simple matter of outlook and of how much damage negativity can do to my witness and to my relationship with the Lord. Tending naturally to introversion and observation, I easily find people’s faults. Not so readily do I pick up on their virtues. If I approach life with Lewis’s “real desire to believe all the good I can of others,” I more readily befriend them and more easily see God’s hand at work blessing me. Consequently, I also find greater joy and peace while more easily serving others. Finally, seeking to believe good of others helps me to imitate God, which may explain why the practice so greatly benefits me. For God sees only the best in his children: his son’s righteousness covering our sin.
“A real desire to believe all the good you can of others and to make others as comfortable as you can will solve most of the problems” (Mere Christianity, 89).
Lewis reminded me of one of my own most tenacious faults as he expounded this general principle regarding Christians’ attitudes toward others. Though this remark appears in a description of how different generations condemn each other for their varying standards of decency, Lewis does not limit his advice to that situation alone. Indeed, if Christians practiced this rule more generally in their lives, many who do not struggle with generational divides would find other problems resolved. Pessimism, complaining, judgmental attitudes, and pride all receive a blow when we try to “believe all the good [we] can” of our situation and companions. Undoubtedly this rule of thumb has its limitations, as when dealing with false teachers, but it opens a new perspective on daily life.
Though his understanding of loving our neighbor runs in a different direction, Lewis recognizes the importance of simply looking for the best in people and trying to do our best by them. And certainly recognizing people’s virtues makes them easier to love. Approaching life with an attitude of criticism will not uplift us or those we come in contact with. Instead, when we look for evil we will certainly find it, and we develop judgmental, proud, pessimistic attitudes. By turning our eyes to the good in others, we contemplate that which is of God; we focus our attention on reflections of his character, and what we see will humble us by emphasizing our faults. We will not like what we see in ourselves after we have seen all the good in others, which should drive our thoughts to God, who alone can help us improve. Dwelling on goodness edifies us and others, just as placing a tulip in a sunny window will encourage it to grow toward the light. Once we have gotten into the habit of seeking out goodness, we will also find the practice of making others comfortable far easier. Though our pride revolts at taking a dinner to that coarse neighbor who always shouts and laughs like a mechanical Father Christmas, we will find it quite a pleasure to bring food to the cheerful man next door who always has a kind word and a smile. Focusing on the faults in others leads to a habit of comparison and turns our thoughts self-ward; focusing on the virtues in others leads to a habit of edification and turns our thoughts outward and upward.
I fall easily into the habit of focusing on the bad in situations and people, as it involves less work and more self-gratification than looking for good. This negative attitude has often led me into complaining and uncharitable views of those around me and prevented me from giving God the glory he deserves for his graciousness to me. Lewis’s remark reminded me of the importance of this seemingly-simple matter of outlook and of how much damage negativity can do to my witness and to my relationship with the Lord. Tending naturally to introversion and observation, I easily find people’s faults. Not so readily do I pick up on their virtues. If I approach life with Lewis’s “real desire to believe all the good I can of others,” I more readily befriend them and more easily see God’s hand at work blessing me. Consequently, I also find greater joy and peace while more easily serving others. Finally, seeking to believe good of others helps me to imitate God, which may explain why the practice so greatly benefits me. For God sees only the best in his children: his son’s righteousness covering our sin.
WIDGETIZE
Anonymous # 28. October 2008, 07:11
Thank you, dear daughter, for sharing these thoughts. I need to consider and take this to heart, too. Well-said.