The Myth of the Bootstraps

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2

Today’s Reading; Isaiah 3-4; Galatians 6

The saying “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” has always bugged me. Typically when I hear folks say it they are describing themselves. They say that they have reached whatever level of success that they have on their own. And since they did it on their own then so should everyone else.

Why help people when they can do for themselves right?

WRONG!

This kind of thinking is exceedingly selfish and misguided. It is selfish because it implies that it is ok to view the world solely through one’s own wants and desires. Who cares about anyone else? As long as I’ve got mine then I’m cool. Good luck getting yours.

It is misguided because in every single instance it is wrong. No one has reached any measure of success without the help of another person. How did you grow into an adult without someone feeding you? How did you get shelter without someone putting a roof over your head? How did you get the job you have, or the position you have attained without someone hiring you, mentoring you, or giving you advice.

This is one of the strange things about American culture. Many folks would claim that this is a Christian nation, but the way that some of us view helping others seems to be decidedly unchristian. We say that we believe in Jesus and his teachings. We believe in “give and it shall be given to you” but when it comes to “love your neighbor as yourself” somehow his words get lost in translation.

Some may respond to me by saying that helping others isn’t help at all. It just enables folks to stay in a position of helplessness. In the most extreme sense of charity they may have a point.

But the fact of the matter is that EVERYONE needs help. No one has ever gone it totally alone.

I believe that it is in the best interest of all of us to help each other. The better my neighbor is doing then the better equipped she’ll be to help me when I need assistance. The whole is greater than the some of the parts.

So think carefully the next time you have the opportunity to help someone. Maybe it will be a kid who is looking for extra help on their homework or someone looking for a break to turn their life around.

As Paul said in the 10th verse of this very same chapter “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.”

That sums it up quite nicely I think. 

Tough Love

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. – Galatians 4:8-11

Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 6-8; Galatians 4

Paul is going hard in the paint on the Galatians! “I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.” Good grief.

Have you ever had your parents tell you that they were disappointed in you? Man that’s like the roughest thing ever for a kid. All other forms of punishment are fleeting when you think about it. If you get grounded that ends in time. Even if you get a whoopin it ain’t so bad. Actually I always thought that was better than being grounded. It ends as quick as it begins (and I was blessed with parents that didn’t mistake spankings with abuse so it was all good after it was done).

But geez… knowing that you have disappointed your parents is not the business. Regardless of how disobedient a child becomes they don’t ever really want to confront the idea of falling short in a meaningful way.

But this is exactly what Paul said. When I first read it I thought it was mean. I thought that he was going in way too hard on them. But on second thought it was just some tough love equal to the risk they were running by chasing after flawed gospel. Sometimes the truth hurts but you still gotta tell it.

Tough love is better than kind indifference.

Paul showed them love by telling them about themselves in such clear language. That kind of honesty is a rare treasure. It reminded me of one of my favorite proverbs:

“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.” - Proverbs 24:26

Even when the kiss feels like a smack on the face, know that it is what is best for you when it comes from a place of love. Sometimes folks on the outside see what we fail to see. You are truly blessed when you have folks in your life that will risk pissing you off to tell you the truth.

I know I have several such people in my life and I thank God for them… even when I ain’t trying to hear it.

The Curse of the Perfectionist

So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?  So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:5-9

Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 4-5; Galatians 3

Ever since I was a child I have always been a perfectionist. I felt that everything that I truly cared about doing had be done perfectly.

Some might think that this is a gift and a curse but I don’t think so. I think it is only a curse. Perfectionism is a form of bondage. You become a slave to whatever the task at hand might be. You can’t let go of it until it has met some impossible standard of greatness. There are many a great artistic expressions, product, or service that has remained tucked away, gathering dust in the mind of a perfectionist who cannot let go.

Any effort to live up to a perfect standard is doomed to failure. This is because we cannot hope to achieve perfection no matter how hard we try. We are inherently flawed and as such the works of our hands are flawed as well.

This redemption that Paul is talking about is powerful to me. The notion to live our lives by faith rather than by perfect adherence to laws is nothing short of liberating. Living by faith gives us the freedom to see the standard set before us and strive for it knowing that we can pick ourselves up no matter how hard we fall. It allows us to take more chances, to fully walk the paths toward our purpose without fear of failure.

Failure becomes redefined. It is no longer a catastrophic end to a glorious story; but rather it becomes a minor detour or setback; an opportunity to learn and grow stronger with the next steps that we decide to take.

So what then is the responsibility of the faithful? Those who decide to live their lives by faith must never give up. We must never fail to get up when we fall. We must strive for the full realization of the purpose of our lives, to fully self-actualize.

We’ll never become what we were meant to be if we keep parts of ourselves tucked away. Live life to the fullest! Enjoy every single day as an opportunity to be better than you were the day before. Be bold in action and humble in heart.

This way we can fully enjoy our triumphs and truly learn from our failures.