A Divisive Taboo

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? – Acts 17: 18-19

Today’s Reading: Psalms 4-6; Acts 17:16-34

I really find this interesting. Paul is in Athens, preaching about Jesus in the marketplace and some Greek Philosophers stumble across him. They start off by saying “What is this babbler trying to say” but then transition to “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?”

I love this.

I honestly think that this is the ideal way to approach life. Why can’t we share our beliefs as well as our ideas?

Growing up I always heard that there were two things that we are not supposed to talk about at work: Religion and Politics. Call me crazy but these are the things that I enjoy talking about the most. I have found that when I have these conversations with people I build stronger bonds rather than bigger barriers between us. I enjoy hearing other people’s ideas and beliefs and sharing my own.

For the longest time I wondered why those topics were off limits and then I realized why. It is hard for us to separate faith from knowledge.

Here’s what I mean.

Most of the stuff that we think we know we actually believe. It is an important distinction to make. To be clear, just because we believe something but don’t know it for sure doesn’t mean that our beliefs are wrong. Maybe they are right. But when we understand that many of the fundamental things that we all believe cannot be proven as fact then it gives these conversations a different tone.

I once had a boss that was very conservative. I am liberal. One of the things that I enjoyed most about working for him were our political conversations. Every time we discussed a hot topic we gave each other the space to speak. We listened. We challenged each others ideas, not to destroy them, but to better understand. The purpose of the conversations was to learn, share our knowledge and beliefs, but not to judge each other.

What I learned from him is something that I have learned from many such discussions about values: we all want the same things in life. We all want security and prosperity. No one wants to wonder how we will get our next meal. No one wants to worry about shelter. We all try to live by a code that will provide for that security, that safety, that comfort. We all want to spend time with those that we love. We want to do work that makes us happy. We want the freedom to pursue that happiness.

He and I differed in some of the ways we thought best to obtain that happiness, that that was ok. We were able to learn from each other, and hopefully, both of us grew from the experience.

Yes I know that talking about these issues is a very delicate proposition, one not without risk. But if we challenge ourselves to share more of what matters to us, I think we will find that we have more in common than we thought. Without this understanding we will remain stuck in our destructive factions, blind to the fact that we all share a common human experience.

Communication is the first step toward understanding, and understand leads to peace. Ultimately peace is what we are all after anyway right?

Don't Kick A Brotha When He's Down

My spirit is broken,
       my days are cut short,
       the grave awaits me.

Surely mockers surround me;
       my eyes must dwell on their hostility. Job 17: 1-2

Today’s Reading: Job 17-19; Acts 10:1-23

Man…

Sorry Job… You’re really going through it.

But that second part is what really got me. My man Job doesn’t have the best company. For the last several chapters his friends have been doing everything but comforting him.

Ok fine, Job is questioning God… maybe that’s not the best thing. But come on now! Give dude a break. After all, he does have boils all over his body.

Initially they came and chilled with him quietly. But as Job started talking his friends spent more time telling him how he was wrong to question got, and how he was responsible for the calamity that has fallen upon him than they spent just being a good friend.

They transformed Job’s suffering into an opportunity to tell him what they were thinking.

Yes when we are in trouble it is good to have friends who will keep it real with us. Often times our trouble is self inflicted, and if we are unaware that this is the case a good friend is someone who will let us know.

But yo, don’t kick a brotha when he’s down.

Showing love is the same as any other form of communication. We must listen first, and then respond.

And in this situation Job’s friends responded based on what they were thinking about his words, rather than responding to the situation at hand.

Their friend was feeling defeated.

So next time you have a friend who comes to you with their struggles try to listen and console them first. Once they have been built up, then offer your opinion if they ask.

They will feel more loved if you do it this way. 

Finding the Right Words

The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them… - Acts 4: 5-8

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 10-11; Acts 4: 1-22

One day when I was about 10 years old my family and I went to the Slauson Swap Meet after church service at Crenshaw Christian Center. This was the early 90s, the same LA that was so artfully displayed in Boyz N the Hood was in full effect.

That movie was real as steel by the way.

Anyways, I’m a suburban kid bumbling around the swap meet

but I didn’t have to be from the hood to know the rules of the game. You never wore blue or red and British Knights and bandanas were also completely out of the question.

So there I was at the swap meet in my neutral colored gear walking around looking at all of the random things to buy. Oblivious to my surroundings as I looked at all of the goodies I stepped on something. When I looked down to see what was under my foot I saw all red…

Uh oh… pristine red sneakers with a horrid scuff mark matching the black soles of my kicks…

Hopefully, I panned up the leg to see if the situation would improve but nope… red pants.

Damn…

Then a red shirt, and red hat!!! I was face to face with a Blood…

Not a good look for a taller than his age 10 year old such as myself. I was hella scared! Stepping on someone’s fresh kicks was a crime worthy of severe punishment. And that held true in suburbia! For all I knew old buddy had killed for less (aww the mind of a suburban 10 year old… but don’t front like I wasn’t at least partially on point.)

I had no idea what to say or do. Then I remember thinking… just say sorry.

So I gave my sincerest apologies… the most sincere apologies I may have ever given in my life and dude was hella cool! He was like “it’s alright little man” and then he kept on pushin’.

Good grief.

Sometimes we are in situations where we don’t know what to say. Maybe we have to address a large crowd or have an important conversation with a loved one to resolve conflict. But when we are in those difficult places where we don’t know what to say it’s always good to remember to stop for a second, take a breath, and listen to your heart and spirit.

The right words will come.