Ten Random Pieces of Advice

I'm not much for advice-giving, at least in the abstract.  First of all, most people aren't looking for it.  It's much better to listen and commiserate than to tell people how they should be living their lives.  Second, advice isn't a blanket endeavor.  I can sit with one person and help them discern a wise way forward in their particular situation, no problem.  But to pronounce judgment on the lives of hundreds of unrelated folks with divergent lives?  That's presumptuous.  I prefer to give people the basic tools to explore God and life--usually some combination of shaking them out of the ordinary and helping them see the potential for the extraordinary--and let them have at it.

Nevertheless, people do ask from time to time.  So today I'm stringing together ten random pieces of advice that I believe are near-universal.  The "near" is for all those people they may not fit.  This isn't the Final Word, just as close as I can get to some practical guidelines in this mystery called "life".

1.  When in doubt, go with the most loving, merciful, and grace-filled option.

2.  Put aside all those moments when you want to think you chose God through your smarts or passion or will.  You're not above him, that you should brag about choosing.  Rather focus on the fact that he chose you to be his beloved child.  Also consider the possibility that he might be choosing people around you.  Treat them accordingly.

3.  People who fear death overmuch also end up fearing life, living to protect what they think they have instead of growing what God gave them.  "Death" here doesn't have to mean just the end of our lives.  It can be translated "loss" or "pain" or "failure".  The surest sign you're too afraid:  fearing change.

4.  The best translation of "faith" is not "belief", but "trust".

5.  The only way to find strength for yourself is to give it to others.  Peace also works along these lines.  Happiness too, oddly enough.

6.  Spoiling your wife is never wasted effort.

7.  Yelling at your kids almost always is.

8.  Nothing is more futile and draining than complaining.  If something annoys you, try to find a good side to celebrate.  If you can't manage that, let it go.  Life is too short.  If you can't celebrate it or let it go, then work in a forthright and honest manner to change it or reach a compromise.  Even if your desired change doesn't come by the end of that process you should find at least one way the annoying thing makes sense to somebody...a reason it exists.  Right there you've found your thing to celebrate.  Complaining isn't productive, it's just lazy and dismissive.

9.  Gossiping takes two parties:  a speaker and a listener.  Don't participate in either end.

10.  If you can love everyone's children as much as you love your own you will be as close as you can get in this life to the Kingdom of Heaven.

--Pastor Dave (pastordave@geneseelutheranparish.org)