Pratt: Principles for living a good life remarkably sane, simple
I wonder about a lot of things — it's that time of life and I am grateful that a West Texas native, minister and writer Max Lucado, reminds me of the “bread and fishes story” when Jesus took a little boy's faith offering of his tiny lunch, which in the Master's hands fed more than 5,000 people, with more leftover.
This is the point where most of us skip over thinking that it is a story for children. Sad for us. Credit his new disciples — at least they were learning not to reject a child who offered his own lunch to share with others. Yes, you know the story of five loaves of bread and two fishes which, in Jesus' hands, fed a crowd of 5,000 men amply with food with also enough for the women and children and 12 baskets of leftover food.
Lesson: Don't take your small gifts lightly nor those of others when offered sincerely. When given in faith, small can become an enormous contribution blessed by God. Discounting your worth in the sight of God is a common error, just as is over-estimating your importance cripples your service to others.
Today we call it self-esteem issues — too much or too little. Addressing these issues adequately has made a number of people wealthy selling self-help books or stage programs and seminars.
Along with many of you, I admire great talent, whether it is performance before audiences or recognition in other arts and the sciences. But I've never been inclined to “worship” at the feet of celebrity. Some are attracted to great crowds and the kind of adulation that is sometimes placed at the feet of entertainers, preachers or politicians. But we all have our preferences.
Never forget the value of the daily dedication of the ordinary person, whose commitment to caring for family is the hallmark of the success any of us experiences. There is sheer valor in preparing the next generation to be the stability of every successful society. While wealth may add pleasure and ease, it comes with headaches and temptations that can wreck humanity. Add indulgence as an expectation or right of passage, and prepare for the storm that will come
Technology does not change the human heart, it only enables both good and evil within us to emerge more quickly and broadly. Going backward will not repair the mistakes we make, nor will destroying property or people solve our problems, which are spiritual in essence.
Not even Solomon's collection of wisdom and great conquests prevented the eventual wasting away of his kingdom. Knowing to do well, and doing it are two different things. For example, most of us know how to eat healthy foods that will result in better health, longer or at least more comfortable lives and yet, we have a tendency to over-indulge to the point of illness.
Self-esteem is related to how well we engage in self-discipline. Those who practice it, tend to thrive.
As mechanized and philosophized as we may be today, the principles for living a good life remain remarkably sane and simple, illustrative of basic truth found in our ancient literatures.
Today, it does seem as if humanity in general has lost its way — pursuing anything but truth — the end result of our youth-led, drug-fueled 1960s “me first” revolution. It is not the first such effort, but could be the last for humanity given today's weaponry. God's patience is astounding, but final judgment will come in His perfect time.
Beth Pratt retired as religion editor from the Avalanche-Journal after 25 years. You can email her at beth.pratt@cheerful.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Pratt: Principles for living a good life remarkably sane, simple
