I have taken it upon myself lately to reexamine my approach to brethren who are wandering, indifferent or erring. It’s all fine and good to say we should have “the spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). But what does that actually look and sound like? How might I self-diagnose more effectively?
I raised some questions last week about the Facebook “friend” who posted a vulgarism and couldn’t (wouldn’t?) delete it. Well, far be it from me to turn away from a custom-made bulletin article, so allow me to elaborate a bit.
Run toward your fears. That’s some billboard-variety advice I get while driving past the local university. And as we all know, multicolored roadside signs are the most reliable source of life advice these days.
Lean into it. That’s how the same basic sentiment was expressed in an article I read recently. Except this wasn’t written by a nameless, faceless intern. This was from an expert in the field of stress management who woke up one day struggling mightily to manage his own stress.
A preacher was visiting a congregation one Sunday — they as unknown to him as he was to them. “This is a bit uncomfortable for all of us, I suppose,” he said to open. “You’re out there wondering if I’m a good preacher. I’m up here wondering if you know what good preaching is.”
That is not a story from my future autobiography, I assure you.
