What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
I was reading a book lately whose main thrust was that you do what you believe, whatever you say you believe. The things you love and the things you believe will be evident in the running of your life. For instance, let me illustrate this by talking about a couple of my friends who sprang to mind as I was cogitating on this subject here in Mariposa County, California, as the dust and ash from the nearby massive forest fire settled on my dinner.
Simon believes watching sports is interesting. I don’t have to ask him to know this; it’s clear from the hours he devotes to his TVs. He also clearly believes it’s important to help people, you can see this from the amount of time he gives to his friends. John believes Leeds Rhinos should win every game of rugby they play. You can tell from his reactions to their performance. Their beliefs are not contained in statements, you can just tell by being with them, the same as the rest of us.
I was just wondering what it seems to my friends that I believe, and whether my faith shows in my life. If it does at all, I am convinced that it is generally not enough. I don’t see myself spending a lot of time with the poor and broken. I don’t see myself meeting people as equals with love and not judgement. I don’t see myself preferring others needs to my wants. My friends deserve my being a ‘better Christian’, whatever that is. I believe that if I was really doing a good job on my life with Jesus people would be battering my door down on Sunday evening for a ride to church. So, all of you, I’m sorry for not being a better Christian. Trust me when I tell you Jesus is much nicer than I am and he loves you all very much, and I’ll keep working on being more like him. I think you’ll like him, I really do.
