kenlassblog

One of my favorite quotes is from Socrates, a Greek philosopher who lived in the fifth century BC. He is quoted as saying “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing”.

We often judge people because we think we know them. In truth, all too often we judge by outward appearances, having no idea what that person is really going through. It’s easier to make snap judgements, than to remain patient until we know all the facts.

We all need to get better at giving each other the benefit of the doubt. Let’s not think the worst until we know the worst is the truth. Don’t assume what has not been proven.

Socrates tried to teach us that more than 2,500 years ago.

You have great courage. You may not realize it, but you do. It takes much courage to get through life, to face up to health issues, financial pressures, loss of loved ones, child raising, relationships, and a culture that increasingly values all the wrong things.

You know the difference between right and wrong, and more often than not, you choose to do the right things. You see the big picture, the reason for your existence, the true purpose for your life. And to the best of your ability, you strive to accomplish it. You accept your mortality, knowing that if you have run your race properly, the eternal future is even better. That requires trust, and courage.

Your journey will likely get even more challenging as you age. Do not fear. The courage of your convictions will get you through it. You are not alone.

The name of this blog is One Minute of Your Time Please. It only takes a minute to read it. Hopefully it brightens your day, and then its your turn to pay it forward. It only takes a minute or less to brighten someone else’s day. A sympathetic text message. An unexpected compliment. A friendly smile and a hug. Those things can be done in a matter of seconds. You will forget about having made these efforts in minutes, but the recipients of your kindness will carry it with them throughout the day.

Just like that, in your own special way, you will have made the world a little bit better place. You will also have taken the focus off of yourself and your own troubles for just a little while. It’s a win-win.

Take a minute to make someone smile today. Or take less than a minute.

I’ve been wearing one of those Apple smart watches for the last couple of years. The technology is really pretty amazing. It shows me text messages, monitors my pulse, connects me to the internet, reveals the weather forecast, counts my steps, and serves as a stopwatch and alarm clock. Oh, it also tells me what time it is. Either in digits or clock face. My choice.

But there’s something important it can’t tell me. It doesn’t judge the moral value of the things I do. It can’t tell me what’s right and wrong. Fair or unfair. Pleasing to God or contrary to His will. We have another mechanism for that. It’s called a conscience. A soul, if you will. Unlike an apple watch, you don’t have to plug it in and charge it every night. It’s always on. Always working.

We would do well to listen to it. It will prepare you for the point when time no longer matters.

Sharon and I went out for breakfast this morning. For some reason, I went a little nuts and ordered way too much food. Eggs, bacon, pancakes and biscuits. I felt obligated to eat it all. Now I am so stuffed that I am uncomfortable.

It strikes me how incredibly blessed I am to have this as my main problem this morning. Too much to eat. With all the poverty in the world, all the hungry people, all those who are worried about being safe, having shelter, surviving oppression. Thank you, Lord, for your undeserved provision for me and my family.

Take a moment today to ponder your blessings, to realize how God has spared you from real adversity. How each reasonably healthy day is a gift. Get stuffed with spiritual gratitude. That will never make you uncomfortable.

I’ve been reading a lot lately about the critical need to preserve the bee population. The number of bees has apparently been drastically reduced because of urban expansion, pesticides, and diseases. This is important, they say, because bees pollinate many of the food-producing plants and flowers from which we get our own food. Turns out bees are our friends, and a necessary part of our eco system.

I find this ironic, in that most of us grow up fearful of bees. All we know is that they sting you, and build annoying nests in the corners of your house. If my grandkids encounter a bee, they run and scream with fright. We don’t want them around. We spray them with poison and knock down their hives.

I suppose there’s a lesson here. Don’t judge anything or anybody until you know all the facts. Those you think are your enemies just may turn out to be the people you need.

Don’t get stung by rushing to judgement.

Just got back from a walk along a local greenway that winds parallel to a river and through a wooded area. Several other walkers passed by from the other direction. All greeted me with a big smile and a “good morning”. There’s something about strolling through God’s creations that puts people at peace. Sets them in a good mood.

Maybe it’s just getting away from traffic and social media bickering and financial pressures. Walking is free. The squirrels and chipmunks and birds make good company. They don’t seem to care about the world’s problems. The babbling waters whisper that, whatever you’re going through, this too shall pass. Just go with the flow. Trust in the consistency of divine creation. It all works out in the end.

Next time life gets you down, go for a walk in the woods. You’ll get the message.

The next time you go to a public place, such as a restaurant, observe the folks around you. At one table you will probably see a young married couple, looking down at their phones. They will eat their meal solemnly, barely speaking a word to each other. When they finish eating, they will get up and leave in silence.

At another table you may find an elderly, gray-haired couple. You will notice they seem constantly engaged in conversation with each other. When they finish eating, he will pull out her chair for her, and they will walk out holding hands.

The older you get, the more you appreciate the time you have left, especially the moments you get to spend with the people you love. Don’t waste any of those moments today.

You are a miracle. A walking, talking miracle. Consider what is going on inside your body at this very moment as you read this. Your heart is beating. Your lungs are breathing, your food is digesting, your eyes are seeing, your brain is comprehending. You don’t have to do anything to make these functions happen. You are miraculously programmed to accomplish these things with no effort on your part.

Certainly there are things you can do to protect and assist these functions to perform well, such as exercise, eating right and getting enough sleep, but your body faithfully chugs on regardless of what’s going on around you.

Somebody had to design you. It just seems foolish to believe you could be you through mere random evolution. You are so far advanced from every other living thing. Every moment you remain alive is the result of innumerable functions going on inside you simultaneously. And you don’t even know it, much less control it.

But somebody does.

Have you got troubles? Worries? Have things got you down? Here are a few statistics for you to think about:

A research project by the Barna company revealed that 84 percent of adults in the United States pray. That’s more than four of every five. It equates to roughly 219 million people. That’s just in our country. 44 percent pray at least once every day.

Clearly, with that number, folks are trusting in a higher power to help them through difficult times. It must work, else people would have stopped by now. Prayers may or may not solve your problems. We often don’t get exactly what we pray for. But evidently there is some measure of comfort in the process. There has been for me, and apparently for many millions of others as well.

So try a little prayer today. God is listening. What have you got to lose?