Mere Individualism: Connecting Our Moral and Immoral Choices to Our Imperfect World Using Mere Christianity (Part 4)

*For Part 1 of this series, click here.
*For Part 2 of this series, click here.
*For Part 3 of this series, click here.

When reading C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, it's easy to connect the theological ideas with arguments for and against Christianity or religion and faith in general, but the mob mentality is also easy to disconnect. It is the individual mindset that needs rewiring in society; a person cannot depend on a culture, city, or government to do the right thing when a person won't stand up to do the right thing on the smaller scale.

Individualism runs the show alongside technology, and both have aided the selfish tendency for instant gratification and survivalist actions. Turning the other cheek is a sign of weakness, waiting for good things is a sign of laziness or poverty, and helping those in need is a sign of ignorance because "why can't they just help themselves like everyone else?" This world was not built by one person, but it's being destroying by collections of narrow-minded individuals who have no concern for the wellbeing of those around them.

Doctrines

Doctrines are the combined Godly experiences from multiple people, which is why they're helpful to better understand God as a whole as opposed to knowing Him from one individual experience (153-5). Instructor A teaches algebra, but if Student A doesn't understand, it's not necessarily the fault of the instructor, especially if Instructor B teaches the student and she then understands. Different methods of teaching are required to ensure all students comprehend the lessons because no two students are alike.

The same is true of Christianity. Most individuals identify with Jesus Christ because He lived as man; others identify with God the Father because of His paternal discipline and love. Others still connect best with the Holy Spirit because it's not as tangible and therefore opens up more of their spiritual and emotional states.

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not easy to understand. How can One Being exist within three forms? Lewis explains this using geometry: drawing a line gives it life, but adding three more lines creates a box. The lines do not cease to exist; they are simply a part of the new creation. Likewise, when multiple boxes are drawn they create a cube. The squares within it to do not cease to exist, but now the cube exists alongside the squares and the lines (162).

All three of the Beings comprised of the Holy Trinity existed at the same time, but in human history, people did not see all dimensions at once like they can now. For centuries, only the line of God was known. When Jesus Christ was born, the square was created, and so on. Perspective allows individuals to see and understand just as much as it prevents understanding when it is narrow.

Reading the Bible is key to following God's Moral Law, but sometimes, added explanation is needed and doctrines provide this explanation. For those who are less inclined to theological terms, laymen like Lewis provide an even further explanation. Just as a tutor aids an instructor, so doctrine aids the law of God. If individuals take the time to understand what is asked of them, to spread kindness, peace, and mercy to all people along with news the One who gave them these qualities, then the world could see a much needed change.

Unfortunately for many, the individual properties of humans includes free will, which often leads to the hate and suffering that plagues the globe.

Biological and Individual

A common quote from scripture is "lose life to gain it" (Matthew 10:39, 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; John 12:25). However, the worldly, or as Lewis calls it the biological, side of humanity recognizes this truth as only its death rather than the true birth of the spirit (178-9). Because the worldly side of individuals fights against it, Christians may argue that they believe in God and attend church, but are not really spiritual, and the whole point of Christianity is to be close to Jesus Christ and His spirit.

What is it about the worldly life that draws people into it? Each person is aware of its temporary state. Atheists may argue that because there is no life after death, it is up to each person to live in the way they want to. However, atheists also follow a moral law that involves not murdering or stealing. They do not use their separation of religion to justify inhumane actions. What, then, is the cause for choosing to spread hate, terror, and suffering?

The bottom line is selfishness. Few individuals wake up in the morning and think, how can I ruin someone's day irrevocably? Rather, they may wake up and think, I'm going to make today better than yesterday and focus on myself. This idea doesn't seem wrong on paper, but if focusing on self involves turning away from family, friends, or responsibility, is it not still the wrong thing to do?

The need for survival is more than eating enough and having shelter; in today's society, survival is used in the workplace to get above theex[l competition or within family to establish control or power. Unfortunately for those who's sole focus is themselves, all individuals are connected. Each person is born with morality and an understanding of it, but often it is during the adolescent or early adult years when a person can overlook what is right and decent and purposefully go against it to harm or degrade others. Christians call this sin; humans in general call this person a jerk.

This world will not succeed if individualism continues to reign supreme. The idea of 'Me' should be addressed and redefined. Taking a personal health day is different from having complete disregard for how someone's actions affect those around them. Lewis also argues against becoming a Totalitarian where everyone should be, treated, and viewed as the same, but being an Individualist where a person forgets that each person is connected within the human race plagues society the most in current times (186).

Overall, Mere Christianity explores the Moral Law and how it correlates to human decency using both theology and psychology. By focusing on the self, today's society is experiencing a shift in human decency in the wrong direction. It is possible for the choices made by individuals, groups, and nations to change to better protect and aid those suffering, but is mercy worth the loss of self? The current choices of the majority say no.

Mere Individualism: Connecting Our Moral and Immoral Choices to Our Imperfect World Using Mere Christianity (Part 3)

*For Part 1 of this series, click here.
*For Part 2 of this series, click here.

Book 3 of C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, Christian Behavior, can also be viewed as Human Behavior. If someone takes any religion or faith and replaces the highest power with a general power or the universe, the same rules apply. At the core of humanity, each person wants to be treated with kindness and respect; unfortunately, it's also human nature to be lazy and selfish, resulting in situations where respect is expected but not given.

It is once again a look at individualism to understand how the corruption of society starts with a single person. Whether the immoral choice is done selfishly or maliciously does not factor into how the action negatively affects the world when too many individuals think they are the exception to the rules.

Christian Behavior

Three Parts of Christian, or Human, Behavior

Lewis breaks down the core of Christian behavior into three parts: fair play and harmony between individuals, harmonizing and tidying up the inside of each individual, and the purpose of human life as a whole (72). He gives the example of a fleet of ships: if a person is only concerned with his vessel, his ship may run well but he may drift apart from the general formation and end in a collision. Likewise, if a person is so concerned with avoiding collision that he does not correct the steering problem of his ship, he will go adrift and cause a collision within the fleet.

If each of these ideas (harmony between and within and human purpose) were each in line to where morality states they should be, would the world face the same problems of war, hate, and starvation? If a woman is considerate in her soul, it is right to think she would be considerate to those around her, and if everyone followed this example, the world would be considerate to all people. If this train of thought is right on paper, where did this thinking go wrong?

There are groups in society that will say this way of thinking is not conducive and thus a new one should be created. However, what if the way of thinking is right but its subjects, in this case humans, are in the wrong? If a person wakes up late for work, they might face the world with anger and frustration. This may lead to rudeness among others, and that in turn will spread anger and frustration. The individual is in the wrong, leading to wrongness between other individuals, and then dismantling the purpose of morality: to understand, to accept, to aid. 

The first area to tackle is the second issue Lewis brings up, and that is the state of the individual. If a person is too selfish to feel concern for others, then war, hate, and starvation will continue uninterrupted until it directly hurts the individual in question. How can society convince everyone to better themselves in order to better the livelihood of others and themselves?

Lewis proposes the thought that all bodies are on loan from God (74). When a person steps into a friend's home or a co-worker's office, they most likely do not leave trash on the table or scatter papers over a desk like they might their own. Furthermore, when they are placed in a position of power over an object such as their friend's vehicle or home, they will most likely treat these possessions better than they would their own because they hold it to a higher standard.

In this light, why shouldn't a person view their bodies, minds, and hearts in the same light as a loan from God or a higher power? Most religions believe in an afterlife; if these three pieces of a person will be inspected when they pass, might it lead to more effort to preserve, better, and correct them? What has happened to the last few generations that it's better to complain about fixable problems or unhappiness rather than taking the time and energy to achieve a goal?

In the simplest form of explanation for making the world a kinder and gentler place, Lewis says, "A real desire to believe all the good [a person] can of others and to make others as comfortable as [possible] will solve most of the problems" (95).

Knowing Differences

The first step to understanding how individuals can transform into morally right people is knowing the difference between right and wrong. Lewis says that a person who is often right in the way he treats people recognizes when he behaves immorally or cruelly; a person who is inherently bad or selfish will recognize all his wrong actions as right because he lives no other way (93). The first book explains the difference be right and wrong, but this third book focuses on the individual and how he interrupts it for himself.

In today's society, a morally wrong person may be viewed as manipulative, addicted, selfish, or ambitious. When a person puts themselves above others, or in the case of addicts or highly ambitious individuals their objects of necessity, then they tend to put no one else or select persons in a place of importance. The truth is that each person should put all others first in the sense that they should show courtesy: holding doors, saying thank you and please, helping when capable, and protecting when needed.

Society tells people to look out for no one else because no one else will look out for them. This idea is false. A woman who is known for kindness and sacrifice will find help in unexpected places from friends, colleagues, and even strangers she sees routinely on her commutes. They recognize her morally right actions and will help when they see her suffering. If a person says this doesn't happen, then they are identifying themselves as people who do not realize they are morally wrong within their perspective. Being realistic to society does not mean being realistic to all individuals.

A second difference Lewis brings up is love. The Christian behavior follows courtship and marriage, but society highlights the "honeymoon" phase and chasing the excitement (109). Lewis reminds his reader that love is meant to be stable: a person brings stability into their partner's life and also receives stability from their partner. Being in love involves passion and dependency; love involves trust and security. The latter is identified as the morally right because of the security it provides.

A third difference is the most difficult to follow while living by the world's standards. Forgiveness is a tricky issue because Christian forgiveness focuses on forgiveness within the person and worldly forgiveness is often a case of forgiveness once a person has received vengeance. Christians should never seek revenge, but many modern Christians may argue against their faith's teachings because they do not feel liberated.

Fact: Christianity is not about feeling liberated. It is about family and love with the Father. It is about mercy and forgiveness for all people regardless of their sins. Loving enemies is not about being fond of them or liking them or saying what they did wasn't wrong. Loving enemies means wishing them well in their life (120). Individuals wish the best for themselves; they must do the same to all people in order to spread human decency.

Christian Humility

Pride is the root of all evil, according to Lewis. He says,

"Whenever [persons] find that [their] religious life is making [them] feel that [they] are good--above all, that [they] are better than someone else--[they] may be sure that [they] are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil. The real test of being in the presence of God is, that [a person] either forgets about [himself] altogether or sees [himself] as a small, dirty object. It is better [for a person] to forget about [himself] altogether." (124-125)

When faith makes someone feel superior to another, they have lost contact with God. This can also be compared to those who believe another faith or none at all. If they put themselves above others, why should they show concern for others? Pedestals create division. They are immoral to human decency, but rampant in human behavior.

If a person is right with God, she will be right with her fellow people (145). If a person is moral and lives rightly by respecting and caring for others, she will be right with all around her. Some Christians say that being right with God is having faith and baptism, and then all is well. Some say actions are more important because it spreads God's message.

The truth is, both are needed. One must believe in God and Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice for our immoral human nature, but also take action to be an example of the New Testament's teachings of forgiveness. If each individual Christian lived their lives by this standard, no one would doubt the followers of God as morally right people. Christian behavior means accepting all people and showing them the way to God, and therefore, showing them a way of life that involves moral human behavior toward one another.

For Part 4 of this series, click here.

Mere Individualism: Connecting Our Moral and Immoral Choices to Our Imperfect World Using Mere Christianity (Part 2)

*For the first part of this series, click here.

I still love the title. I don't care that it takes me a minute to say it aloud.

In the first book, C.S. Lewis introduces the idea of the Law of Human Nature and how all humans are born with the knowledge to treat others decently or risk looking or feeling bad. He continues with this idea but merges it with Christian rules in Book Two: What Christians Believe. While Christian beliefs of human decency are showcased, they do reflect the rules of most major religions, namely to treat others how one wants to be treated.

To pick up where the last post left off, the ideas and rules of good and evil break down concretely into the ideas and rules of right and wrong. What a person perceives as good, another may see as bad, but if something is right, few can argue against its case. Good and bad are too subjective to measure human behavior, and so Lewis explains how to better understand human decency, or lack thereof, using the rules of right and wrong.

Book Two: What Christians Believe

Perceptions of Good and Evil

The word "nice" is a terrible adjective when used to describe anything but a person. Is the table nice because it folds, seats nine, or changes color at whim? Is a job nice because it's mindless, high-paying, or involves minimum contact with customers? The definition of nice changes for each topic and person, and therefore cannot accurately describe its subject for all listeners.

The words "good" and "evil" tend to fall under this category when discussing human nature. If a person believes in preserving human life, it is good for them to eat a plant-based diet. On the other hand, someone who suffers from a severe lack of iron should seek out more meat in their diet to aid their health, which is good for them. Neither of these ideas are bad for their respective people, but could be viewed as bad by each other.

While both of these ideas are good and bad, neither of them is wrong, and that is the argument Lewis brings to the table regarding right and wrong to determine human decency. In order for something to be right, it must conform to the maker; likewise, for something to be wrong, it must go against the maker (43). Christians believe that by acting in right ways, which constitutes being a kind, helpful, and forgiving person, they are following the rules that God has set in place as the third, or higher, power above right and wrong. This same concept applies to all people.

Treating someone with kindness is viewed as something good, but then, treating someone who has caused harm with anger is accepted by society because society says a person is justified to act out their feelings of anger and vengeance. However, no matter what a person has suffered, it is still wrong to intentionally hurt a human being and is why so many people admit to feeling guilty after acting in certain ways, including gossiping, yelling, or neglecting.

Society's perceptions of good and evil change with every century, every civilization, and every generation. At the core of right and wrong, nothing has changed from how human beings first lived to now. Each person has an individual view of good and evil, but if each person acted on what is right and avoided what is wrong, there would be fewer divisions between individuals as well as fewer internal wars for each individual.

The Ruination of Good

God did not create evil; He allowed it. This is proven by reminding the world that the Devil is labeled as a fallen angel (45). Just as God allows His children to exercise free will in choosing to follow Him, He allows wrongness in the world to give people a chance to choose what kind of person they want to be. Wrong is the perversion of right and is not independent of it.

The Devil started living in the right: He followed God and carried out His commands. Over time, the Devil decided his power, beauty, and intelligence put him above those around him, including God, and he made plans to rise above. While power, beauty, and intelligence are not innately bad things, he pursued good things in the wrong way by trying to overthrow his maker, and thus made these things bad for himself.

Seeking "good" things in wrong ways leads a person to do "bad" things (44). If an individual judges their kindness based on how a person physically looks, they are are using their good power of kindness in the wrong way. If a manager degrades an employee or an employee degrades an intern because of their status, they are using their good power of influence in the wrong way. Once again, if individual indulgence did not consume society's mind, the ruination of good might not be a problem within human relationships and interactions.

No matter what an individual believes or strives to emulate, hurting or overlooking those in need will not result in the right end result.

How Christian Beliefs Alter an Individual

To be Christian, a person must believe that God created them, that Jesus died and rose again for them, and that the Holy Spirit comforts them in every moment. While some people will question how this is possible, Lewis reminds the reader that to believe something is true, a person does not need to understand how it works.

His examples include knowing that oil runs a car but not knowing how that oil plays into each piece of the process and understanding that eating dinner helps fuel us but not knowing exactly how each vitamin and mineral plays into the aid of the body (54). In this same way, a person can believe Jesus died for our sins without knowing how exactly it works (55). God does not ask knowledge of His children, but trust and faith.

While the world breaks down people into good and evil, it doesn't help in determining what is the right way to live for all. Not every person is made to be a vegetarian, or a mechanic, or a parent, but each person is called for consideration, aid, mercy, and love. The first list is a list of good things; the second list is a list of how to live rightly. 

If Christianity was lived according to its basic rules of behavior, it would be difficult to understand how wrongness could live so readily in society. Those in power would lend their influence to encouraging others, not eliminating competition. Those high in intelligence would teach their knowledge to the world, not horde it for the title of recognition. No one would view another as greatly handsome or greatly ordinary because each person would be seen as beautiful as a fellow human being. 

Lewis says, "[God] lends [people] a little of His love into [them] and that is how [they] love one another" (57). If individuals focused less on themselves and more on their family, friends, and peers, they would transform themselves and society. The world is heavily concentrated on how "me" is and what "me" needs to the point that when something happens to an individual, no one bats an eyelash. Besides, how could a single person expect help from hordes of people when they themselves could not be bothered to help the one suffering in their home or work?

For Part 3 of this series, click here.
For Part 4 of this series, click here.

Mere Individualism: Connecting Our Moral and Immoral Choices to Our Imperfect World Using Mere Christianity (Part 1)

That is a hefty title, and the schoolgirl in me absolutely loves it.

There are many titles I like to give my opinions on for recommendations, and there are stories I like to break down in terms of writing style, development, and plot for study purposes. Then there are works of literature that I need to sit down and analyze and apply to my life to truly grasp its intended meaning.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis falls into the latter category.

My background is in academia, and while I have focused on combining my learning with my faith in recent years, I still feel the pull to analyze and process. This title is not an easy pill to swallow, but it's written in the vernacular, something unheard of for me when regarding philosophy and theology. I love stretching my mind, but when I discuss these topics, I do so in my everyday tongue. Why can't they be written accordingly?

The following will be my take on a handful of passages from the Foreword and Book One: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe. There are four books total. I don't plan on creating a thesis or breaking this series down into anything deeper than the aforementioned title of the post. This is my take on our current lifestyle throughout the world although my experience does rest with the United States and its desperation for instant gratification and individual indulgence.

Foreword

Sin is Real, and It is Prevalent

On page XVIII of the Foreword by Kathleen Norris, the idea of sin is questioned. Not about whether it is good or bad or even what that entails, but the questioning of whether it exists morally. The world has gradually reached a point where "the notion of sin [is] obsolete," but as Norris points out, that idea "has not diminished human suffering." Whether society follows a belief of avoiding sin or pretends it has been eliminated, the people are still facing terrible degradation, hunger, and pain because of human activity and decisions.

How does society explain the wars, famine, and hatred rampant in this world? If not based on religion, how can the forgoing of sinful acts aid the terrors surrounding every country? The more society says that sex isn't sacred, the more couples face cheating and a lack of emotional connection. The more the news stations showcase murders and rapes, the more common they appear in everyday life.

If these are the ideas that are now obsolete, how many people will take up this easier way of living immorally to embrace individual indulgence?

Sin is not only real, but prevalent in today's world. If everyone lived by the code of truth, honesty, integrity, and consideration, there wouldn't be a convict remaining to steal, murder, or terrorize. However, since society has slowly encompassed the idea that sin isn't real, just a faith-based lie fed to the people by religious institutions to monitor their behavior, more individuals are stepping away from honesty and integrity to live for themselves at the cost of others.

Don't call it sin. Call it selfishness. Call it abuse. Call it terror. Call it hateful. Whatever society wants to name it, it needs to be addressed and overcome by the peoples' desire for a kinder world, not just for themselves, but for their neighbors as well. Sin is not obsolete; society just changed its title.

Book One: Right and Wrong

Individual Indulgence

The problem with the generations born in the 1990s and later falls to a simple phrase: instant gratification. Everything is available at the click of a mouse. This lifestyle forged by modern technology has molded entire generations into thinking of themselves before they think of others because helping others doesn't provide the instant fun they want for themselves.

Lewis says that every person knows the Moral Law or the Law of Human Nature: to be a decent human being (10). However, when first spoken in the 1940s, Lewis notes that most people find excuses for failing to be a decent person because of their desire for self-preservation and individual indulgence. This idea rings far truer in the 2010s where the entire world is connected and suffering is broadcast across news outlets and social media websites, but the most anyone seems to do is share and spread the atrocities happening around the globe without actually doing something to help.

That is to say, while individuals may not be heartless, modern society wants to see a showcase rather than action. The person who shares the most heartbreaking news has the greatest heart. People's self-preservation falls to the instant gratification of having others online praise them for their willingness to focus on the problem, but without the work required to stop the problem and provide a solution for those suffering.

Lewis says that the core of behaving decently is to live unselfishly (20). If a woman thinks of her children before herself, she shares her love and care. If a child obeys his mother and does not act out against her wishes, he exhibits the lessons learned through this love and care. Thus, both are decent to each other in their relationship. It's difficult to harm others intentionally when someone is constantly aware of the other person before their own needs and wants. 

If a person's first priority is the well-being of their neighbor, friend, or family as opposed to their individual indulgences, there might be less suffering through the world because news of the suffering would not just be shared; it would be noticed and aided.

Dismay and God's Alliance

Regardless of whether someone is a believer of faith or not, and regardless of the specific faith, Lewis argues that every person knows the idea of Moral Law or the Law of Human Nature. Depending on how someone views the grand maker of the universe, Lewis points out that "[the maker] is [people's] only possible ally, and [they] have made [themselves] His enemies" (31). Lewis does say God instead of maker, but the end result is the same: each person is called to be decent, but makes excuses to be indecent, and thus should expect some kind of persecution from the creator.

Even for those who believe the universe is independent of a mind, would that same universe not have in play safety nets to protect itself from those wishing to unleash harm to itself and its inhabitants? How can people expect to be right with the world and those in it when they constantly find reasons to be the exemption to the law of human decency that they hold others to in the strictest regard?

People have made God their enemy by continuing in the ways of the world: greed, lust, revenge. The comforting news Lewis gives his readers is that Christianity begins not with comfort, but with dismay (32). Christianity began not with Pharisees, but with Gentiles; not with perfect persons, but with sinners. People have never stopped sinning, and the state of the world proves that society's actions have turned away from the Moral Law more with each generation.

The problem to overcome now is whether society wants to change its ways. Do individuals want to give up indulgences to better someone else's life? Does society want to sacrifice instant gratification to work on solutions to improve itself? Would the world see the impact of an entire species changing for the betterment of mankind toward a reign of decency, or would it only slow the destruction it's destined for?

For Part 2 of this series, click here.
For Part 3 of this series, click here.
For Part 4 of this series, click here.

St. Francis of Assisi and Forgiveness

Yes, here I am again, talking more about Donald Spoto's Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi. I read the book from cover to cover (minus the notes and bibliography), and this passage on the third to last page may be the only reason I'm grateful I didn't DNR it.

Spoto writes,

"Jesus summed it up as love of God, made evident in love of neighbor--and the habit of forgiveness as the required standard of our love of God and of God's embrace of us. By forgiveness we do not mean that something wicked is to be forgotten, much less that it is not so wicked after all; forgiveness means the refusal to seek vengeance, to wish or to wreak pain, suffering or death on the offending enemy. Godliness, in other words, is about peace in all its ramifications." (213)

Peace is my goal for 2018 and can be followed by my Authentically Me series. Something I realized in May is that I need to show more love in order to feel more of the peace I'm seeking. My problem lies in true forgiveness. I fear being hurt in the same way or by people I have yet to meet. I don't like the idea of forgiving someone I know will not change because they haven't changed by my previous actions.

Spoto's passage reminds me that forgiveness is never for the other person; it is only for me and God. If God can forgive my sins in His perfection, how much more should I be able to forgive others when I do the same? I am not more worthy than the next, but my pain blinds me to the truth that everyone is as much a child of the Lord as I am.

Forgiveness means not wishing harm or pain. Forgiveness means moving forward in your life. Forgiveness means not hoping for the worst or for revenge. Forgiveness means that it is not forgotten and so allows us to be vigilant in the future. If a snake bites us once, it is okay for us to assume it will bite again. We can be open to a continued relationship, but always remember that if are hurt again, the second time is on us for being open.

May I forgive others as God has forgiven me. May I always be kind and courteous to all God's children. May I remember my Lord's power and humble myself.

I hand everything to You, my Lord. Shield me from vanity in all forms: pride, power, and superiority. Heal Your children and bring us to our knees for Your sake. In Jesus' name, Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi and Anger

Leave it to me to jump on the first 'anger' quote I connect with while reading about St. Francis of Assisi for the first time.

I'm nearly halfway through Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi by Donald Spoto, and I have to say, I'm finishing it reluctantly. Spoto writes like a historian and biographer, which means the style is dry, dull, and laden with 4-syllable words where a more colloquial term would suffice.

Needless to say, I'm grateful I slogged through what I have so far because a direct quote of St. Francis stuck with me. My anger has caused tremendous strife in my life, but so far, few of the saints I've read about have suffered from it. Fortunately, St. Francis did not exclude teachings on it, telling his followers to "be careful not to be angry or disturbed at the sin of another, for anger and disturbance impede charity in [ourselves] and others" (69).

Anger impedes charity. Anger impedes love. It's because of obvious slaps in the face about my problem that I so eagerly consume texts about the saints.

Anger doesn't just stop us from forgiveness; it also prevents us from helping those in need, those that God may have put in front of only us. How can we treat all human beings as Jesus when we view them as bad or faulty? Their sin is no greater than mine, and yet I withhold love and acceptance because of the evil in my heart.

God is pushing me toward the path of forgiveness, and I am, as Spoto described Francis, reluctantly following along. I don't want to go down this path because I am only focused on being hurt again when God is trying to teach me that He has me now and always will. If I am hurt again, it is for His glory and teaching, and not because He led me astray.

My Lord, protect those with heavy hearts. Lead them to You with gentle hands and compassionate words. May all who suffer come clean and whole at the feet of You, my Lord. In Jesus' name, we praise and glorify You. Amen.

Having Faith Tested

I first confirmed my belief in God and the Savior and that there is no one else before Him on January 19, 2014. I dove into Christianity with everything I had. I wanted to read the Bible, I wanted to listen to the music, I wanted to attend the Sunday and Wednesday services (I was going to a Pentecostal church at the time), and I wanted to surround myself with the girls from church to help guide me.

I was going through a lot of changes, but my life was definitely easy. I had two part-time jobs within the first two weeks of earning my Bachelor's degree. I found friends who shared my spiritual beliefs as much as a my career dreams and aspirations. I had a new relationship that helped me to learn how not to be with future boyfriends (always a blessing in disguise when you're going through it). At the end of the day, I had no reason to complain.

One of my favorite songs from the early days, and I first heard this song back in 2015, was "God is on the Move" by 7eventh Time Down. While driving earlier this week, it came on the radio and floored me to recount how much had changed in 3 years.

I can't count myself a new Christian, and that's where people may fall off the wagon. You feel invincible when you first accept and encounter Jesus Christ. Afterwards, God tests you. He does this to strengthen our faith, just as Jesus did with the Apostles. We forget that we are called to live the same life and turn away from God, the church, or both when these tests prove too difficult.

My life is still easy, and there's an abundance to be thankful for. I have a full time job with a steady roof over my head. I'm single and the greatest worry I have is my car. I give most of my care to myself and my husky. I still speak to both my parents. I belong to a church. I have Christian and spiritual friends who always bring me back to God regardless of their personal faith.

But from these good things, God needs to purify me from 20 years without Him to guide me. I have anger management to focus on. I need to love all people instead of conjecture how this one plans to manipulate me. I need to give more time to my community. I need to be forgiving. I need to grow my faith so that I don't fear one day caving into my anger and burdens and destroying the woman I thought I was.

I survived brain surgery, hurtful people, and the moments where I wanted to give up. I learned when I could and tried to take notes to study later when I couldn't linger on the memories. I found new coping mechanisms. I prayed more frequently. I found reasons to take another step.

God's tests will never be too difficult for us. He prepares the called. He will strengthen me for my fights so that my faith deepens in Him. I have nothing to fear if I trust in God to deliver me from every storm.

My Lord, You are strong and merciful. Nothing is too great for You. May You take us by the hand and lead us to safe waters when You need to restore us and fortify us for the battle when You need to strengthen us. May all the people of the world give their praise, adoration, honor, and glory to the One who made them. Amen.

Lil Bean Book Recs: May 2018

One of my lifestyle changes for 2018 was to always have a book on my nightstand and to read 30 minutes minimum daily. This month, I forwent the digital search and browsed my library's shelves for the titles that spoke to me as well as finished Catholic titles on my personal shelves.

Women of the Word

In 2016, I made a goal to read and finish the Bible within a year. I succeeded, but at the start of 2017, my reading fell to the back burner as I finished my Confirmation class and then I found excuse after excuse to let my entire faith be reserved for Sunday. It wasn't until this past January, the 8th to be exact, that God called me to get back into my studies as fervently as before.

Jen Wilkin focuses on the surest ways to study the Bible and understand its intentions in Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with both our Hearts and our Minds. I didn't think I needed a reminder of how to study, but this book taught me the way that I needed to incorporate into my study sessions to better understand God's story, the individual book's story, and how it applies to me as a follower of God.

This is a title I recommend reading at least twice. The second time, come prepared to write down notes so that you remember the suggestions later when you don't have Wilkin's text in front of you. I also appreciate how she reiterated the need for interpreting the Bible on our own rather than solely relying on commentaries and sermons. God wants us to follow Him as ourselves, not as author so-and-so or pastor this-or-that.

I enjoyed this reading because it taught me how to be a more involved reader and how to apply every story to my character to improve and better imitate God's image. 

What Pope Francis Really Said

When Pope Francis was chosen to lead the church in 2013, I hadn't yet been introduced to Catholicism. I knew as much about the pontificate as I did about international politics. However, in the last year I studied on what Pope Francis has ushered in: an age of love and acceptance.

Tom Hoopes explains the reality of our current pope in his work What Pope Francis Really Said: Words of Comfort and Challenge. Sometimes, it's difficult to understand the modern meaning of his heavy language (I'm very simplistic in mine and often need a dictionary), and other times, the media twists the words into the meaning that they want, either positive or negative. Hoopes repeats Pope Francis' words and actions and then translates them literally so the reader can decide what to view.

Hoopes wrote this to help himself understand the truth as much as his readership. I appreciate works like this because I often need additional help outside of the dictionary. Having someone, even if they are Catholic and can be viewed as biased by the opposing side, explain the literal message helps me to form my own opinion. 

Pope Francis cannot change the church. No matter what the sin, the church does not approve. However, Pope Francis exudes love and peace from his person, and it is this openness that allows Catholics, non-Catholic Christians, and non-Christians the chance to learn about Catholicism and understand the true message of Jesus Christ.

Love and forgiveness. We are called for nothing else.

I highly recommend this book to boost your faith and hope in your church and its community. A strong leader is needed for any group or organization and even in a family, and so far, it looks like Pope Francis is an excellent choice to lead the Catholic Church.

Catholic Book of Prayers

I received this book as a gift from my confirmation teacher. Maurus Fitzgerald compiled the most common prayers used by Catholics, and it has proven invaluable to my studies and prayer life. I started reading it this month during my Holy Hour and so knew for certain that I read each and every passage in this little book. 

I use this book daily for the Rosary, but it also provides great examples of prayer for the morning, afternoon, and evening; for the most popular saints; and for the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and the Holy Trinity. It also offers prayers to be said during communion and to express thanksgiving, adoration, and repentance, among others.

The Catholic Book of Prayers is a helpful source for new Catholics and children exploring the faith.

Reluctant Saint

St. Francis of Assisi is a name I hear often. My church is Franciscan, our nursery room is the St. Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi by Donald Spoto hoping to understand why everyone adores this man.
Francis Room, and I believe there's a statue of him on our grounds (I need to check). However, his story is one I've always been unfamiliar with. I picked up

Let me start with, St. Francis of Assisi had an eccentric but engrossing past. I wanted to learn more about his lifestyle and how he shaped fellow believers, but Spoto wrote the book with textbook language. Every other word felt like it had four or more syllables where the vernacular would have worked just fine. The history was bogged down with too much detail and not enough narrative. The writing was so overly academic, I struggled to stay awake after reading ten pages in a sitting.

I'm not saying this is a bad book; in fact, it was quite informative and unbiased. However, I am not a historian. I like shows such as Expedition Unknown where the host is humorous and takes tangents like one would naturally, or where there is more narrative bits to make it feel like a story or movie versus a social studies lesson. I couldn't enjoy this title, but others might like it if it fits their taste.