Important Things in Life

           In a local Karate school, there’s a banner which says, “Thousands of hours of training. Countless bumps and bruises. One black belt.” This statement reminds us that important things in life requires commitment, and perseverance. Important things do not come instantly. Nothing significant is ever quick and easy.

For example, change the wording and we have, “Thousands of hours of studying. Countless exams and attention to details. One diploma.”

Or, “Thousands of hours of nurturing. Countless bumps and conversations. One child raised.”

Or even, “Thousands of hours of striving. Countless ups and downs, with joys and worries. One life lived.”

            Perhaps it is too much to reduce our life to a single statement. Yet, this formula captures the essence of what we know so well: a genuine life requires determined effort. A genuine life does not come instantly. It takes commitment, and perseverance.

Too often though in spiritual matters we think matters can be settled instantly. People will advise us to “just pray about it,” or “just give it to God.” How I wish that matters of faith in God could be settled with such a quick and easy solution!

Of course, praying and giving to God are essential actions. Yet, praying and giving to God alone cannot remove the demand for us to commit and to persevere in matters of our life with God.

One day Jesus said to his disciples that God required them to do some difficult things, such as watch how you treat vulnerable people, and always be ready to forgive. The disciples responded to Jesus, “Increase our faith!”

Certainly, with such a demand it would help to have our faith increased, to have instant faith. It would be wonderful to be able instantly to treat others as I would have them treat me. It would be wonderful to be able instantly to forgive as God forgives. A quick and easy faith would be nice to have. “Yes, Lord, increase my faith!”

However, God does not give us quick and easy faith. In truth, God does not need to give us more faith, because it is not necessary. Rather, God wants us to practice and exercise the faith which we already have.

Now, if you don’t think you have enough, think again; you do! It is not really a matter of how much you have. What does matter is this: how much will you trust and exercise the faith in God which you already have?

Perhaps a better request than, “Increase our faith,” is this: “Lord, give me the perseverance to do what is right in your sight. Because I know it takes: Thousands of hours of praying. Countless times of standing firm and being gracious, for one goal: faith in You.”

Rev. Curtis Fussell

The Quilt

My grandmother once taught me a valuable lesson in life. One day, she hung a quilt up on a rack and asked me to step way back, and then she asked me a question: “What do you see when you step back from the quilt I am working on?” From a distance, I described what I saw: a large piece of fabric, the colors, and patterns. She then said, “Get up close and tell me what you see.” Up close, I saw something different: it was not a single piece of fabric, but smaller individual blocks of fabric that were hand-sewn together with intricate stitching, which together made the larger quilt. She said, “A quilt is not a single item. It is a collection of a whole lot of smaller fabric blocks that, when stitched together, form the quilt. And the quilt is only as strong as the stitching that binds the blocks together.”

She went on to say that people are like that. They are not a single item, but a collection of life experiences, philosophies, education, journeys, people, places, and things. If you stay far enough back, all you ever see is what is on the outside, and you miss a valuable opportunity to grow. To grow, you have to get close to people and see the individual things that make them who they are: their faith, dreams, desires, successes, failures, love gained and lost, compassion, and values. And by getting close, you allow the things of value to shape you.

But getting close to someone has its risks. Years ago, as I sat through a memorial ceremony for a fallen Soldier, her words came back to me as I watched a team reflect upon the impact their fallen team member had on their individual and collective lives. These were not people who sat back and observed each other from a distance. These were people whose very lives were held in a delicate balance on every mission, and they needed to know, trust, and understand each other. With time, their individual lives became intertwined as they trained, conducted missions, and socialized. With his loss, the realization was clear that the manner in which he chose to live out his life had impacted everyone. His laughter, sense of honor, commitment to the mission, and personal values changed those around him. Like the quilt, his life became connected to the lives of those around him. And their individual lives were better for it. 

And that is a risk we take when we let others in. Sometimes, in the most unexpected places, we find exceptional individuals right next to us at the office, at the table, in the classroom, and wherever our lives intersect with those of others. And with the passage of time, some of those lives build strong and valuable connections. Some become friends, mentors, and life partners. Their story, life journey, hard-earned experience, determination, love, inspiration, joy, and strength thread themselves into the fabric of our lives and change us. And it is a risk. But I believe it is a risk worth taking. And I think that, if taken, it makes us stronger and life more vibrant and richer. Valuable life lessons from a Kansas grandmother and her quilt, a valued part of my fabric of life.  

Rev. Dennis Hysom