7-13-15<\/p>\n
Johann Sebastian Bach began composing virtually every one of his pieces, even secular music, with a blank sheets on which he wrote, Jesu, juva (\u201cJesus, help me\u201d) on the upper left corner of the first page; and Soli Deo Gloria (\u201cTo God alone the glory\u201d) on the bottom right corner of the finished score.<\/p>\n
I try to do the same thing with my writing, even secular writing. A posted note, or prayer, before I begin anything. Even if not a Christian piece, still, a prayer for inspiration, and that my work not be displeasing to Him. And at the end, to God \u2013 alone \u2013 the glory, that I have made something. \u201cMade something of nothing,\u201d an aspect of the creative process that forever astonishes. The notes are good discipline, but primarily a proper view of things.<\/p>\n
I acquired a similar habit when I was a cartoonist, from the example of the cartoonist TAD, Thomas A Dorgan, who died in 1929. The legendary social satirist and sports cartoonist was an observer of human nature, and in his panels depicted everyday people kibitzing, wisecracking, and commenting on the simplest things. TAD developed his own slanguage, and was famous for coining terms like \u201chot dog.\u201d<\/p>\n
The best way TAD found for being an honest and dispassionate commentator was to be removed from the presumptions, prejudices, and pride of his characters. Over his drawing board he tacked the legend, \u201cDon\u2019t Kid Yourself,\u201d to keep him honest. He knew that if he were to consider himself above his everyday cast of characters, he would be cooked. Humility. <\/p>\n
I keep Post-It notes around my office, too; stuck to the top of my computer screen. \u201cDon\u2019t Kid Yourself.\u201d Do I think something I do is pretty good? Wham! No\u2026 it\u2019s likely from God; and hey, I\u2019m not so great after all.<\/p>\n
Is there a theological message in these creative hints? You bet. We are to be humble before our God. To my readers who are Christians, and those of you who are not, I will spare both camps, and not turn to a concordance for verses on being humble before the Lord. The scriptural admonitions do not refer only to imagining ourselves before the Great Throne. We are to know our place when we pray, when we seek guidance, when we ask forgiveness. In every circumstance.<\/p>\n
What about \u201cboldly approaching the Throne of Grace\u201d? That refers, again, to knowing our place \u2013 saved and redeemed \u2013 but NOT presuming anything more from the Creator of our souls. God forbid.<\/p>\n
We tend to presume, we believers. We will be children of the King, not Kings of children or anyone else. Many of the rebels we can think of in the Bible \u2013 the Hebrew children building a statue of Baal; the money-changers in the Temple \u2013 were just short of being total mutineers. They stayed close by; they grafted their own \u201cimprovements\u201d on what God ordered; they thought they knew better than God. In many, many ways we all tend to go off half-cocked in our \u201cwalks,\u201d thinking we can do different works than God intended\u2026 or better works than He willed. The sin of pride.<\/p>\n
Mother Teresa was never so wise as when she said, \u201cGod does not care about our success; He only wants our obedience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jesus told us to be \u201csalt and light\u201d \u2013 to preserve the Truth, and present it to the world with savor, as salt does; and to be a light showing forth the Father\u2019s love, as cannot be hidden under a bushel. These words in the Sermon on the Mount were directed to individuals\u2026 indeed, to you and me no less than to the multitude.<\/p>\n
I believe we have lost sight of the fact that Jesus came to save us; I mean you and me as individuals. Sometimes we get caught up in causes and works. For God, yes; for the Kingdom, yes. To His glory, yes. But. He wants us to be Salt and Light. Not necessarily to be leaders. Or speakers. Or committee chairs. Or cheerleaders. Or fundraisers. Or professional singers. Or even writers of blogs. Not solely.<\/p>\n
These things can be good\u2026 are good. And the Holy Spirit is promised to endow preachers and teachers and evangelists, and those with hospitality gifts and everyone in between. But these are gifts, to be accepted, and used, as gifts, in humility. <\/p>\n
These are tough \u201cmemos to self,\u201d especially when our times are so fraught with threats and peril; a dying world, and Truth under attack. \u201cWho do we think we are?\u201d was a plaint from Justice Antonin Scalia in his dissent in the \u201cMarriage\u201d \u201cEquality\u201d case \u2013 arguing in the name of Humility against a finger-snap ruling that flouted thousands of years of humankind\u2019s traditions, many cultures\u2019 sacred beliefs\u2026 and God\u2019s law.<\/p>\n
In all spheres of life, we need to return to looking out for Number One. When that means us, we are reminded that Jesus came for us, as individuals, not merely our causes and works. Oh, crusades will come; tribulation bids it. Be we need properly to be equipped.<\/p>\n
When \u201clooking out for Number One\u201d means the real Number One \u2013 God Almighty \u2013 let us not kid ourselves. We must, in true humility, ask Jesus for help, seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and give God alone the glory. Soli Deo Gloria.<\/p>\n
+ + +<\/p>\n
\u2026 and in humility, let us maybe hold back on dreams of enormous projects and great works; and desire, first, one-on-one communion with our Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ. He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing. He speaks to you; listen. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn the Garden\u201d was written in 1912 by C Austin Miles. It is sung here by the Avett Brothers.<\/p>\n