God's Way Works

For a better life and a better eternity

An Extra Springboard for You

Something Worth Doing, Part 4: Say Something Worth Repeating

by 3 Comments

(If you need to know what this is all about, start with the first in the series and follow the successive links. Also, links to each post in this series are added to that first post as they are made live on the website).

Today, I want to…

…Say Something Worth Repeating

I can’t help but notice what this resolution does not say. It does not say, “I want to say something worth crediting to me.” Some will look at this statement, as I was initially tempted to, and be filled with pride. Oh yes, I want to say something everyone will take upon their lips and repeat the world around. I want it to find its way in to the news, into books, into magazine articles. I want to make sure my name is in the byline. I want people repeating me and knowing it is me they are repeating. I want to be a Jesus, a Socrates, a Benjamin Franklin, a Mark Twain. I want to say things people will record and for which people will hold me in renown.

However, that is not what this resolution says. This resolution says, “I want to say something worth repeating.” You want to say things that will be alright to say again. You want to say things that if someone else says them, it will be alright. You want to say things that if someone does happen to quote you and credit you with them, you won’t be ashamed. Certainly, you want to say things that are so helpful people will want to repeat them. But first, you need to say things that are okay to repeat.

Some Things Aren’t Worth Saying the First Time

This is not as easy as it sounds. There are all kinds of things that are shameful to say the first time, let alone repeat–gossip, slander, foul language, malice, dirty jokes, confidences, bitterness, hate, lewdness.The list could go on. When we see this list, we easily recognize how bad these things are, but they so easily creep into our speech.

There is a thrill that comes from knowing something and passing it on. For a moment, there is a power you feel as you pass on some juicy detail of gossip and slander or even just passing on something told you in confidence. However, in the end the gossip, slander, and betraying of confidences destroys your relationships and leaves you empty and wasted.

There is a thrill that comes with venting malice, anger, and hatred. You’ll get a little payoff as you get to say the deepest and darkest things you feel and watch others tremble. However, once that moment passes all that will be left you is the knowledge of the hurt and damage you have wreaked in the lives of others and in your relationship with them.

There is a thrill that comes from dabbling in the immoral. You’ll get a little pay off from passing on the immoral jokes, making the lewd double entendres, repeating the foul language. Some small part of you will feel mature. After all, that is the stuff for mature audiences. However, as time goes on, that speech will crowd out your maturity and you will find you are actually immature and unable to relate to people on any level of real maturity. Your mind will be filled with immorality and you will not be able to relate to people as people. They will merely be objects for your immoral thoughts and words.

Trust me, the momentary thrill of these kinds of base speech are not worth the lasting damage they cause to your spirit, your relationships, your life. These things are not worth saying once, let alone repeating.

Paul’s Three Keys for Saying Something Worth Repeating

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Paul provides us with three keys to make sure we are saying something worth repeating.

1. Good for building up.

Picture the person you are talking to as a home. Your words need to build, fortify, strengthen that house, not something that tears down, weakens, or destabilizes it. You need to be laying good foundations in that relationship. You need to be providing great support. You need to be adding protection.

No doubt, at times you will have to say negative things. Every house needs some work. You may have to help remove rotten wood or caulk destructive leaks. Remember, however, your words in this instance are to be about repair and restrengthening, not about demolition and destruction. Your attitude in these cases makes all the difference.

2. Fitting the occasion.

Your words should be appropriate to what is going on. They should meet the needs of the moment. Nothing is worse than the guy who can’t stand the tension, stress, emotion of a moment so he cracks an inappropriate joke. Then there is the woman who can’t seem to stand someone else being the center of attention and pulls every conversation back to herself. Of course, there is always the well-meaning person who believes his job is to fix everything and won’t listen long enough to see all he needs to do is be supportive.

Sometimes, the most fitting thing for the occasion is to simply be quiet. Silence almost always bears repeating. You want to say things worth repeating, but often the occasion merely warrants listening. One of the best ways to say things worth repeating is to just not say much. I can guarantee you this, not saying much will cause people to listen more closely when you do say something.

Having said that, there are also times when silence is not right. When you witness abuse, misuse of power, infringement of justice, error, you have to stand up and speak. Many may not like you, but as long as truth and right are on your side then you’ll be saying things worth repeating.

3. Giving grace.

I know we mentioned this as we learned to write things worth reading, but Paul said something here worth repeating. Whether in writing or in speech, our words should be gifts. They should bestow goodwill, pleasure, blessing.

Picture a birthday party. The table is laden with gifts and whoever you are speaking to is about to open your gift. How would they respond if what was on the inside of that gift was what you were about to say to them? What if tables were turned? Before you say that next sentence, ask yourself, “Would I want to receive these words in a gift?”

In reality, you may never say anything the masses take up as a mantra and pass on from generation to generation. Then again, maybe you will. However, if you remove things not worth repeating from your speech and follow these three guidelines, you may be surprised to find out the great impact you have in the lives of others. At least you will have the peace and joy of knowing that what you say is worth repeating whether or not anybody ever does.

(Come back next Wednesday to learn about Giving Something Worth Getting.)

Something Worth Doing, Part 3: Read Something Worth Sharing

by 3 Comments

(If you need to know what this is all about, start with the first in the series and follow the links.)

Today, I want to…

Read Something Worth Sharing

A wise man said, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” There are just a lot of things to read out there. Over 170,000 books are published each year. Over 10,000 magazines are published each year. These statistics are just for the U.S. There are newspapers for every major city. Blogs have gone wild. My Google Reader inbox is insane. I can’t keep my e-mail empty.

There is simply too much to read.

However, you don’t need to read everything. Just because something has been written, doesn’t mean it is worth sharing. Just because something makes its way onto Amazon.com or into Barnes and Noble, doesn’t mean you need to waste any time on it. You want to read things worth sharing.

You want to read things that so impact your life, you can’t help but pass them on to people. This can run the gambit of genres. You can read business books, self-help books, science fiction, mysteries, cooking magazines, and on the list goes. Some things are worth sharing for their entertainment value. There really is some benefit in the temporary escape offered through books. Some things are worth sharing because of their informative value. If it can help you be a better blogger, then it will help you with your first goal of writing things worth reading, won’t it? Some things are worth sharing for their educational value. We all have to learn sometimes. Some things are worth sharing for their inspirational value. None of us are just a perpetual bundle of self-motivation. We can always use help. Some things are worth sharing for their spiritual value. We need connection to God regularly to survive being stuck on this planet.

There are really three main things you have to do if you are going to read something worth sharing.

1. Read.

2. Read humbly.

3. Quit reading things not worth sharing.

1. Read.

I know. This seems just too obvious to state. However, did you notice that “read something worth sharing” started with “read something”? You can’t possibly read something worth sharing if you don’t read. This is the number one killer on this goal. Most folks just don’t want to read. I know you are already working on this, because you are reading right now. I hope what you are reading is worth sharing.

Either way, if you want to continue this goal. You are going to have to keep reading. Don’t stop with this post. In reality, with all the junk out there to read, if you want to read something worth sharing, you are going to have to read a lot.

Don’t whine, “But I don’t like to read.” Maybe you just aren’t blessed with a natural desire to read. Maybe you never developed that habit. However, the problem more likely is you’ve not read much worth sharing. Or, you’ve probably only been forced to read what others thought was worth sharing and you just didn’t get into it. That’s fine. We won’t all see the same things as worth sharing. However, don’t stop reading. Keep on reading. Make it a daily goal to read something. This is the absolute first step.

Of course, I can’t get past this point without giving you an easy leg up on accomplishing this. I believe a great place to start is read your Bible. Read it every day. In my experience, there is something life-changing and share-worthy on every page. Every day I read, I find something worth sharing. You can find my shares at giveattentiontoreading.com. I hope you find them worthy of sharing.

2. Read humbly.

I once heard the story of a young man seeking a Zen master. He approached him and said, “Master, I want you to teach me.” He then listed all the things he had studied, learned, and mastered. In his mind, how could any teacher not want such an accomplished and well-developed student? The Zen master said, “I want to show you something. Do you promise to do exactly what I tell you?” “Yes, Master,” the would-be disciple replied, still trying to impress.

The master instructed the young man to pour tea into a cup and not stop until told to do so. The cup filled quickly. The young man kept pouring. The tea sloshed into the saucer. The young man kept pouring. It splashed onto the table. The young man kept pouring. It streamed onto the floor. The young man kept pouring. Finally, the kettle was empty and the young man said, “Now there is just a big mess. This was pointless.” The master said, “You are like the cup of tea. You are so full of your own knowledge, any attempt on my part to pour more knowledge in to you would be pointless and only cause a mess.”

Some could go even to the Bible and not read things worth sharing. They are too full of themselves to see what is worth sharing. You will only ever read things worth sharing when you read with humility. Set aside what you think you know and listen for a while. You might be surprised at what you read that is worth sharing.

Don’t misunderstand. Before sharing, you need to think critically. You need to reason and determine if what was written is worth sharing. However, if you read with a closed and prejudiced mind you’ll never read anything worth sharing. If you read only to see if people already agree with you, you’ll never read anything worth sharing.

The fact is, for me, the things I have found most worth sharing are those that have broadened my perspective, changed my mind, enlightened my soul. Very rarely were the things I have found most worth sharing merely things that just reaffirmed what I already thought. To be honest, if it is what I already think, I don’t want to read something worth sharing about it, I want to write something worth reading about it.

3. Quit reading things that are not worth sharing.

I have a terrible quirk. Once I start reading something, I feel like I have to finish it otherwise I have failed. I have slogged through some of the worst stuff just to say I finished something. I have to get over that. Let’s face it, even the humblest people find some things that simply aren’t worth sharing. The majority of the magazines at your gas station check out stand top that list.

Your goal is to read something worth sharing. If you begin to realize what you are reading now isn’t, put it down and move on to something else. Of course, the real problem is you sometimes like to read those guilty pleasures. There are some things not worth sharing because they shouldn’t be read at all, but they give you a little thrill. Get over that thrill. It is not worth the long term negative impact they have. They fill your mind with gossip, slander, immorality, discouragement, pointless arguing. If your mind is filled with that junk, so will your life. In fact, you begin to learn that you are sharing what you are reading whether it is worth sharing or not. As many have said, the only differences between you now and you this time last year are the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read. Don’t waste your time with what is not worth sharing no matter what kind of inner thrill it gives you. You don’t need to share that stuff; don’t share in it.

Like I said earlier there is just too much out there to read. Since you are going to have to read a lot to read something really worth sharing, put it down when you realize it isn’t worth sharing. Move on without regret. Oh, I’m sure an argument can be made that if we are humble enough, a nugget of gold can be found in even the most worthless readings. True. Yet, most miners realize the cost of digging is not worth just one little nugget. Reading has an opportunity cost. If it is not paying off, don’t keep hoping to find some little nugget. Move on to something else that has an entire golden vein.

Finally, if you read something worth sharing, do us all a favor. Share.

(Come back next Wednesday to learn about Saying Something Worth Repeating.)

Something Worth Doing, Part 2: Write Something Worth Reading

by 1 Comment

(If you need to know what this is all about, start with the first post in this series and follow the links.)

Today, I want to…

write something worth reading.

Despair.com has an interesting take on all the writing going on these days. Their “Blogging” lithograph says it succinctly: “Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few.” Let’s break out of this cynical mode. Let’s write something worth reading.

Don’t write something to make you popular. Don’t write something to make you millions. Don’t write something to make you look good. Write something worth reading. If you do, some of those other things may happen; then again they may not. If you write to pursue popularity, prosperity, or prestige, you will never be anything more than a hack, chasing the whims of the fickle masses. Your writing will leave you empty, unfulfilled, meaningless, and used.

However, if you dig down inside your own heart, mining the gold God has given you through your own background, passions, study, experiences, and write something worth reading, you’ll find fulfillment, meaning, and usefulness in your writing. Whether many or few like your writing won’t matter. Whether people flock to your writing, tossing money in your direction won’t matter. Whether critics pan you or heap accolades upon you won’t matter. You will have connected with something deeper.

So much of today’s writing is nothing more than the pursuit of our own exhibitionist and voyeuristic desires. We want to exhibit ourselves and we want to pursue the secret lives of those around us. Why else do you think blogging has become the new medium for all writing? So few people care if what they write is worth reading, if it adds to the great conversation, if it lifts up. So many have little opinions about so much and think everyone should learn them no matter what. Too many think having a pulse and a computer makes them an expert on politics, religion, life.

It is too easy to write without thought. We text, we Twitter, we Facebook, we MySpace, we blog, we e-mail, we comment. The question is do we think? Or do we just react? Are we writing something worth reading?

5 Keys to Write Something Worth Reading

1. Keep it simple

Don’t get caught up in author arrogance. Don’t think anything worth reading is worth being really long. Don’t think you have to be some profound philosopher, writing the next manifesto of world change.

We all dream of being authors. However, writing something worth reading doesn’t mean having a best-selling book. Today, you can write something worth reading by sending someone an encouraging card. You can write something worth reading by sending a thank you note. You can write something worth reading by blogging about what you learned from your children. You can write something worth reading by sending a letter to your parents. You can write something worth reading by texting some encouragement.

However, if you are writing a book or a world-changing blog, you still need to follow this principle. Keep it simple. We don’t need to know how erudite you are. If you’re smart, we’ll figure it out as you connect with us simply.

2. Keep it true

By true, I don’t mean simply factual. Fiction can be worth reading. “Lord of the Rings” and “Pride and Prejudice” come to mind. Rather, I mean true, sound, right. I mean write something that rings with truth, connects to truth, promotes truth.

Obviously, don’t spread lies and rumors even if you’re writing about the Presidential candidate you think will ruin the country. Perhaps I should include that you should only forward things worth reading too.

More than that, write something to connect your readers to truth. After all, truth will set you free. Certainly, in the original biblical context of that statement it speaks of spiritual salvation. At the same time, that statement applies across the board. Passing on lies and error will only cripple your readers, limiting them. Truth will set them free.

Remember, what is true is anchored in God. He created the universe. He created us. Disparaging that may salve your conscience for your life, but it will not set anyone free. Whether you are writing in the scientific realm, the spiritual realm, the emotional realm, or whatever realm of life you wish, anchor your writing back to God’s truth. Do this without fear. Remember, we aren’t writing to be popular. The teeming masses will reject what is true. But at least what you wrote will be worth reading, whether the masses want to read it or not.

3. Keep it genuine

God gave you your abilities, strengths, background, experiences, emotions. He did not give you someone else’s. Don’t try to be someone else when you write. Certainly, as our next installment explains we also want to read something worth sharing. When we do, we may want to share something worth reading. That’s okay. However, simply quoting someone else is not writing something worth reading. If we are going to write something worth reading, we need to write from ourselves.

I was tempted to say, “Keep it original.” However, there is nothing new under the sun. What is inside you is there because of the people you’ve met, the books you’ve read, the experiences you’ve had. The fact is, even what is genuine with you is not original in the truest sense. But that is okay. Since what is true comes from God, you don’t want to be truly original anyway.

So, quit shooting for true originality and instead be genuine. What have you learned? What have you experienced? What are you passionate about? What are you dying to share? Latch on to that and write it.

Write it your way. Certainly, learning the craft of writing is necessary. Writing it your way doesn’t mean ignore rules of spelling and grammar. Yet, be real. Be you.

4. Make it a gift

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Our words should “give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). Even if you have to rebuke, refute, or correct someone when you write, your words should be as a gift.

Be careful here. The point is not to think your writing is God’s gift to mankind. He’s already given that gift and you weren’t chosen to write it. What I mean is as you consider what you will write, do so in a way your audience will feel it has received a real gift. Write something that will build them up, strengthen them, encourage them. Write something that is about your reader, not about you. When you have to correct, do so with gentleness and empathy, not arrogance.

Granted, not everyone will recognize what you say as a gift. However, you need to constantly check your motivation before you write. Are you trying to put someone in their place or lift them up on a pedestal? Are you trying to shut someone down or build them up? Are you trying to exalt yourself or someone else? If you are merely trying to feed your own ego, it won’t be worth reading. No matter how wrong the recipient is, if you’re just trying to prove you’re better, it won’t be worth reading.

5. Make it clear

Writing just anything is easy. Writing something worth reading takes work. The modern computer medium often promotes rambling. You circle and circle and circle and ramble and ramble and ramble. You wrote a lot. You may have even written something good. However, anything worth reading is lost in the midst of stream of consciousness gobbledy-gook.

Please, please, please, do not say, “But I just want to write from the heart.” Do not blame your heart for bad, unclear writing. Think before you write. Consider the purpose for which you are writing and stay on task. Outline what you will write, even if only in your mind. Take what is on your heart and run it through your brain before you type it on the page.

In most mediums, this means use acceptable grammar, syntax, and spelling. Don’t be lazy in your writing. I know most people writing today are. I know most people don’t seem to care. But most people aren’t writing something worth reading. You are. Granted, as much as it pains me, you might still be clear if you text someone writing, “u r 2 awesome.” However, don’t let text messaging syntax become your normal writing pattern.

If you really want to write something worth reading, you might even want to read some books worth sharing on writing and grammar. Do whatever it takes to keep it clear.

Something Worth Reading

You don’t have to write something every day. However, if you plan on writing today, press the pause button. Check your motivation. Check your truthfulness. Check your clarity. Check your purpose. Are you just adding to the noise or is it really worth reading? 

 

(Come back next Wednesday to learn about Reading Something Worth Sharing.)

Something Worth Doing: A Tribute to Kelsey Harris and How She Has Touched Every Day of My Life

by 20 Comments

Last week, a very special young lady died. She had been battling cancer for about a year and she finally won. Oh, I know few people see it that way. They think the cancer beat her because she died. They are wrong. Certainly, the cancer beat her body. It couldn’t fight off the ravages of cancer. It is now lying in the ground returning to the dust from which it came. But Kelsey Harris, 16-year-old daughter of Simon and Teresa Harris, has beaten cancer. She is now cancer free. She is with God from whom she came. She is where cancer can never touch her again. As much as it may want, it can never get at her again. Yes, the cancer beat her flesh, but it didn’t beat her or her God.

I had met Kelsey when she was 13 or 14. She was a nice young lady, but, to be honest, I didn’t really see her as anything more than the daughter of an acquaintance. However, not long after I had participated in a series of lessons taught at her home congregation, I learned she had been diagnosed with cancer. Over the following year, though I actually had almost no direct interaction with Kelsey or her family, I followed the story of Kelsey’s battle. With each new update, I felt closer to the family and to Kelsey. With each description of how she and her family were facing the battle, I was more touched.

I could go on and on about what this has meant for me. However, I want to share with you one thing that has impacted me greatly. Even while being ravaged by cancer, Kelsey did not stop growing. In fact, at the beginning of 2009, she wrote a list of her resolutions. She didn’t say, “I want to survive cancer.” She didn’t say, “I want to lose weight.” She didn’t simply say, “I want to be better.” She provided what I think is one of the greatest expressions of what we should all want every day. I want to give special thanks to Kelsey’s parents for giving me permission to share this with you.

Over the next few months, in an Extra Springboard for You on Wednesdays, I want to share how each statement of these resolutions impacts me and can help you. Today, I just want to share the whole poem with you. This wasn’t intended to be a poem. In fact, Kelsey’s dad told me they were surprised the first time they heard someone call it a poem. It certainly appears as a poem. Yet, whether it classifies as poetry or not, it is one of the most profound things I’ve read…ever.

As she wrote it, we might call it “In 2009 I want to…” For me and for you, I want to change it to “Today, I want to…”

Today, I want to…

Write something worth reading
Read something worth sharing
Say something worth repeating
Give something worth getting
Choose something worth keeping
Sacrifice something worth giving up
Go somewhere worth seeing
Eat something worth tasting
Hug someone worth holding
Buy something worth treasuring
Cry tears worth shedding
Do something worth watching
Risk something worth protecting
Listen to something worth hearing
Teach something worth learning
Be someone worth Knowing 

I just want to say thanks to Kelsey for providing such profound inspiration.

(Come back next Wednesday to learn what I get from “Write something worth reading.”)

P.S. Check out Simon Harris’s guest post about “Eating Something Worth Tasting.”