Which Would You Choose?
If you were given the choice between receiving $1,000,000 that would double at the end of 30 days or one penny that would double every day which would you choose? $1,000,000 doubled at the end of 30 days of course would be $2,000,000 and I suspect most folks we choose the $1,000,000 doubled. However, the one penny doubled every day would be a far better investment. At the end of 30 days that one penny doubled every day would total $5,328,709.12!
I share this because it illustrates two very important truths of personal and spiritual growth. The first of these is that effective and long-lasting change comes in small steps faithfully and continually carried on over a period of time. I recently read that walking 5 to 10 minutes an hour over a period of several different hours during the day is at least every bit as effective and perhaps more so than taking a single long extended walk once during the day.
Personal and spiritual growth are no different than physical health. I learned this lesson several years ago when I read a book, devoting 10 minutes a day to reading it. I found this far more beneficcial than blocking out a much longer period to sit down and read. My attention and focus was far better and I found myself paying far more attention to what the author was saying than trying to reach a certain end point of reading material. The same is true for reading the Bible. It is far better to read 5-10 verses each day, listening to and reflecting on what is being said that trying to read a whole chapter to get through it. Likewise, a simple heart-felt prayer of just a few words can be very powerful and help a person become ever more comfortable with prayer.
Behavioral scientists have known and taught for some time now that the best way to overcome a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit. Instead of trying to stop the bad one, focus attention on beginning a good one. Typically, it takes between 28 and 50 days to create a new good habit doing it each day. Think about this in terms of creating good habits (and virtues) like kindness, generosity, patience or forgiveness to name a few. Instead of trying to do it all at once start small and faithfully keep it up and over time you will be amazed at the changes that take place in your life.
The second important lesson is looking at life with the end in mind. It is not by accident the biblical story begins with the first creation in in Genesis (1&2) and ends with the second creation in Revelation (21 &22). Similarly, each of the gospels ends with Easter and the Resurrection. When we look at life from these vantage points, we get the big perspective and can embrace in faith the final outcome, regardless of our present situation. And we are much richer for it!
Grace and Peace, John