Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth. 1 Peter‬ ‭3:10-11‬ (msg)

Deep within each of us I believe there is a piece crying out for what is Good, truly Good, Big ‘G’ Good. BUT! We also truly want to believe that we can somehow get to that Good through self; fulfilling our earthly desires while cultivating Good… and it can’t be done. I know this because I have tried and failed and tried and failed… always coming up short; losing peace, joy, kindness, and true Goodness somewhere along the way. What would a successful day look like to you? It would be in our best interest to answer this question honestly if we would like to embrace Life today. Does success equal money or progress or staying busy or learning something new or getting kids places or would none of those things matter if you finished the day with no regrets because you fought for goodness, snubbed evil and stayed grounded in peace? AKA You didn’t freak out, fear gone displaced by peace.

There is a way that leads to life, but it is not through self, it is the surrender of self because I know my God and He will never fail me. Because I know this, because I know Him, I may have peace; I can snub evil; I can cultivate Good – not self.

I don’t know if I dare get into the conversation in our home this morning but it was about competition. There were some good questions about trying hard equating being competitive. And while our world merges many words and definitions, which can be a very dangerous game, I still believe context is important. But the word compete is very tricky. Here is what the dictionary definition is: to strive to outdo another for acknowledgment, a prize, supremacy, profit, etc.;  Doesn’t sound very Christ-like does it? But working-hard does. If we merge the words, we can sell something as good that really has no root in Goodness. It truly is a dangerous practice to think that every time we play a game we should be trying to elevate ourselves above others. Why do we play games? Most would answer for fun. God created laughter so I see no problem with fun and games. I love working hard and running and playing, but I detest making my opponent feel lesser by elevating myself; I see no Good in that. Do I think it’s important to teach kids to lose? Absolutely – how else will they learn to play a game for fun – win or lose? But I also think it’s important to teach our children to build others up instead of squashing them. We have been playing a lot of soccer and whiffle ball at our house this summer – it has been challenging, beautiful, pruning, and fun. Discipling and training our children is so important, even and especially in playing games. It does not come naturally for us to not get our way and to give up self-elevation – to want to build others up as well as work hard (some would even say the two conflict) – but there is joy there… and peace and Goodness. Every time we allow another chip of self to fall in the fight for Good, a victory is won and evil takes a hit… even in a game.

Embrace Life today. Holy Spirit we need You and we welcome You.