Dale Cresap's blog

You live in a culture that values learning. What is the purpose of education? One school of thought is to learn the skills you need for employment. This is valuable, but it is a utilitarian approach. You see your faith as transcendent. Can your education be as well? Do you draw a strong distinction between spiritual and secular education? Do you see any source of truth other than me? Do you see your curiosity as a gift from me, as an invitation to follow me in learning the means I have used to structure the world and to help you find your place in it?

Are you familiar with the concept of family resemblance? You look for and expect to see similar features of appearance among those who are blood relatives. This extends to mannerisms and conduct as well, and in the long run this is a more important influence than appearance. Do you accept the Biblical assertion that Adam was made in my image? By inference this would extend to all of his descendants. So, everyone is made in my image. Do you look for this family resemblance in everyone you meet? If you accept this premise, then you should see me in everyone you meet. Do you?

Do you judge people for the way they spend their money and their free time? These are highly personal preferences and you probably feel as strongly about yours as they do about theirs. Is this a basis for judging them? You may consider their pursuits to be a waste of time and money but if they aren’t harming anyone why would you care about how they spend their time? This is an area in which you should judge yourself and not others. Are you deriving the maximum benefit from the finite amount of time available to you?

I lamented over the people as being sheep without a shepherd. The structure of the religious organization of the day was not serving the needs of the people. Do you see the same situation today? Do you see the available spiritual resources as adequate for the task? You have more available today than ever before in terms of publications, broadcasts, places to meet, and teachers. In that sense the situation is far different from the time I made the statement. So how can the statement still be true? Do sheep seek out the resources they need for life? How can you be a shepherd?

My teachings include being grateful and being loving. Do these sound like lofty ideals? I made it real when I taught that you were even to love your enemies. In like manner it is easy to be grateful in times of abundance and peace. Does the same principle still hold in times of deprivation and affliction? You may not be grateful for these things as such, so what does gratitude look like when they are present? Can you view your afflictions with curiosity rather than resentment? Can you pay attention to what you may learn from them?

Do you know who you are? Questions of identity may seem so trivial that people do not bother pondering them. Yet how much of your identity is unique and intrinsic to you, and how much is acquired? You are subject to the influence of your family to begin with, and later from your peers and associations and ideology and schools and organizations and churches, among others. Is your true identity a composite of these things, or is there an intrinsic being underneath them? Can you separate effects to see your core being independently? Do all these associations and influences serve you?

Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you live a life of gratitude? Does this consist only of reciting a list of your blessings and benefits? You should be aware of these things and acknowledge them. Is there more you can do? Is gratitude complete without altruism, or giving thanks without sharing? If you can see the abundance you have and others lacking would it be an expression of gratitude to share your abundance? There is a larger dimension of thanks than to celebrate your own acquisitions. Do you understand what I meant when I said it is more blessed to give than to receive?

The apostles prayed that they may have great boldness in presenting the gospel message, and they got it. They also got the trials and persecutions that came with that, and they were effective in spreading my message. Do you see the gospel message being proclaimed boldly today? Do you do it? Have you observed this and found it to be annoying? Set apart for the moment the fact that those who preach boldly make themselves outcasts. Is this method effective? Does it gain converts and make them disciples?

Do you long to share your journey with those who understand because they are on a similar journey themselves? This is a normal desire. It is not good for man to be alone. No one else can take this journey for you, but you can’t take it by yourself either. I know you need companions. How can you find them? Radar was invented to detect airplanes beyond visual range, and is still in use for this purpose today. Is there a human equivalent? Do you find yourself aware of and drawn to those who are at a similar stage on their spiritual journey? Have you ever been wrong about this?

Do you think of respect and dignity as being the same thing? There is an important distinction. You can give respect to other people, and you should, but you can’t give them dignity. That has to be generated internally. How much confidence do you have in your own story? Are you secure in your own identity, and able to conduct yourself with all that implies and the way it connects to your surroundings? Then you are living in your proper place and have acquired dignity as a result.