Dale Cresap's blog

Do you think that people are generally doing their best? This may be a hard point to concede when you consider the evil and poor performance that you see in general, and that you experience in particular. But what is the alternative? It is judgmental to assume that poor performance is intentional or due to character flaws or evil motives. Ultimately you do not know the cause of it. I asked my Father to forgive my executioners because they knew not what they did. Can you extend the same reasoning to those who hurt you or others, that they may have no idea of what they are doing?

Do you see the world in black and white? This is a very stark view and to see the world in these terms is not something to strive for. Even in early photography there was a gray scale between black and white. But I created a world that goes beyond black and white and even gray to include color. You refer to this as the spectrum of visible light. So I have opened the door for a rich scale of diversity. Do you see the same concept of a spectrum present in things other than electromagnetism? In what other areas are you able to see subtlety and nuance rather than two fixed rigid categories?

Are you a critic or an advocate? Have you noticed that people generally fall into one camp or the other in their initial responses to new information? Do you see it as an expression of intellectual sophistication to oppose and find fault rather than to support and show enthusiasm? This is a widely held view even if you have escaped it. What great accomplishments have come about only by opposition? If you want to get something done you need to have positive energy and vision. If you do you can expect criticism according to the perspective above, but do it anyhow.

Are you familiar with the idea of peers? This term describes people who are your equals. The distinction could be intellectual, economic, social, cultural, or others. This implies a hierarchy and everyone knows where they rank. Is your circle of peers large or small? Are you willing to expand it? A normal feature of a social hierarchy is that there is no communication between levels, but I want you to be able to connect outside of a small and narrowly defined group. Those who esteem themselves to be above you may not be receptive to the idea of accepting you.

Are you familiar with the idea of cheerleaders? They do not take part in the game, but they encourage those who do. If you are not a sports fan, you may consider this to be one step removed from something you don’t take seriously anyhow, but could there be a spiritual parallel? Do you have people you can count on to stand by you and encourage you in your hour of need? Isn’t this beneficial for you even if they don’t take on your burden? Who does this for you? For whom do you perform this vital task?

Have you ever prayed, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven? This is the most familiar of all prayers and a routine prayer for many believers. What does it mean? To implement this you would have to know how my will is done in heaven. Do you have access to this information? You can only know this by revelation, but I didn’t set you up for failure. I’m happy to show you if you inquire. What about the part about my Kingdom coming on earth? What does that mean? Didn’t I say that my Kingdom was not of this world?

Do you like to be popular and have the admiration of others? My word tells you to beware when all men speak well of you. Do you find it comforting when the people in your circle agree with you? Can you extend the above principle to beware when everyone you know agrees with you? This may indicate that you don’t know enough people. Do you find it threatening to encounter people who disagree with you? But there is truth outside of your tradition and your current level of understanding. Are you open to receive it? Where do you think you will find it?

Have you ever heard of the Bible referred to as a sword? This reference to a sharp instrument is within the Bible itself, and some churches routinely refer to the Bible this way. A sword is typically thought of as a weapon to be used against others. Have you ever heard of someone falling on their sword? This phrase is also in the Bible and refers to a soldier using his sword to take his own life. So do you use your Bible primarily against yourself or against others?

Do you understand the importance of forgiveness? The Bible gives this so much emphasis that believers realize the need to seek forgiveness when they require it and to grant it when it is asked of them. This would seem to cover all situations, but what do you do when someone needs your forgiveness and refuses to seek it? Is this a situation in which you must withhold forgiveness? In this case are you restrained from acting or can you accept an apology that you never received?

Have you lived long enough to revisit your values and reconsider them? Have they shifted to ones that serve you better? This is a good thing. Did the whole path of your life support your current values? Do you look back and think that you have wasted much of your life in things that didn’t benefit you? I don’t want you to live in despair for a past you cannot change, and regret for things that seem wasted, or worse, detrimental to progress. Do you recall that I was the stone that the builders rejected that became the cornerstone?