Those who are in the military are well acquainted with the rank structure and know who is above and below them. Is there a comparable structure in place in the civilian world?  Money is a common means for keeping score, and both those who have it and those who do not are aware of where they fit in the hierarchy. Do you believe in equality? This is a desirable political goal, but it is a modern concept and has not always been accepted. Can you see that this only makes sense under the rule of a supreme being who is superior to all and regards king and peasant alike under him?

My word states that I wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Much has been made of this short verse, and this is an expression of a strong emotional response. Yet tears are not always an expression of pain or sorrow. Have you ever wept for joy at moving experiences that were not painful? I criticized my generation as children who would not dance for a cheerful tune or mourn for a sad one. This was in the context of John and myself, but the greater principle is that there are occasions that call for a response. Do you avoid shedding tears for any reason? What does it take to move you to tears?

Do you know why revolutions fail? It is easy to see problems in society and not very difficult to come up with solutions but this isn’t enough. It isn’t enough to have awareness and understanding of needed changes. Too many revolutionaries wrest power from others to wield it themselves, with the latter state being worse than the first. It isn’t enough to have the answer. You need to be the answer. What is more revolutionary than the gospel message of love that I have committed to you? For this revolution to succeed you need more than knowing the message.

Have you ever held a door open for someone else or had them do this for you? This is about the smallest possible gesture of social grace, but it comes in larger versions. Have you ever been in a group of people and been the first to take the risk to be vulnerable and share your weaknesses or shortcomings? What usually happens as a result? Doesn’t this open the door for others to do the same thing? This allows everyone to take part in a discussion that goes deeper than the superficial and artificial? Haven’t you found such encounters to be healing for you?