Can you think of any overworked words? How about ‘absolutely’ and ‘awesome’? Do you hear these frequently and consider it odd since you live in a culture that has rejected absolutes and awe? These terms have been devalued from their true meanings and enlisted to add emphasis in situations where they don’t really apply. ‘Absolutely’ means more than emphatic agreement. It refers to things that are true in all situations and for all time. In like manner, people who experience awe normally cannot speak or even stand erect. Truth matters, and the words that convey truth matter.

How do you introduce yourself? One of the first things that most people relate about themselves is the way they earn their living. This is customary in your culture of commerce. People tend to be proud of their professions in proportion to their income. But this puts the emphasis on what you do rather than on who you are. How would you describe yourself apart from your way of obtaining an income? You have other activities that you enjoy and love to share with others. Are these central to your being or were they acquired or culturally imparted?

Have you ever experienced righteous indignation or moral outrage? Have you ever seen these things manifested in other people? Did they appear to be righteous and moral for them? Were they for you? Consider my own life. I reacted strongly to the money changers in the temple, and to the Pharisees. Note that I never did this to the common people, even those that you would consider to be sinners. So what are your righteous indignation and moral outrage directed at? You are not called to judge others, so you may be more moral and righteous with less indignation and outrage.

I promised that those who seek the truth would hear my voice. Do you see this at work in your unbelieving friends? They may appear to be adrift or wandering but I’m keeping a close eye on them. They may appear to be going in the opposite direction, but this illustrates how powerful my promise is. If they stay engaged in the search for truth I will find them. Trust the process and do your part, which is to stay engaged with them. This may just require presence and availability. Be sensitive to my leading so that you don’t get ahead of me.