Have you noticed that people use the term ‘absolutely’ casually in everyday conversation? This dilutes the true meaning of the term. There are, or should be, some absolutes but the concept cannot be applied to everything, for most things are passing away. Yet there is a deep, innate human desire for some firm ground to stand on. How could you live and orient yourself in life if everything was shifting and up for grabs? I told a story about a wise man who built his house on a rock and a foolish man who built his house on sand. They both built houses, but only one would endure.

Are you aware of the spiritual climate you experience? Do you discern places that are full of light and divine presence? Do you also discern places that are full of darkness and oppressive energy? Do you seek the first and avoid the latter? Be careful that you don’t enter into unrighteous judgment about the places you do not favor, and realize that I may call you to go to places you would not choose. If you are led by the Spirit, you will always be in the right place at the right time. Are you also aware that your presence affects the spiritual climate?

If you are generous you will share what you have. This isn’t limited to money. People share food as well, and give rides to those in need when they have empty seats. There is no limit to the resources that can be shared, and a good mood is one of these. Have you noticed that a good mood is contagious? Have you noticed the same thing about a bad mood? These are contagious as well, and this could be considered sharing, although it could hardly be considered generous. Do you have an abundance of joy or misery? It will overflow one way or another. What are you sharing? 

 Do you judge your own group, or church, or denomination by the best examples and other groups, etc. by the worst examples? They do the same for you. Are there no bad examples of Christians for them to choose from? In reality these are broadly overlapping distributions, so it would be an extreme claim to say that the worst of your group is better than the best of another group. This situation does not lend itself to an exact scientific analysis, for adherents of any faith tradition start in different places and progress at different rates. Is the practice of your faith making you better?