Close behind John Christensen’s stern assessment of institutional drag came this delightful essay attached, on ‘Spiritual Capital’ by Anthony Gimpel, a Quaker and Jewish.
Such relating of issues that are personal [the faces on Zoom] and those that are societal [TaxJusticeNetwork’s institutional drift] lead us to the third dimension that we try to keep in critical creative tension, [the Gaian global impact.]
And then yesterday Progressive Christianity contributed the following as a third angle on human behaviour.
We are being reminded of a basic aim of our networking – namely generating profound collaboration for the Common Good.
“Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23). I often wonder where I’ll fit on that spectrum. What about you? We are wise to be brutally honest with ourselves. With the Kingdom of God in focus, consider each word of the sentence:
WELL — Live with an attitude and commitment to do things with excellence, particularly important things that matter, that represent who you are and what you do, and that make an eternal difference. No one can do everything, but we can all do a few things well. What do you do well?
Well DONE — Not well intended, well planned, or well started. Well done. We’ve all started more things than we’ve finished. Do what needs to be done, and finish it. Sure, you’re busy. But what are you actually accomplishing? That’s the substance of what you live for.
Well done, GOOD — We can receive all kinds of blessing and anointing from God, but it only has lasting value when it translates into positive character change. Situations may set us back, but corrupt character sabotages anything we may do and everything we be in Christ.
Well done, good and FAITHFUL — Stay faithful to your tasks, to your commitments, and especially to your relationships, both people and God. Faithlessness hurts everyone, just as faithfulness benefits everyone. Faithfulness is always worth the price.
Well done, good and faithful SERVANT — We’re all called to servanthood. God is not looking for celebrities. And those people with fame, wealth, or high position do their best when they maintain humility and an attitude of serving others.
What has God given you to be and to do?
Do “well—done—good—faithful—servant” fit you?
And what have we to say before COP26??
Yours in our shared stewardship and trusteeship of this sacred planet
Peter