Deeds

"So long as the word remains in any way theoretical and is not incarnated by actions and translated into deeds, then it is not faith. It might be theology, not very good theology at that, but it is not faith. Faith is a combination of conviction and deeds, and it cannot be one without the other. Faith divorced from deeds is as lifeless as a corpse."
Murphy Davis, in "Turning Dreams into Deeds," Sojourners, June 1985

My friend Brian sent this to me recently because he thought I'd resonate with it. He was right.

Inhabiting Littleness

I can only be this person, in this place, in these relationships...

Finite, temporal, limited...

I have instant access to the most superlative instances on the planet of anything I might attempt in my local sphere. So my efforts will necessarily pale in comparison unless I am the very best in the world.

Frankly, this does not inspire me; it freezes me. It could be because I’ve lost touch with the parameters of my own given context. I have misinterpreted my world as the world, which is far too expansive a playground for me.

Somehow, I have to rediscover the wonder of the littleness of my life. I must inhabit my actual sphere of influence (as opposed to the global sphere visible to me via the 12-inch screen of the iBook I’m using to type these words).

It is another facet of presence: to be here, fully incarnated and engaged within the littleness of my life.