It's Not About Being Good

When it comes to teaching my child about God: My natural inclination is to urge him to "be good," that being good is God's primary requirement of us. Now I am leaning toward a different perspective. Perhaps my equating goodness with closeness to God is a set up for failure, disappointment, and doubt in later life. Afterall, we're all human. Eventually we sin badly and at some deep, primitive (not intellectual) level, we then feel like we've lost God. However, the Bible is full of examples of serious sinners-- murderers and other evil doers-- who became God's key representatives.

So, the message must be that it's not about "be good," rather it's about "keep trying." In other words, when sin knocks us down, we are asked to keep getting up; when sin sucks us in (as it eventually will), we must keep reaching for God. We are not required to be good, but to keep our determination for God. Isn't that what faith is? Be resilient in our spiritual faith rather than just do humanistic, good works.

Thank you, Jackie

I don't know Jackie but she has greatly impacted my spiritual development. My friend, Annie, worked with her at one point in her life and told me bits and pieces about Jackie: she was in a miserable job with an oppressive, bullying, tyrant of a boss. She had no choice but to stay in that job. Annie would say that Jackie seemed to handle her burden so well. She'd sing her religious songs while working. It makes me think that those who sung those old traditional "negro spirituals" knew something about coping from which we can still learn.

Often when I grumble about something, I think of Jackie-- a faceless presence in my mind-- who I imagine would sweetly scoff at my "struggles." Then, I wonder "what would Jackie do" and sing out loud (if I'm alone or just have my child trapped in the car with me) or I hum. I intentionally stick to singing only religious and spiritual songs. I usually have to make up some of the words which is always worth a good laugh.

And so, I'm with my own burden, but not. Even though my feet and hands may be situated in an old, mired gully, when I sing my spirituals I am lifted out of that gully. Another part of me gets to flow to a better place.

Thank you, Jackie--- whoever or where ever you are!