Welcome to Day 1424 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

What Are You Known For? – Meditation Monday

Wisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1424 of our Trek, and it is time for Meditation Monday. Taking time to relax, refocus, and reprioritize our lives is crucial in order to create a living legacy. For you, it may just be time alone for quiet reflection. You may utilize structured meditation practices. In my life, Meditation includes reading and reflecting on God’s Word and in prayer. It is a time to renew my mind, refocus on what is most important, and making sure that I am nurturing my soul, mind, and body. As you come along with me on our trek each Meditation Monday, it is my hope and prayer that you, too, will experience a time for reflection and renewing of your mind.

 Today let us meditate on:

What Are You Known For?

I read a story where a Buddhist was asked, “What do Christians do that makes them stand out in a crowd?” The answer was short and straightforward, “They argue.” I know, it sounds unfair, but it’s an honest perspective from an outside observer. And, it’s worth a little discussion.

I do sense an over-abundance of argument in our culture. In this season of heated political debate, and experts from everywhere sharing their views about the pandemic, arguments seem to be everywhere.

The impact of negative ads, half-truth accusations, character assassination, and name-calling is pervasive. The people who jump to conclusions and speak judgment and condemnation get too much media attention, and the aftermath lacks apologies or corrections. The goal is to win the argument, not telling the truth. If you believe the news media, we have become a dismantling culture. We have taken intolerance, adult bullying, and name-calling to a whole new level. Every few minutes, the sound bites and headlines sow divisiveness and discord on every side. You soon realize that every segment is to continue the argument. It’s all about being right or being loud. I no longer watch any of the news services, nor do I invest much time on social media for the same reason.

It isn’t easy to find news or shows that explores values, listens to ideas, accepts differences in opinion, challenges me to think outside the box, and validates people in the process. If your conversations were a newscast or talk show, what would it be like? You can have all the right answers and still be wrong. I’m tired of news segments programmed for argument. I want something more. I need something more.

As a Christ-follower, I want my identity to be based on something different than anger. I want to read books, visit websites, listen to music, and engage in media that leaves me a better person. I’m a Christian, and I want to be known for the way I treat people, the way I listen and learn and dig deep into life. I want to find the good in people I talk with, even if I disagree with them. I want to be like Jesus, who could change the subject and heal the soul.

It’s time for Christians in the USA, and throughout the world, to write a new story, to change the public narrative. It’s time to bury the argumentative identification and raise a new one. It’s time to be known as listeners, as followers, as healers, and peacemakers. It’s time to invade the impossible.We need to tell those skeptics of Christianity “I want to change your perception of Christians. Please, I want to show you something different. Will you let me?”

Jesus predicted that their love for people would be how Christians are known. John 13:35, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. I think it’s time for that prediction to come true.

Only God’s Spirit can do that. If we let Him, the Spirit will tear the labels off and eliminate our snap judgments. God will open our eyes to see beyond the distortions and struggles; He will show us the vulnerable human inside our skin and the skin of those we don’t know yet.

Many of us have tried to do this on our own, and it has proven to be a failure. On our own, our voice grows harsh and caustic and arrogant. Then, after a while, God is no longer shines through us.

What are you known for? Are you good at argument, but struggle with listening, I mean really listening? Are you trying to do God’s job? How is that working for you?

Make a list of the people you know who you have labeled as caustic and trouble makers. Pray for God’s forgiveness and ask His Spirit to take over. He is ready to work a miracle. Ask His Spirit to transform your heart first. Ask His Spirit to turn you into a seer of the good in others. You will never win an argument; you can only influence others to change their own thinking. That will never happen until you first change your thinking.  Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Let me share once again, John 13:35, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

That is a wrap for today’s Meditation, next week; we will continue our trek on Meditation Monday as we take time to reflect on what is most important in creating our living legacy. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise each day. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’  If you would like to listen to any of the past 1423 daily treks or read the daily journal, they are available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this Trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to ’Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday’! See you tomorrow!