The Word According to the Bulletin Board
Several decades ago, I attended a Christian discipleship seminar. The leader challenged us to think hard about what kind of music we listened to, so as not to be unaware of things which subtly influenced us. I still remember his litany of caution: “Anything held constantly before the mind becomes a part of you.” For the sake of the seminar he meant that the music one chooses, even if we barely notice it is on, has an impact. Words do not spin out over and over with no effect. It was a good encouragement, actually, and certainly it could apply to many things besides music: books, television, movies, porn, news, social media or sports.
I thought about that while working at my desk at home this week, and my eyes wandered up to my little bulletin board. It’s full of images– pictures of our family, Anne, a mentor, a beautiful Norwegian hiking spot, a painting, a couple of cards. All of them are meaningful to me in some way, and I often look at various ones and recall a special time or person. But then I noticed all the words.
I’m a word person, of course. So, remembering the litany above, “Anything held constantly before the mind becomes a part of you,” and realizing that I gaze at this bulletin board fairly frequently, I honed in on just the words.
“Tip the world over on its edge and everything loose will land in Los Angeles.” A quote from Frank Lloyd Wright that I ran onto shortly after moving to Los Angeles. It’s funny, but also reflective of the many, many different kinds of people we encountered in our LA years. People came and went constantly, each with a unique, often fascinating and occasionally unbelievable story of what had brought them there. Many times, I got to hear or be part of the story God continued to write in their lives in the city. Always unpredictable, always exciting.
“A saint is someone whose life makes it easier to believe in God.” The British bible teacher William Barclay. I’ve always been a little suspicious of the airbrushed element of nominating people for official sainthood, or the overuse and misuse of the word “saint” in everyday usage. Barclay’s definition redeemed the word. I’d like to be a saint like he describes.
“There are two ways of being creative. One can sing and dance. Or one can create an environment in which singers and dancers flourish.” This is one from Warren Bennis, an organizational consultant, professor and early leadership guru from USC. It always reminds me that not everyone is good at everything…but everyone can contribute. It also encourages me to recognize people with artistic gifts and wonder how I might fan those flames, including in the Church.
“Lord, if my looking foolish would bring glory to you, just do it.” A prayer from Bill Hybels when he was still pastoring Willow Creek Community Church. It tweaks me, every once in a while, asking me if I am surrendering everything to the Lord. Even my ego.
“Proagei umas,” Greek for “He goes before you…” from Mark 16:7. It is part of the angel’s instruction to the women at the empty tomb, which they are to pass on to the disciples. “Jesus goes before you.” I need to be reminded of this constantly. Wherever I am, in a dark hole or on top of a mountain…Jesus is already there. He knows. He prepares the way, or the way out.
TR
BL No typo here. It is 2 letters stacked on top of 2 other letters. “Trouble” is actually a word painting by famous American artist Christopher Wool, whose partial or abbreviated words, arrayed in out-of-the-ordinary ways, force us to reconsider what we are seeing…and what it means. And admit we may have missed or skipped over something in the reading. One has no choice but to slow down and take it in rather than rushing past.
Those six items are words that I’ve accumulated on my bulletin board. I look at them quite often. And when it comes right down to it, I think they’re good ones to hold constantly before my mind…in hopes that they will indeed become part of me. But there are many other things we might think of in this regard. It’s a reason to read scripture consistently, including memorizing or reading out loud. What better thing than the Word of God to “hold constantly before the mind?” Or modes of prayer that regularly focus on the person, character and praise of God, reminding us of his compassionate nature rather than simply presenting requests. Or the quality of the people we spend significant time with.
I’ll keep looking, turning over various rocks in my life to see what I’ve allowed to influence and become a part of me, good or bad. And I’ll keep looking at my bulletin board.
I wonder: what’s on yours?
Peace of Christ,
Dan Baumgartner
Dan Baumgartner is the senior pastor at The Cove in Santa Rosa CA and serves as Secretary on The Fellowship Community Board.
