Step 2: We came to believe that a power greater than outselves could
restore use to sanity.

February 17

Scripture reading for today: Acts 13 – 15

Scott Peck says, “Mental health requires the willingness and the capacity to suffer self-examination.” I’m thrilled to know that a piece of “coming to believe” means accepting truths like, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire (willing) and the power (able) to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13 NLT) I’m disturbed by Peck’s use of the word “suffer.”

Anyone who has self-examined must acknowledge as accurate Peck’s description. Seeing ourselves for who we really are hurts. Today I watched a commercial that had a ring of authenticity that most ads lack. A woman in a weight loss commercial stated, “When I saw this picture (up flashes a terrible picture of her in a bikini) I knew I had to do something. So I joined blah blah blah, and now I’ve lost 70 pounds!” That gal found herself suffering with painful self-examination. What’s interesting to me is that it took a picture to break through her denial and cause her to see herself accurately.

She had been going to any lengths to NOT notice her weight. When she had to buy clothes, did she think that manufacturers were just skimping on the sizing? Had she stopped asking her husband if she looked fat in this outfit (or had he wised up and refused to answer that question)? Pictures do communicate a powerful message – and she got hers.

Acknowledging our own personal limitations is difficult. But when we choose dishonesty over suffering self-examination, we lose more than just perspective. It makes us go a little crazy.

Thought for today : As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:13-14 NIV

Thought for tomorrow: We are not very understanding or tolerant of our limitations. We forget how we are 'formed'. Instead of accepting our creatureliness as a good gift from God, we often find ourselves being harshly judgmental and unforgiving of ourselves. This lack of compassion can lead to self-abusive and self-neglectful behaviors. When we forget how we are formed, we can forget to take care of such creaturely basics as sleep, decent food and relaxation. Fortunately, God does not forget how we are formed. God remembers. God knows we have limitations. God remembers that we are 'dust'. Because we are so intolerant of our limits, it is important to emphasize that the metaphor 'dust' in this text does not imply worthless. It is not that God remembers how worthless we are - just dust to be sweep up and thrown away. Quite to the contrary, God remembers our weakness and limitations and has compassion on us. Again, because we are so intolerant of our limits, it is also probably important to emphasize that 'compassion' is not 'pity'. God does not pity us poor, pathetic, helpless mortals. Quite to the contrary, God's compassion is the tender, loving care of a good parent towards a child. God knows and respects our limitations. They are not a surprise to God. God is our Creator. God remembers what we tend to forget. God remembers that we are creatures.*

February 17
Teresa McBean

* NACR daily meditation for Saturday, February 10th, 2007 by Dale and Juanita Ryan. To subscribe go to www.nacronline.com or pick up a copy of the Ryans’ book, Rooted In God’s Love, copyright 1991.

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