Vices: Yours, Mine, and Ours
Guest Post by Ash San Filippo
Over the past few years, I have developed a new hobby: building things. I’ve spent many hours of my free time building everything from a new bed frame to a dish rack. With each new project, my need for tools grows. There has been one tool in particular that I have had my eye on, but have yet to purchase: a vice. Vices are unique tools. They have no cords, no blades and no handles—yet they are just as powerful as any tool hanging in my garage.
Listen. Listen. Listen.
Listening is a choice. You can choose to listen attentively or you can choose not to.
Listening requires self-control. Choosing to listen and not to speak requires self-discipline for most people. Sadly many people spend all their time waiting for the other person to stop so they can talk again.
Listening requires practice. The discipline of listening becomes easier as we learn to value listening.
I value listening more because I believe it demonstrates God’s character.
How you ask? Consider how much more God listens to you than speak to you. God doesn’t speak often, but God spoke through the prophet:
What is Kindness?
“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” [Ephesians 4:32]
What is Kindness?
Kindness is a choice.
Kindness is an attitude.
Kindness is not a weakness.
Kindness is counter-cultural. Sadly, kindness is radical thinking in our culture.
Kindness recognizes that the other person as important. Not more important than you, and not less important than you.
Kindness Involves Action
When we recognizes that another person is as important as we are it changes what we do and what we value.
Honesty Is Counter-Cultural
Honesty is a culturally threatening virtue. So threatening that few people make it a constant choice. It’s counter-cultural to choose to be honest.
Cultural Corruption
People joked about cheating on their taxes – “it’s okay unless you get caught.” People make “little white lies.” They cover up the truth “to protect the other person.”
“Everyone lies” and “everyone lies some of the time” are routinely used to justify the choice to be dishonest. That’s if the choice to be dishonest is ever challenged.
“You love evil more than good and lies more than truth”, says the songwriter.
