Guidepost

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” — Brennan Manning

I am not a Christian; however, I was raised by one to be one. I’m not exactly an atheist, but I do not believe in a god personal to me—that feels like the height of arrogance. I don’t hate Christians or any other group; in fact, I’d bet I’ve read their Bible more than most of them ever will. It’s an interesting read, and I’m particularly fond of Jesus’s teachings—they are solid principles to live by. It isn’t original writing; you can find the same message repeated throughout history, pre-dating Christ by millennia. But it stands the test of time.

It is probably why I’m so drawn to John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse introduces the concept of the “Word,” emphasizing eternal existence and divine nature. Maybe the message is so old because the message has always been.

But I’m not here to argue why I think Christians are wrong. Honestly, if it works and gives you some peace in this life, I’m happy for you. I’m not interested in fighting; however, a rational, give-and-take conversation is always welcome. Feel free to reach out; I love a good talk.

So, why did I lead with Brennan Manning? I could have led with Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata—another writing that has had a profound impact on the kind of person I want to be. Not the person I’ve always been; I’ve fallen short of my ideals many times. But these ideals are my center. They are where I return when I find I’ve strayed.

This quote from Manning is one of those core guideposts. At its heart, it reminds me that I am always an example. What kind of example? That is up to me. If I claim to be a man of my word, I should probably keep it. If I claim to be loving and kind, I should be loving and kind. It’s okay to stray from the goal, but I need to be clear on what that goal is so I know where to return.

Most importantly: I need to spend a notable amount of time closer to achieving the goal than I do wandering away. If I’m a jerk 99% of the time, that 1% of kindness will never convince anyone of my character. It will only convince them that I’m a jerk.

I teach everyone around me how to perceive me, how to talk to me, and how to treat me. That is what I took away from this quote when I first heard it twenty-eight years ago. It has stuck in my head as a guidepost to be constant in both my words and my actions.

What does it say to you?