Welcome to the April 3rd edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
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The Story of My Week
For the first time in almost 6 years, I got behind the steering wheel.
Living in a city where there were different modes of transport which made commuting easy did not make this a need.
Anyway, I decided to see if my mind hadn't forgotten.
Less than 2 minutes and it was clear, I still got game.
30 minutes later, it also brought back why I didn't fancy driving when I used to drive often.
I could reduce the whole process of driving into simple repeatable tasks.
Driving got boring quickly enough.
Drive time became learning, thinking, or singing time for me.
I picked one during the 1 hour I drove.
By the time I handed the car back, I had come up with a point for a training I was developing.
But it was good to see that driving was still natural to me.
This is what I hope I do often in life.
Transform my learning into a natural way of life for me.
So, it comes back automatically.
No matter how long I have been away from it
Things I Learnt
1-Blessed are the Merciful: During our national service, my best friend from our undergraduate days had introduced me to a good Christian chap with whom he had become friends.
Everyone in the fellowship liked him and he was considered one of the faithful Christian brothers.
About a year later, the guy got his girlfriend pregnant. So many people were devastated.
How could he?
I was visiting with my friend when he told me.
The first thing I said was "that could have been me."
My friend was relieved to hear me say that. He said he wished the other people saw it that way. Seeing it like this would be a first step to helping him through reconciliation from sin.
I am reminded of this whole story after seeing the response to the WillRock Slap matter.
No gainsaying, the slap was wrong.
Trying to bury a man who is down is not an act of mercy.
"I wouldn't have done that." I smile when I read this.
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Gal 6:1
2-Giving Honest Feedback: I am not sure if you also notice this, but it is almost difficult to get honest feedback outside of the workplace.
Most times, it seems like people are trying to give your encouraging feedback.
Nobody wants to be one to tell you that you have the toad that will not turn into a prince after you kiss it.
Because I have been in that situation a couple of times - getting just encouraging feedback, I try to remind myself to always mix my encouraging feedback with honest feedback.
There is no need for the person to go out there and make a fool of themselves.
A friend of mine reached out to me this week for feedback on a session that he had led which I joined.
I remembered my promise.
And I gave encouraging & honest feedback.
It turned out I was the first person to give him honest feedback.
And it was something that he could consider to make his offering better.
Encouraging & Honest feedback - not just one or the other.
Both of them.
In a way that shows I care.
Postscript
May you always remember to show the same measure of compassion you have received from God to others when they make mistakes. May your heart never become hard to the weaknesses of others. Amen
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Tola - The Everyday Disciple
I help Christians like you who want to live intentional lives incorporate their faith into everyday life so they can make Christ focused decisions in all areas of life and truly live to make an impact and make God happy.
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