Tag: Christian Value

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“The Danger of a Single Story—and How to Embrace Many Narratives”

To choose to write is to reject silence.There is a risk in forming a narrative from a single story. But we do it all the time.

Someone is rude to us, and we form an image of that person. We see how someone dresses, and we create an impression of their life. Most of us read a news article and develop an opinion. We read a Bible verse and build a belief.

Matthew 7:1-2, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Context is everything. The backstory shapes the interaction. Most outbursts don’t come from the current event but are the result of past experiences. Life often boils over.

Until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be glorified. — African Proverb (popularized by Chinua Achebe).

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I recently watched a TED Talk by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie called “The Danger of a Single Story.” She explained how easy it is to form assumptions based on limited exposure, such as one article, one image, or one encounter. “The problem with stereotypes,” she said, “is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”

1 Samuel 16:7, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

That resonated with me deeply. I’ve seen it play out in conversations about culture, poverty, politics, and faith. I’ve also caught myself doing it — jumping to conclusions before hearing the whole story.

Even in Scripture, we fall into this trap. We build entire theologies around single verses, ignoring the broader narrative. We isolate Jesus’ words without understanding the people He was addressing or the cultural backdrop of His day. When we do that, we risk distorting both the message and the heart behind it.

Because of my volunteer work I have had the privilege of listening to the backstories of incredible people in extremely adverse circumstances. People who I am convinced will change the world around them in spite of the political, economic and cultural issues holding them back. We are all created in the image of God, unique and perfect for the purpose for which God planned for us before all of creation. Most of us become trapped in a broken world and never achieve that purpose. Our voice is silenced and we are lost.

Stepping Back

John 8:7, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

But if we step back and listen longer — if we seek the whole story — something shifts.

Instead of judgment, we offer grace.

Instead of fear, we extend curiosity.

Instead of division, we build understanding.

The challenge is this: Will we choose the harder path of listening, learning, and unlearning the single stories we’ve absorbed? Will we allow room for complexity, contradiction, and growth in others and ourselves?

The next time someone crosses your path or a headline catches your eye, pause. Ask: Is this the whole story? Or just the easiest one to believe?

Maybe That’s Why I Write.

Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

There are days like this when I feel a strong desire to make a difference. I know I’m not a well-known influencer. I don’t have a huge platform or a viral message.

But I have simple words; words that might reach one person. Words that could start an echo, even if I never hear it.

So, I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep listening beyond just a single story. I’ll continue choosing grace, complexity, and truth — because sometimes, the smallest voice can shatter the loudest assumptions. Today, you and I are part of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s echo. We are the reverberation of her voice that she will never hear. I challenge you to start your echo in truth and grace.

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Silence is Rarely Silent

Sound of SilenceThe Sound of Silence

Silence is rarely silent. Often, it is louder than the surrounding voices. When we sit back and allow contrary and even destructive voices to drown out the voices of compassion, our silence becomes a statement. It reflects who we are and who we choose to be: apathetic.

Zechariah 7:9: “Show kindness and compassion to one another.”

When we turn away from someone in need and ignore those struggling to survive or be recognized, our inaction resonates louder than words. It suggests that their lives are less significant than ours. We proclaim that our chaotic, confusing, and busy existence is more valuable than compassion or grace, as if their stories matter less than ours.

“Sometimes loneliness makes the loudest noise.” ― Aaron Ben-Ze’ev

The Sound of Apathy

Silence is rarely silent. Not offering a kind word or an act of compassion often does more harm than harsh words. It leaves the other person feeling invisible and without value. Some argue that anger is better than apathy because at least anger still involves feeling. Apathy, however, is a void; it’s the absence of love, empathy, and connection.

Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

The powerful aspect of compassion is that it transforms us. When we choose to see others and enter their lives, we begin to perceive a richer, more understanding world. We come alive by helping others feel alive. That’s not a burden—it’s a gift. Silence eats away at the core of who God made us. It degrades the essence of who we are, created in His image.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia.

The Sound of God’s Whisper

Silence drowns out the whisper of God’s love calling us to action. God doesn’t force us to care; He doesn’t demand action. He gently whispers through love, inviting us to respond not out of obligation but out of gratitude. Loving others isn’t a requirement for earning God’s love—it’s a result of receiving it.

Proverbs 11:17. “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”

Yes, life is demanding. We have schedules to keep, responsibilities to manage, and our wounds to heal. But the challenge isn’t whether we’ll face obstacles; it’s whether we’ll rise above them. Whether we’ll choose the path of love, even when it’s inconvenient. Life will offer you the rationalization needed to move on in silence. But is that God’s nature? God never chose silence when we were in need. He gave His son that we may live. And if we want to reflect His heart, neither can we.

Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

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I want to be an Avenging Angel.

Living Well is the best RevengeI do; I want to be an avenging angel, raining down brimstone and fire on all that is evil in the world; I want God to empower me to wreak havoc on all that is wrong. I want to be invincible and omni-powerful;  I want to walk into the private enclaves of the rich and powerful and demand retribution. How cathartic would that be? How validating and hopeful would the world seem to me? Me, reigning over the unjust and the unworthy. But who would want to rain down brimstone on me?

“There are two great days in a person’s life – the day we are born, and the day we discover why.” – William Barclay

Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

God’s Intent

But that is not God’s intent. One of the hardest lessons for me to learn is that salvation, not retribution, makes the world livable. When people come to understand God’s love, they become the type of people we want in our world. It is not the elimination of evil but the conversion of evil that makes all that Christ has taught us work.

Proverbs 20:22, “Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”

That’s difficult for me. I want revenge; I want evil to suffer. Like Jonah, I don’t want the people of Nineveh’s salvation but their elimination. I want them punished because they have caused so much harm to others. It is hard for me to comprehend God’s compassion. Why does He want them in His kingdom after what they have done?

Proverbs 24:29, “Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”

Wouldn’t that be great to travel the world visiting the despicable, the vicious, the depraved, the unscrupulous, the hateful, and the godless people to present them with their eternal separation from Christ? To stand back and watch when they realize their actions culminated in destruction.

God’s True Intent

“The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship

That is not Godly. God will allow the Godless to reap their rewards, but only after giving them every opportunity to repent. My prayer should not be for retribution but salvation. I should dedicate my life to attracting those who do not know God to God. Boy, that is a big ask.

1 Peter 3:9, “not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”

Like Jonah, I need to accept that what Christ did for me is precisely what He will do for others. I should want Him to extend the grace He gave me to others. It is not us against the world. It is the world against God, and those who choose God will prevail.

Matthew 5:38-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, also turn the other to him. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him also have your coat.”

It would be nice to be God’s avenging Angel, to vanquish evil. But that is in Revelations, not today. That is God’s domain. We must save those who do not see the light, not condemn them. That’s the hard part. God wants us to love, not hate.

“To return evil for good is devilish; to return good for good is human; to return good for evil is divine.” – John Stott in The Message of the Sermon on the Mount

1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”

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Blessed are the Persecuted

Blessed are the PerscutedMatthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

I’ve always thought the caveat to this is the statement “because of their righteousness.” If we go around with a holier-than-thou attitude, we probably deserve to be slapped around. I know a good number of Christians who want to start a holy war to feel persecuted. I don’t mean a literal war, but a skirmish with non-believers, a little dust-up. Then, they can proudly proclaim that they are defending the faith.

Witness Complex

Charles Spurgeon said: “There seems to be no need to defend a lion. All one has to do is to let it loose, and the lion will defend itself.”  (“Christ and His Co-Workers,” March 7, 1886)

Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His followers, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses…”

You will be my witnesses; that is an important differentiator. We are to live blameless lives that reflect the compassion and love of Christ. Earlier, I said that the Beatitudes were not a collection of people but different aspects of the same person. We are to be poor in spirit, mourning the status of the human condition, humble, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker. If, in doing all of these things, we are persecuted, then we can legitimately say it is holy persecution, not just the natural outcome of pious behavior.

Why is our witness or testimony so compelling? First, many people claim to know the scripture, even when they don’t. Only a fool argues with a fool. But our testimony is unique to us. No one is an expert on Christ’s actions in our lives but ourselves. No one can debate or cast doubt on what we have experienced. We are the ultimate source of who we are, what we have done and seen, and what God has done for and through us. They can debate scripture, but they cannot question the story of our lives.

C.S. Lewis once said, “I do not want to reduce the riches of our experience to a few propositions, nor do I want to substitute theology for God Himself.” (Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer)

Persecution Complex

I was on a mission trip to a Muslim country a few years ago. One of the new participants had brought a few Bibles and Christian Literature with him to distribute in the market. He knew it was illegal. His stated goal was to be persecuted by the local Muslims. We tried to explain to him that if he did this, not only would he be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but the government would close the Christian schools and the University because of him. He didn’t care. He assailed us for being cowards by not standing up for the Gospel in the market.

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) – “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

We did convince him to at least think of his wife and child, even if he could not think of the local Christians who would be subjected to persecution for his sake, not Christ’s. That was an extreme case of shortsightedness, but it brought the point home to me.

We are to be living testimony to the goodness of Christ, even to the point of persecution. We confront and confuse evil through kindness, compassion, and love, not passive-aggressive arguments.

Revelation 12:11 – “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

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Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the PeacemakersMatthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

When I initially thought of peacemaking, I thought of conflict resolution. It seemed to involve people who go out of their way to help others restore harmony in their relationships. I thought of Gandhi, for example. But the more I study the Beatitudes, the more I am starting to understand that these are not each a distinct type of person or a distinct stage of life but a continuum of how we are expected to live. We should display the characteristics each Beatitude highlights daily and in everything we undertake.

Because of our past transgressions, we should exhibit a posture of poverty in Spirit. Mourning for the world’s condition and showing humility in our creation should be part of who we are—being dissatisfied with the world’s level of compassion and mercy, especially for the underserved. All of this should be constantly in our prayers. Peacemaking is not different.

“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself… Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.” –Nelson Mandela.

Peacemaking is Active, Not Passive

Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Peacemaking is the act of showing compassion and kindness in all that we do. It is curbing our speech, holding back criticism, and extending praise. Fundamentally, it is allowing God to speak through us. A Christian has the confidence and trust in Christ to let slights go unnoticed. There are times when non-believers will speak against our beliefs out of ignorance. Understanding that challenging and creating hard feelings is not the way to conversion.

Jesus is referring to those who intentionally work to resolve disputes, heal relationships, and create an environment of peace. This often requires humility, wisdom, and self-sacrifice. It takes a person who exhibits all of the characteristics embodied in the Beatitudes.

A Reflection of God’s Nature

2 Corinthians 5:18, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Peacemakers are “called children of God” because they reflect God’s character. Throughout Scripture, God is the reconciler—restoring humanity to Himself through Christ. When we pursue peace, we align ourselves with His divine mission. In biblical terms, peace (Hebrew: shalom) means wholeness, completeness, and right relationships—with God, others, and even within oneself. Peacemakers don’t just stop fights; they work to establish justice, truth, and restoration. They live in a way that makes conflict highly improbable.

Peacemaking Can Be Costly:

“If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.” – Thomas Watson.

True peace often comes at a price. Jesus Himself was the ultimate Peacemaker, but His work of reconciliation led to suffering and sacrifice on the cross. Christians who strive for peace may face resistance, misunderstandings, or personal loss.

Psalm 72:7, “In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!”

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Blessed are the Merciful

Blessed are the MercifulMatthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Mercy: “Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” We live in a dog-eat-dog world: competition and the desire to get ahead are hammering at us from all directions. We don’t always see someone else as someone we can harm, we see them as just another meat popsicle in a world of meat popsicles. Compassion and kindness is something you want, not something you give.

That sounds harsh, but it is how most people view life. Showing mercy should mean doing what is right, not what you have the right to do. It means not being constrained by legalism.

What is Mercy?

Mercy is being kind to the grump next door. It lets someone else have the last sandwich, cookie, or pie. Mercy shows grace to someone wrong but whose bias shields them from the truth. It is taking the time to listen when it is your turn to talk. Mercy is not overpowering someone with your force of will but using gentle persuasion. Mercy is remarkably patient and kind.

Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Each of us is given a position of leadership. That could mean setting an example for siblings, raising children, heading a household, or holding a position of authority. From time to time, we are given the power to control others. How do we use that power? Do we use it as an opportunity to serve and be an example, or is our life so hectic and chaotic that we want the shortest path from point A to point B? Worse yet, have people controlled us with power, so we use our power as an opportunity to get back in control?

Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Being Merciful

Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

“Justice is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. Grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.” — Anonymous.

Being merciful and being meek are interrelated. We talked about meekness and God’s desire for us to approach each interaction with a sense of humility. Humility is the foundation of mercy. Once we understand that we are saved through God’s mercy, through no effort of our own, then we can extend that same attitude toward others.

Psalm 40:11, “Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.”

Can we expect compassion and kindness when we do not extend it to others? We, as Christians, are an extension of God’s kingdom here on earth. How can we expect to receive something ourselves if we do not give it to others? Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not. – Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes

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Change: What You Are Not Changing You Are Choosing

God is a God of ChangeWhat You Are Not Changing You Are Choosing is a quote from Laurie Buchanan. It suggests that you are implicitly accepting it as your reality by not taking action to change a situation.

We face choices daily—some we make actively, others through inaction. Yet, the truth remains: what we refuse to change, we are choosing. Scripture teaches us that God calls us active participants in our faith and lives, not passive bystanders.

Deuteronomy 30:19, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live.”

This verse reminds us that choosing to remain in unhealthy patterns, toxic environments, or spiritual complacency is still a choice—one that can keep us from the abundant life God intends for us.

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis.

Are You Settling for Less Than God’s Best?

Are you staying in a situation that drains your spirit, hoping it will somehow change on its own? Are you waiting for the “right time” to grow spiritually, mend a broken relationship, or pursue the calling God has placed on your heart?

James 4:17, “If anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin.”

Inaction is still a decision when we know we need to act.

Faith Requires Action

Jesus often called people to step out in faith before transformation happened. The blind man had to wash in the pool (John 9:7), Peter had to step out of the boat (Matthew 14:29), and the woman with the issue of blood had to push through the crowd to touch Jesus’ robe (Mark 5:27-28). Each had a choice: remain the same or move toward change.

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers.

So ask yourself:

What area of my life am I waiting for God to change when He is waiting for me to take action?

What fear is holding me back, and am I trusting God’s strength over my own?

Am I praying for change but resisting the steps God is prompting me to take?

God’s Promise for Those Who Choose Change

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

God does not call you to change on your own—God equips, strengthens, and walks with you.

If you’re not actively choosing growth, renewal, and obedience to God’s direction, you may choose stagnation, fear, or comfort over calling. But the good news is, today is a new opportunity to choose differently.

What will you choose?

Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

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Breaking Free: Doing That For Which You Were Created

Kyrgyzstan Winter photo by Nelly Kazykhodzhaeva 2024“Breaking Free: Doing That For Which You Were Created.” Have you ever felt like you might not be doing the right thing or that you’re just in the wrong place? It’s a familiar feeling, and we find ourselves in such situations for many reasons. Ideally, passion drives us—we discover what we love, pursue it, and thrive in it. But for many, that’s the exception rather than the rule.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis, crediting Carl Bard.

Often, we start doing something, get good at it over time, and feel stuck because we’ve invested so much effort. The idea of starting over feels daunting, so we stay on a path that may not bring true fulfillment. Here’s the cautionary tale: no matter how much success or power you gain, there will always be an empty spot if you do not align yourself with your purpose. Think of David’s journey or Joseph.

Gallup’s Global Workplace Report (2022) reveals that only 21% of employees worldwide are satisfied with their work. This study indicates a widespread disconnect, with many feeling their jobs lack meaning or hope for the future. That’s not God’s plan for your life. His design is for you to experience joy, hope, and purpose.

The world is full of people treading water—moving along paths, unsure how to leave. Life has conditioned us to believe it is about survival, not happiness. But this is a misconception. God created you for more.

Here are some of my guiding principles to help you discern your purpose:

Doing Builds on Your Past

1 Peter 4:10: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Every season in life builds upon the last, preparing us for the next. God uses your experiences, even the difficult ones, to shape your future. Those dark times, when things didn’t go as planned, can become the roots of compassion and relatability.

If the direction you’re considering doesn’t incorporate your past experiences, pause and reevaluate. God never wastes what He’s invested in you.

You Have the Right Experience

James 1:17: “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

Purpose aligns with the skills and knowledge you’ve already acquired. While growth is essential, if your next step requires constantly struggling with tasks you dislike or don’t excel at, it’s unlikely to bring lasting joy.

Sacrifice is necessary at times, but constant sacrifice can lead to burnout. Align your calling with your strengths to serve others joyfully.

It’s the Right Time

Romans 11:29: “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Timing is crucial. God grooms us for the right moment, instilling new skills, connecting us with the right people, and planting the desire for change. It might not be the right time if a decision feels forced or premature.

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” — Frederick Buechner.

However, don’t let fear hold you back. There’s a difference between bad timing and resistance to change. Trust God’s leading to discern which it is.

You’re Qualified

1 Corinthians 12:4: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

Hard skills are essential, but they’re not the only measure of qualification. Passion and aptitude matter just as much. Soft skills—the essence of who you are—must align with your calling. You’ll burn out if you constantly push yourself out of your comfort zone. God designed you uniquely for your purpose, and it will align with who you are.

Doing Brings Joy

God’s purpose for you will ignite your passion. Ask yourself, “If I did this for the rest of my life, would it bring me joy?” Life is too short to ignore what excites your soul. God wants you to delight in the work He has prepared for you.

Seek Clarity

Finding your purpose is like searching for a unicorn—rare and challenging but worth it. Personal honesty is vital. Be open to the insights of others who know you well, as they might see strengths you’ve overlooked.

Remember, life unfolds in seasons. Each season builds upon the last, honing your skills and preparing you for the next chapter of God’s plan. Don’t view your purpose as static but as a dynamic journey of growth and discovery.

Trust in God’s timing, lean into your experiences and embrace the joy He has prepared for you. Your purpose is waiting—step into it boldly and confidently.

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Love

Christ calls us to love one another. There is a significant difference between caring for someone and being deeply connected to them. Caring involves showing compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. It doesn’t require liking them; it’s an intentional act that soothes their wounds and quenches their thirst. Being deeply connected goes further. It includes all care qualities but adds a profound passion and longing. To feel this connection is prioritizing them above all else—it is an act of selflessness.

Love is not only something you feel; it is something you do. – David Wilkerson

1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.”

However, being in love is not the same as being co-dependent. Needing someone for your survival turns love into parasitism, draining their energy for your sustenance. Sometimes, we encounter people who seem to complete us, fill a void, or make us feel worthy, but this isn’t love—it’s addiction.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Christ’s devotion to us is profound and unwavering. He extends compassion, grace, kindness, and patience, giving His very life so we might have eternal life. Jesus does not demand that we fully comprehend the depth of His sacrifice—a passion so great that He gave Himself for a world that rejected Him. God’s care is entirely selfless, requiring nothing from us to complete Him, fill a void, or affirm His worth. It is a commitment so powerful that He offered His Son to endure a horrific death, all so that we might live.

John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Every Day 

1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love.”

He commanded that we love one another and treat one another with intentionality that goes beyond personal comfort. We are to put doing right ahead of being right. Trying to survive in a broken world is enough for humans. We see the seeds of hate everywhere. We are constantly immersed in a world where being right is much more important than doing right. Somehow, our opinions and attitudes are the drivers of the world. We lose sight of the fact that God decides the world’s future, not humankind. Our opinions are just opinions; they shape our thinking and attitudes, but not the future.

Ephesians 4:2, “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

I’ve realized that when people treat me unkindly, it’s rarely about who I am but rather a reflection of their life experiences. Seeds of anger and disrespect were sown in their hearts long before our paths crossed. Often, a small, insignificant act triggers these buried emotions to surface. Loving them means looking beyond the hurtful behavior and recognizing it as the overflow of past pain.

Choosing to love in those moments is no small task. It’s easy to see ourselves as victims of the interaction, but we must remember that God’s love for us covers every inequity we may endure on this spinning orb. His love reminds us that our time here is fleeting while eternity stretches endlessly ahead.

John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Sacrificial 

Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

The concept of romantic connection is often misunderstood. Much of psychology emphasizes that humans are inherently self-interested—that every interaction involves, and will always involve, some form of personal benefit. Psychologists are correct in this: We are not divine. So, how can we truly connect on a deeper level if we are imperfect? In a fractured world, that question becomes layered and challenging.

To build healthy relationships, one must first find security in who God created them to be. If someone feels incomplete, they will search for validation elsewhere. But the truth is, God does not create incomplete people—fear and doubt do. When God gave His Son for humanity, it wasn’t because He lacked anything. He acted out of the certainty of His purpose and the depth of His care. As children of God, made in His image, we must embrace this truth about ourselves before forming authentic bonds with others.

Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

To be devoted to someone means placing their well-being above your own—not by indulging their every desire, but by serving them in ways that truly benefit them. Imagine two people so deeply devoted to each other that each willingly sacrifices their happiness for the other’s sake. In this mutual selflessness, both would find immense joy in the other’s happiness.

However, we live in a fallen world, and achieving even a glimpse of this level of caring requires sacrifice and intentionality. It demands a conscious effort to prioritize the other person’s needs while striving to love gracefully and purposefully.

God’s Love

1 John 4:16, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

God’s caring for us is perfect, unblemished, and forever. There is nothing we can do to separate us from that. His unwavering desire for us gives us the power to care for others.

Romans 8:31-39, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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The Legacy of Time

The legacy of time. All of us leave a legacy; it can be good or bad. The definition of legacy is something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor or from the past.

Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Legacy versus Tradition

The thought that keeps going through my head is not how many seeds are in an apple, but how many apples are in a seed? That question goes to legacy. Most people evaluate the number of people they affect through evangelism as their legacy. That is the definition of how many seeds are planted. What is forgotten is that each seed has the potential to be an apple tree, not just an apple. That apple tree will produce many apples over many years. Each apple has many seeds. Some seeds will fall to the ground, become planted, and germinate into another apple tree, producing fruit. A small portion of the apple seeds from that tree will fall to the ground, be planted, and production will continue. That I see as a legacy.

Luke 12:33: “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, and no moth destroys.”

That planting of the first seed is good works. It is the temporal activity of good Christians. It may take years for that seed to grow into a tree that can sustain fruit. That tree may not see that some seeds fell on fertile ground and started to grow. Because we cannot know the future, every seed planted is important. Good works eventually produced a good legacy.

Fleeting Legacies

Most of what we consider legacy is more in line with temporary, fleeting, or transient. We create traditions and cultures that last a few generations and then dissipate. We give material goods that are soon forgotten or replaced. Creating a true legacy is about permanence, rippling through time, separate from ourselves. True legacy does not require or even promote self-awareness. Your family name on a building or a non-profit in your honor is fleeting at best.

Luke 12:20-21: “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night, your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

A legacy isn’t confined to years, decades, centuries, or even millennia; it transcends time and touches eternity. It is about fundamentally shifting the trajectory of humankind, inch-by-inch. This concept may sound too big for it to be achievable. But it is not; you’re planting apple seeds. It is not for you to carry the legacy to a conclusion. You should start with a few seeds and then let God do His thing.

I love this quote: “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”, by Edward Everett Hale. It is the essence of leaving a great legacy. It is about apple seeds, not apple orchards, apple trees, or even individual apples.

Johnny Appleseed

1 Corinthians 3:8: “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”

There is already one man who has gone before you. Johnny Appleseed (born Johnathan Chapman; September 26, 1774 – March 18, 1845) was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced trees grown with apple seeds (as opposed to trees grown with grafting) to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Ontario, as well as the northern counties of West Virginia. He became an American legend while still alive due to his kind, generous ways, his leadership in conservation, and the symbolic importance that he attributed to apples. He was also a missionary for the Church of New Jerusalem of Manchester, England. Orchards attributed to him still produce fruit today.

Johnathan Chapman left a limited legacy through his distribution of apple seeds and an eternal legacy through his missionary work.

Colossians 3:1-3: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

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