Dear GutsIsTheKey Reader. I fully expect that this BEAM may not be very popular with some. That is ok. One of the characteristics of GUTS is that it tells the truth when necessary, even when not popular.

     Some of my favorite people in this online context are very much influenced by the concern that motivates this writing. In the fervor to help people with self-worth; a dangerous line is often crossed into self adulation. A healthy sense of value, meaning a balance in the world is healthy. And yet a narcissistic pre-occupation with self is an awful sickness.

     For me teachings of Christ offer a healthy check up to avoid the dangers of self worship. It is impossible to read and sense the value in the Beatitudes and have an unhealthy preoccupation with self.

     Our popular culture is caught up the “wonder inside you,” “trust your heart,” “and beautiful you” teachings so much; that people begin to believe in the misguided notion that the higher power is indeed themselves. This erroneous philosophy leads to the emptiness of hedonism.

     Yes we need to find our value and understand our worth. Yes we need to live happy, joyous and free lives. But doing so through the hollowness of vanity and pride; only inflates cubic zirconia egos. The only way to discover the most incredible sense of purpose and being is to find the Diamond of Service. It is not the dime store jewelry of self-love but the noble treasure of love for God and mankind, that leads to the greatest jewels of truth.

Look! They are preparing a great feast,

They are spreading rugs for people to sit on,

Everyone is eating and drinking.

But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle.

You are being attacked. (Isaiah 21:5 TLV)

     And so it is that many advise that we party it up and live to selfish excess. That better and better is all that awaits us. That we are on some astral path of enlightenment and we can certainly expect only the best to come. // This is utter foolishness.

     It could be that better days await us. IF WE AVOID THE DANGEROUS TRAP OF THE GOSPEL OF OUR TIMES. If we see that love and service; the betterment of others and the unselfish dedication of our lives to causes greater than ourselves are of more importance than selfish acquisition.

     I am not a prophet of doom and I do not write this to scare you into a shallow commitment. Rather I write this BEAM as a wake up call that there is a better path for your life than self fulfillment. A path of giving. A path of love. A path of service.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen. (Prayer of St. Francis)

     We can hardly afford to be carried away by those who would have us spend so much time loving ourselves. We will love ourselves best, when we humbly serve God and seek the good of those around us; even if it is a matter of personal sacrifice.

     Jesus said “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Even so Jesus lead the way by becoming the very example of this Himself. Funny thing about passionately giving yourself away for some worthy cause; you will find more of yourself in the process. The Gandhi’s, Mother Teresa’s, George Washington Carver’s and Helen Keller’s of history demonstrate that the most admirable people among us are those who concentrate on blessing others.

      This all sounds well and good you say but how do you get this high-minded view of a life of philanthropy out of the text-book and theory and into real life. AHA! You are asking the question. And the question is the key, itself. Daily I direct my prayers toward this very thing. How God do I serve you today? How God do I make a difference with my fellow-man today?

      This quest to become more than some self worshipping guru of vanity must become a passion. A daily passion. At the beginning of the day to ask ourselves, how can we become more virtuous and caring . And at the end of the day, to be bone shatteringly honest in our review with ourselves on how we did.

     Transform your prayers from asking God how to get what you want; to asking Him how you can truly be about what He wants. The heart, character and nature of Jesus should not just be a fact of history but a daily pursuit of life.

     Meditate on and Let words and concepts like these fill your life and you will avoid the Gospel of our times and find the greater life of service.

Altruism

Charity

Generosity

Compassion

Benevolence

Mentoring

Nurturing

Supporting

Comforting

Encouraging

Sustaining

Sacrificing

Rescuing

Words like these are the proper text to help you change the focus of your life from self adulation to service and self worth. Good luck as you try to make a difference in the world around you and avoid the tempting snares that would cause you to focus on self love, instead of self sacrifice.

     ” I tell you the truth, when

you did it to one of the least

of these my brothers and

sisters, you were doing it to

me!” Jesus