167 Not to be Missed!

Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”

Not to be missed, Gentle Reader, there are important insights butterflying around this whole discussion of Meaningless Choices that are too tantalizing to ignore (for me, that is).

I was struck by two observations in writing these most recent blogs:

First, people with little ability to accept limitations in life, or on their behavior, appear to be the ones lugging around the heaviest baggage of meaningless choices and failed initiatives all their life.

Second, people with the most reliable practice of acceptance of limitations routinely bear up well both personally, professionally and in relationship with others, living purposeful and valuable lives, sometimes even inspired lives.

Let’s mull over these two types (Remember we were talking about Crosby and Jasmine of the Series show Parenthood last blog? Well, here I return to the same subject.):

I found it striking how simple the story of Crosby and Jasmine’s problems would be to address should both regularly submit said problems to a worthwhile value-management system (a form of limitation upon themselves). This observation implies of course, that to begin with, each must acquire a value system consisting of reliable standards of conduct to which each earnestly, if not perfectly, aspires to adhere and to which each routinely submits. Crosby’s Wise Brother, Adam calls this “growing up.” I call it embracing God’s perfect model for mature living exemplified in Christ Jesus. (I have never seen Adam pray—though heaven-only-knows he certainly has reason to— nor heard any reference to his being Christian.)

Let’s start with Jasmine. Though Jasmine clearly has been in the wrong in her behavior very frequently in the show, her mother is a practicing Christian and exerts a clear positive influence on Jasmine, which Jasmine largely accepts (though whether or not she is a Christian by personal choice, I do not know—and that matters). Fortunately for the audience (of fellow-Christians like myself), we know that Jasmine (if she is a true, if immature, believer) can be successful in life by relying on positive Christian practices (as defined by Jesus Christ) to mend whatever she breaks, so to speak, including herself. Christianity has clear, time-tested guidelines for successful living in relationship with others.

Crosby, on the other hand (not a practicing Christian, and though the show is not clear on this point, is likely not a Christian at all) exhibits no such well-defined, responsible understandings upon which to draw; instead, he relies on impulse to guide his choices. And when these choices have no benefit to him or others— are in fact hurtful to one and all— he has no remedy other than more reliance on more and inconsistent impulse. Many, many people behave this way and call it doing one’s own thing (be it right or wrong—I’ve been there, done that. Whew! No fun for anyone!)!

Crosby may not crash and burn completely any time soon, Thoughtful Reader. With his wrongful blundering about, impacting everyone hurtfully by way of his impulsive, pointless behavior, it is reasonable to suppose, though, that eventually he will. Unless he too finds meaningful positive structure in his thinking and behavior and admits he has a stubborn habit of making meaningless choices (unless one calls self-serving a meaningful behavior—which upon serious examination rarely-if- ever proves true), his path will lead directly to disaster. Only if he reins in his routine indulgence in behaviors that painfully afflict all around him with his chaotic thinking and solution-seeking will he avoid forever being an accident looking for a place to happen (to anyone, anytime).

Miss not seeing this butterfly of insight I almost ignored, Gentle Reader: meaningless choices lead nowhere, meaningful choices lead somewhere. And the most meaningful choices will lead not just somewhere ordinary but into the realm of the extraordinary. Think on this example: simple, human “growing up” as Wise Brother Adam advises is like learning one can walk and is truly a great basic human accomplishment; but growing up in Christ? Well, it is like walking a hard road only to suddenly spring into unfettered flight, it is being overcome by the discovery one can fly, can even soar . . . like an eagle.

To be continued . . .