Through Stained Glass: Advent Word a Day-Praise

Wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping things and flying birds!
...
Let them praise the name of the Holy One,
    for God's name alone is exalted;
    God's glory is above earth and heaven.

Praise.

Today was a good day. I was invited by the high school to give a ‘positive’ talk to the students.

Of course, I talked about creativity.

I gave the talk 8 times. By the end, I was exhausted. Props to you teachers who do this day in and day out.

Essentially, I said something like, “Life is a quest for which we set out to live as our most authentic, real self. Only when we are able to let go of everything, we think defines us—all those desires to know and be known along with all our hopes of becoming the next interwebs sensation and to have more likes than anyone else on the instaface—will we truly begin to live.”

As a student, I wish someone told me that what the world needs isn’t another athlete or bowling alley mechanic. Instead, the world needs me. As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself; everyone else is taken.”

Which is what I told the students today. Which is what I am telling you now. Which is what I told myself tonight.

The photo of praise?

Well, it is of Tecumseh. And it isn’t very inspirational. When I got home from my talk today, I rested. Obviously, so did Cump. As I watched this goofy pup sprawl out on the bed, I chuckled. He is doing exactly what a dog is to do. He lives in the moment. He barks, he runs, he wrestles, and he sleeps. He checks in on me and he plays with Chloe. He is a dog. He doesn’t try to be anything else. And by being a dog, he gives praise to the Creator.

Unlike us, he doesn’t wrestle with a false self.

God leaves us free to be whatever we like. As I told the students today, the temptation is to live from our false selves. God doesn’t want that. God wants us to collaborate with God in the new thing God is doing in our world and lives. The best way we can praise God is to do so when we live our lives from a place of authenticity.

Our True Self.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

The biggest blessing being—You!