Friday, February 09, 2007

Canons and Buoys

Two simple sayings help me blast away at unbelief and, when my ship is sunk, have been bouys to keep me afloat.

These are daily on my mind and steady me. First, "put your feelings behind you and do the responsible thing." This is an effective weapon against man-pleasing and self-centeredness. The second is like it, "what is required is a long obedience in the same direction" (Eugene Peterson). This is particularly effective against spiritual laziness and reminds me to keep my vows.

Do any sayings serve as canons and bouys in your life?

2 comments:

Summer said...

Obedience comes before understanding--George MacDonald's At the Back of the North Wind

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swiiiiiiiiming, swiiiiiiiming, swiiiiiiiiming"--Finding Nemo

Tim said...

I thought of one more. "When the heart is moved the feet are swift to follow." Thomas Jefferson said something to that effect. This quote is shaping the way I teach others. Instead of focusing on the "how" you have to first really get the "why".