Verbs

Last Sunday, Scott Tong shared three verbs from his perspective of twenty years of living after his cancer diagnosis. They were, with my interpretation of what I heard, invest: not in money, but in what is of lasting value, dance: celebrate in the midst of life and wrestle: grapple with the hard questions—with God.

Even though I haven’t thought of them as verbs, I’ve had right much time over the last few years to consider what are the really important values of life for me.

Love—I have to make a decision that seeks the best that is possible for the other, a reflection of the relationship that is God within the Trinity, and that seeks to draw each creature into it;

Hope—I believe that all life—yours, mine and ours together—has purpose, that at the heart of creation burns a furnace of purpose that comes before and goes beyond the span of my individual life; and

Sing—I have always believed that life is a musical—sometimes one where people burst into song, but more often one where the rhythm of God’s heart beats in the midst of life seeking to draw all creation into harmony and counterpoint.

These are some of the verbs that shape my life. Some days they are relatively easy to live into. On other days, I have to make a decision for them. They cannot simply be about how I feel, about my emotions. They are choices that I make and have to reaffirm each day.

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.