Jolt!

by Phil Cooke

  Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.

  —JOHN LOCKE, PHILOSOPHER

  Jolt your thinking today. Make good thinking intentional and deliberate, and make it a priority.

  Your thoughts impact your life in very physical, tangible ways, and nothing you can do will contribute to changing your life more than transforming your thinking.

  » JOLT #20

  DISCOVER THE POWER OF FAITH

  The Awesome Power in Looking Beyond Yourself

  The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.

  —ALBERT EINSTEIN

  He has put eternity in their hearts.

  —ECCLESIASTES 3:11 NKJV

  The search for eternal answers is so embedded in our DNA that without addressing spirituality we would miss a significant part of understanding the power of change. There are many books that address emotional, physical, and intellectual needs, but our spiritual longings are just as critical to a fulfilled life. When it comes to the faith that’s played such an integral part in the making of America, however, we’re suddenly getting a case of amnesia.

  As I write this chapter, it is Christmas, and a great controversy is brewing across America. It has been reported that our culture has become so uncomfortable with Christianity that shopkeepers, clerks, executives, and salespeople are being advised to say “Happy holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.” Some school systems—mostly unaware of the law—are forbidding their students to sing Christmas carols in their concerts, and some are even referring to the season as “winter holidays” instead of “Christmas holidays.”

  At least we’re not quite as far down that road as France. Major newspapers reported recently that even chocolate candy featuring religious themes was now banned from schools.

  I comment on these developments not because I want to push religion down anyone’s throat. I’m always ready to share my own personal journey of faith, but only when people are ready to listen. I write this because I grow more and more amazed at America’s awkwardness with religious faith.

  Yes, we need to be sensitive to people of all faiths. There was a place in ancient Greece called Mars Hill. It was where philosophers, thinkers, religious leaders, and writers of the time went to discuss new ideas. In many ways, it was a “marketplace” of beliefs, attitudes, religious ideas, and thought. When the apostle Paul visited Mars Hill to share the news about Jesus Christ, he not only recognized their gods but also was able to knowledgeably discuss their traditions and beliefs. Then, when he began sharing his own spiritual experience, it was in a direct but sensitive way, and not only did the audience listen, but many asked him to come back again.

  But today, while our culture preaches tolerance, there is almost a hostility toward spiritual concepts and ideas—particularly those expressed through what is generally considered “organized” religion. As a result, we now have a generation that has grown up without any knowledge of spiritual principles whatsoever.

  I was shopping for a gift for my wife in a jewelry market in downtown Los Angeles, when I noticed a young couple looking at necklaces. As they viewed the glass case, I overheard them discussing the various designs—particularly of the cross necklaces. At one end were simple, modern cross designs, while at the other end of the cabinet, the designs became more complex and ended with a section of traditional crosses with the figure of Jesus hanging on the crosses.

  As the couple looked down the row of necklaces, I noticed that the woman suddenly stopped and remarked to her boyfriend, “Wow, those are really beautiful cross necklaces!” Then she stopped in her tracks. “But wait a second. Who’s that little guy on those crosses over there?”

  The young couple apparently had absolutely no idea who the figure of Jesus was hanging on the cross necklace.

  Until relatively recently, that scene would never have happened.

  From the time William Tyndale translated the Bible into English in 1526, its impact on the West has been overwhelming—even to the point of the development of the English language as we know it today. Phrases like “the skin of my teeth,” “the handwriting on the wall,” “still small voice,” “a thorn in the flesh,” “the fat of the land,” “a law unto himself,” and “root of all evil” are all common phrases taken directly from Tyndale’s translation of the Bible.

  The Bible transformed literacy and learning even in the New World, as the first written form of many Native American languages was a result of the Bible being translated into their tongue. I recently saw an original Mohawk Bible on display in the Huntington Library in Los Angeles that was the first written record of that tribe’s language.

  The Bible’s impact on literature has been even more significant. Without an understanding of the Bible, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to probe the depths of writers from Milton to Shakespeare.

  But it doesn’t stop there. The Bible has impacted novels from Moby Dick to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, the development of Negro spirituals and gospel music, and the speeches of Abraham Lincoln. The fact is, you would have little understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech without an understanding of the Bible. Whatever faith tradition you come from—or if you come from no faith perspective at all—I would encourage you to explore the spiritual aspect of your life.

  » WE ARE SPIRITUAL CREATURES, AND THROUGHOUT OUR LONG HISTORY, MANKIND HAS CONTINUALLY SEARCHED FOR ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS, WHY AM I HERE? WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? WHERE DID I COME FROM, AND WHERE AM I GOING?

  Playwright Eugène Ionesco wrote in his memoir:

  In the history of humanity there are no civilizations or cultures which fail to manifest, in one or a thousand ways, this need for an absolute that is called heaven, freedom, a miracle, a lost paradise to be regained, peace, the going beyond history . . . there is no religion in which everyday life is not considered a prison; there is no philosophy or ideology that does not think that we live in alienation . . . Humanity has always had a nostalgia for the freedom that is only beauty, that is only real life, plenitude, light.

  Since the Enlightenment began in the eighteenth century, Western Civilization has pursued the religion of science and reason. We have elevated scientific pursuit to the highest ideal, and we value scientific inquiry above all other pursuits. It has resulted in marvelous scientific progress, and much of the luxury we experience today has been the result of this relentless pursuit.

  But at the beginning of the twenty-first century, after three hundred years of unbridled scientific pursuit, we still haven’t answered the ultimate questions of our lives. Teen suicide continues in remarkable numbers, drugs and alcohol imprison millions, wars and genocide persist around the globe, families continue to fragment in ever-increasing numbers, cheating in school has reached record levels, happiness eludes us, and the quality of our lives is not significantly better.

  For all of its wonderful advances, science has still been unable to answer eternal questions, such as:

  Where did we come from?

  Why are we here?

  Do we have a purpose?

  Where are we going?

  In a development few would have predicted, some scientific advances are making us rethink the notion of a spiritual dimension to our lives. As more and more women are able to see their unborn children inside the womb through ultrasound technology, they are reconsidering the notion that a fetus is just a mass of cells.

  On a trip to the United Kingdom, I noticed that London’s Sunday Times in 2004 reported that Antony Flew, emeritus professor of philosophy at Reading University, whose writings and teachings on atheism have influenced an entire generation of thinkers and scholars around the world, had recanted his position and believes that some sort of deity did create the universe.

  Flew died recently
, and although far from becoming associated specifically with Christianity, he believed that, according to the Times, scientific discoveries have revealed the existence of an organizing intelligence. He went on to say that investigation of DNA “has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce life, that intelligence must have been involved.”

  An authentic spiritual journey is a journey of exploration, staying open to all detours, twists in the road, and new discoveries.

  Do faith and reason conflict?

  Absolutely not. The real man or woman of faith does not fear science, reason, or facts. And a scientist, confident in his or her abilities, has nothing to fear from spiritual inquiry.

  The fact is, real faith can stand up to debate, inquiry, and investigation.

  Writer C. S. Lewis came to his Christian faith only after years of investigation, study, and debate. He tried everything he could think of to discredit Christianity, and yet, in spite of his intellectual depth as a professor at Oxford, he could not find a single argument that disproved the reality of faith in God.

  The key to living a vigorous life of faith is constant evaluation and investigation. Study, learn, discuss. Real faith is not a wishful hope in a vague concept. Real faith impacts the lives of everyone it touches.

  Spiritual conviction was what drove the leaders of the civil rights movement to disregard police dogs, fire hoses, and jail for a cause they believed was true. Real faith is what fuels the persecuted church in countries where public expressions of religion result in imprisonment and death. Real faith is what takes suburbanites into the inner city to comfort those dying of AIDS, feed the hungry, or find homes for the homeless.

  » SECULAR IDEALS INSPIRE MANY PEOPLE TO DO GREAT GOOD, BUT FAITH IN ETERNAL PRINCIPLES IS WHAT DRIVES REAL SACRIFICE.

  Real faith is an adventure.

  That’s why lasting change isn’t possible without some understanding of the spiritual aspect of our lives. If we are truly spiritual creatures—even in part—then overlooking that essential aspect of our lives leaves us fragmented and incomplete. Without some understanding of the spiritual dimension, we will never find real contentment and peace.

  Perhaps that is the single most important consideration of all.

  Today people spend their lives making money only to discover all the really important things money can’t buy. They trade their lives for a career, while losing the people they love the most. They live in physical luxury but then take their lives through suicide because of inner pain and torment.

  Money is a good thing, and I love a nice house and car. But ultimately it means nothing if we haven’t answered the most important questions of our lives.

  To start your spiritual journey, here are some important directions on the map:

  1. Spend time with others who are honestly searching. Perhaps it’s a local church, prayer group, or like-minded friends. Make the effort to find people who can help you get the answers you need and encourage your spiritual growth. I’m a Christian, so naturally I recommend a good local church. You’ll discover new friends—friends who don’t care about your money, your status, or your career. Friends who will love you for who you are, not what you are.

  2. Look outward, not inward. Help other people. Serve others. Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” Those who help others are the happiest people on the earth. It’s not about you; it’s about your ability to help other people. Discover that principle and your life will immediately change.

  3. Start to pray. Praying isn’t hard; it’s simply talking to God. You don’t have to use big words, fancy religious terms, or religious lingo. Simply talk to him as you would a friend. Share your challenges, your frustrations, and your dreams. You can pray while you drive a car, sit at your desk, or mow the lawn. Prayer is something that shouldn’t be saved for “official” religious events—it’s something that can happen anytime and anyplace. Prayer is your opportunity to connect to a power far greater than us. Make the connection, and then learn to listen.

  4. Take your faith seriously. Real faith is not about candles, pretty jewelry, and stained glass windows. People of faith created the university system, built orphanages, started great libraries, encouraged learning, birthed hospitals, and every day help millions devastated by hurricanes, famines, and disasters of all kinds. When you realize that your life has meaning, you suddenly have a reason to live a life of purpose. One of our greatest desires is to live a life of significance, and we want to make a genuine difference in the world.

  Jolt your preconceived notions about God. Faith affects us at the core of our being, and that’s why it is so instrumental to our personal change. A hundred years from now it won’t matter so much that you increased quarterly profits, doubled sales, lost weight, or bought a lake house. What will matter is what you left behind in the lives of people. If we want to change the world, we have to start by changing our spiritual outlook.

  We don’t have all the answers, but we are connected to a God who does.

  REVIEW

  Jolt Your Heart

  Consider the importance of personal cheerleaders, accountability partners, changing perspective, and your relationship with God.

  1. Find your own personal cheerleaders. Who could motivate you to greater levels of excellence?

  2. If you’re struggling with a particular personal challenge, list potential accountability partners. Begin interviewing people you believe would be good partners in sharing dreams and in holding each other accountable. Or find someone who will agree to hold you accountable.

  3. What can I do to change my perception? How can I increase my personal value to others through the use of positive perception?

  4. How can I . . .

  • increase my potential through better thinking?

  • maximize my gifts and skills through strategic thinking?

  • multiply my options through creative thinking?

  • overcome defeat and obstacles through real positive thinking?

  • experience success through long-range thinking?

  Make a commitment today to deepening your relationship with God. Find areas where you can immediately grow, such as attending church, meeting with a study group, taking a class, reading books on the subject, and so on.

  JOLT

  YOUR

  FUTURE

  » JOLT #21

  ELIMINATE DESTRUCTIVE

  DISTRACTIONS

  Releasing Negative Baggage

  Keep your mind off the things you don’t want by keeping it on the things you do want.

  —W. CLEMENT STONE, MOTIVATIONAL EXPERT

  Sometimes you have to let go to see if there was anything worth holding on to.

  —ANONYMOUS

  We live in a culture of distraction. Everywhere we turn, we are bombarded by the noise of radio and television, mobile phones, computers, social networking, and music and video players—not to mention video screens in gas pumps and elevators and more.

  It occurred to me some time ago that there are few places in the United States where you can’t receive a wireless signal of some type—either a satellite signal, a radio or TV station, a cell phone transmission, or a wireless computer connection. We are bathed in frequencies, signals, and transmissions.

  It’s not much better with our personal schedules. Remember when children used to actually play? Now kids are scheduled from dawn to dusk—school, soccer practice, music practice, church youth groups, and more. The term “soccer mom” has become almost synonymous with suburban living.

  At the office we have seminars, workshops, meetings, focus groups, team gatherings—there is rarely a time when we have a moment to ourselves.

  And can we talk about social networking for a minute? Yes, in many cases it’s very convenient, but people popping up on your computer screen all day wanting to tal
k may be the single biggest distraction in offices today. It’s become the number one messaging source for younger people—far more than e-mail. But there’s no question that if you don’t turn that thing off occasionally, it can drain hours at a time.

  In his remarkable book The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting on What Matters, Peter Block said:

  It is entirely possible to spend our days engaged in activities that work well for us and achieve our objectives, and still wonder whether we are really making a difference in the world. My premise is that this culture, and we as members of it, have yielded too easily to what is doable and practical and popular. In the process, we have sacrificed the pursuit of what is in our hearts. We find ourselves giving in to our doubts, and settling for what we know how to do, or can soon learn how to do, instead of pursuing what most matters to us and living with the adventure and anxiety that this requires. (1)

  We live days and nights filled with activities that are ultimately unfulfilling. We have crammed our lives with to-do lists and yet aren’t accomplishing our dreams. We have goals but no great victory.

  Much of this comes from the power of distractions—things that fill our time but leave us empty and cold. They give us the immediate feeling of accomplishment but keep us from experiencing authentic change.

  In the book Good to Great, author Jim Collins wrote: “The real path to greatness, it turns out, requires simplicity and diligence. It requires clarity, not instant illumination. It demands each of us to focus on what is vital and to eliminate all of the extraneous distractions.”

  » MOST OF US LIVE UNDER THE BONDAGE OF THE URGENT.

  We have phone calls to return, appointments to reach, goals to achieve, meetings to get to, e-mails to answer, and reports to finish. Our days are filled with an unrelenting barrage of everything—all of which seems so important at the time. I have this “thing” about my e-mail in-box. There’s a little voice inside me that says, “You have to deal with every e-mail in your in-box by 5 p.m.” No matter how trivial, I’ll push aside writing a book, developing a great idea, or working on a significant project, just to get that e-mail cleared off. Because it’s in front of me, it seems like something I just have to finish.