Silent Time

Hardly anyone strives to be pure in heart. There are so many other interests and things to do, that take priority in life. Which are yours?

On what do you rely? In the major questions of life, or if challenges come up, on what do you rely? On yourself, your abilities, your strength, your knowledge? Or on others, on family, friends, the government, other safety nets?

For what do we labour all day? Why do we get up early and work hard the whole all day? No time to take care of hobbies and health? Yet, by right it would be much worse.

The truth – what comes to your mind? We may think of not lying. But “the truth” is much more than that.

Who serves whom? The lower ranking needs to serve the higher ranking. It is clear. Is it really always like that?

Whom does God welcome? Does it depend on our knowledge? Does it depend on our good deeds?

Do you create burdens to others? Or do you bear their burdens?

Paying attention to oneself – sounds strange? Let’s think about it. Are you so busy with work and tasks that there is no time to take care of your health? For some the opposite is true, they are caught in selfishness. A good way to find a healthy balance in between is to take care of others, also to pray for them. And to make time for the word of God, each day, and especially on the “7th day” of t...

Most of us do not like instructions – do you?

Does the lifestyle of our ancestors impact our lives?  

Do you plan to travel in the coming months? Do you have the opportunity to visit other places? If so, to a remote place or close by?

When you look back in your life, what do you regret and what do you remember with joy? More important will be the question: what counts in the future?

Do you also look forward to an end of all the war, an end of hatred and revenge?

Who is blessed and joyful? We may assume those who are most successful by our common human standards, for example in their career. But if we study people of our times as well as throughout history, we find something else.

Who guides you in life? Even if we think we are purely self-controlled, there are also other influences. To which influences do you give room, and whom do you follow?

What kind of “smoke” do our lives produce? Bad “smoke” such as curses and anger?

Time always flows. People of all times have tried to invent time machines.

By nature, we are good at tempting others towards negative behaviours. How can we learn to guide others rather in a positive way, helping them to find their way? It is not only to their benefit, but mainly also to your own.  

With challenges in the distant future, we may still be relaxed. But once they come close, we might be surprised by their size. Similarly, a mounting far away may look easy to climb. Once coming close, we may realize how steep and high it really is.

In snow and ice as well as some areas of the earth, there can be craters, sudden deep gaps far down into depth of snow, ice or the soil. Similarly, among historical reports, there can suddenly be deeper truths, that we do not grasp from the surface. When we dig into them, study those parts and ask God for wisdom, we can learn a lot from them that is meaningful.

Is it depressing? Is it bizarre? Is it even disgusting?

Which voices do you listen to? Amidst all the voices and influences, do you recognize the voice of the good shepherd?

What comes to your mind first with regard to following God? Only strict rules and commands? There are much greater aspects.   There are jewels of love, joy, peace, comfort, grace and many more available.

Do followers of God have more trouble, pain, difficulties and challenges in life than those, who do not follow God? Or do they have less? Or equal?

What are your benchmarks, your norms and standards? Do you often think about what is allowed and what is not? Another viewpoint can set us free from such “attitude of shortage and limitations”.