There are some authors I know I will take away something significant every time I read them. Most of them do not come from the same tradition as I do. Indeed, some of the most profound thinkers who offer me jewels of wisdom do not even come from the Christian tradition. I know that might bother some folks, but for me it is a gift. Actually, I think it is pretty cute of God to use a Buddhist or Hindu to teach me something about wisdom, truth, and meaning in life. When I am given a gift, I say “thanks” regardless of the source or giver.
Abraham Joshua Heschel is one of those writers who I know will always deliver memorable lines. When I read him, I know that I am engaging a man who lived very deeply the life God gave to him. He is now dead, but his life lives on in his words. Those words keep on giving.
One of my favorite books of his is entitled, Quest for God. It originally appeared in the mid-50s and was first called, Man’s Quest for God. I like the fact that the re-issue of the book changed the language to include women in the quest for God. I suspect women need and want God much in the same way as men. In fact, it is a human quest: both genders are seekers.
In some reading I needed to do for today, I hit these two sentences which seemed profound, especially now that they are nearly six decades old. Heschel says, “the most important problem which a human being must face daily is: How to maintain one’s integrity in a world where power, success and money are valued above all else? How to remain clean amidst the mud of falsehood and malice that soil our society?
I find these statements fascinating because of the challenge they bring to the reader. If I were to ask random people what the most important problem daily faced, I doubt they would give me Heschel’s answer. The normal answer might have more to do with being successful, making money, advancing one’s career. Of course, these are important…maybe more so at certain stages of life than others. But none of them are ultimately important.
But why would integrity, in Heschel’s mind, be the most important problem to maintain? I think the answer is easy. Without integrity---character---we have little hope of living a life pleasing to God and meaningful to others. Integrity is the inner worth of my person. It is inner dignity. It is priceless.
Success can be lost or empty. I can succeed and have little of any value. As for power, it is always temporary. There is nothing lasting about power. Power helps me get what I want…but much of what I want is worthless. Integrity is full of worth. And money is always nice. And a lot of money if often very nice! But we all know that money does not buy happiness.
To have integrity is to be clean. I like this image. In fact, one of the classic images used to talk about sin is “dirty.” To sin is to dirty ourselves, to dirty our lives. Of course, it could be fun! Sure, it can be lucrative! But long term, sin leads to no good end! Prefer integrity.
There is no better time to start than today. In fact, you can only begin today. Yesterday is too late. Tomorrow is too early. There is only today.
Integrity is very simple, but not always easy. We will be tempted by success, power, and money…and a whole host of other things. But don’t be suckered by these non-ultimate things. Choose integrity---be integral---be one with the One Who Is.
Abraham Joshua Heschel is one of those writers who I know will always deliver memorable lines. When I read him, I know that I am engaging a man who lived very deeply the life God gave to him. He is now dead, but his life lives on in his words. Those words keep on giving.
One of my favorite books of his is entitled, Quest for God. It originally appeared in the mid-50s and was first called, Man’s Quest for God. I like the fact that the re-issue of the book changed the language to include women in the quest for God. I suspect women need and want God much in the same way as men. In fact, it is a human quest: both genders are seekers.
In some reading I needed to do for today, I hit these two sentences which seemed profound, especially now that they are nearly six decades old. Heschel says, “the most important problem which a human being must face daily is: How to maintain one’s integrity in a world where power, success and money are valued above all else? How to remain clean amidst the mud of falsehood and malice that soil our society?
I find these statements fascinating because of the challenge they bring to the reader. If I were to ask random people what the most important problem daily faced, I doubt they would give me Heschel’s answer. The normal answer might have more to do with being successful, making money, advancing one’s career. Of course, these are important…maybe more so at certain stages of life than others. But none of them are ultimately important.
But why would integrity, in Heschel’s mind, be the most important problem to maintain? I think the answer is easy. Without integrity---character---we have little hope of living a life pleasing to God and meaningful to others. Integrity is the inner worth of my person. It is inner dignity. It is priceless.
Success can be lost or empty. I can succeed and have little of any value. As for power, it is always temporary. There is nothing lasting about power. Power helps me get what I want…but much of what I want is worthless. Integrity is full of worth. And money is always nice. And a lot of money if often very nice! But we all know that money does not buy happiness.
To have integrity is to be clean. I like this image. In fact, one of the classic images used to talk about sin is “dirty.” To sin is to dirty ourselves, to dirty our lives. Of course, it could be fun! Sure, it can be lucrative! But long term, sin leads to no good end! Prefer integrity.
There is no better time to start than today. In fact, you can only begin today. Yesterday is too late. Tomorrow is too early. There is only today.
Integrity is very simple, but not always easy. We will be tempted by success, power, and money…and a whole host of other things. But don’t be suckered by these non-ultimate things. Choose integrity---be integral---be one with the One Who Is.
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