In positive ways how can we touch and impact the lives around us?  These may very well be poor and destitute.  Some of us live affluent and carefree lives and we often fail to remember those at the bottom of the barrel.  They are those that live simply and haven’t given up on life.  It’s love that gives and enriches us in our daily walk to reach out to individuals of need.  Make it our duty to do caring acts for them.  This must be the greatest Christian blessing we provide.  Be sure  we’re not robbed of this justice and hopefulness, and must persevere to do good.  Dalai Lama (b. 1935), the 14^th and current Dalai Lama and the longest serving incumbent observed, “My religion is very simple.  My religion is kindness.”  He was right on target.  In a nutshell, kindness in every way is a loving, giving, and caring spirit.

 A Clean Mind

People can only do good deeds by having pure and clean minds.  It’s these gifts that reflect our spiritual lives.  When people thoughts are polluted often they descend into the depths of despair.  But true love makes us live more passionately and effectively.  We’ll be living with hope-filled minds as we experience God’s mercy.   Being faith-filled we’ll offer others blessings when we light the flames of mercy.  It’s inspiring to walk in this certainty.

Tony Dorsett (b. 1954), who’s a former football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys remarked, “To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.”  But this success begins with having clean minds and clear objectives about what to do.

Survival of the Fittest

We hear talk about the survival of the fittest.  But as we stop and think about the frailties of life we begin hoping for the life to come.  Competition only exists in our earthly plane of life.  Many men and women are crushed by life’s troubles, and are trapped by the complexities of modern-day culture.  It’s good to remember that there’s hope on the horizon for us.  We must never lose faith, but be reawakened by the amazing graces our future holds.

Howard Cosell (1918–1995), a popular sports journalist wrote, “The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and that you have gotten the most out of what you have to give.”  In real terms we ought to compete with ourselves.  It’s for us to set our standards and discover what we’re best able to do.

A Rich Life

In the trying moments we’re able to tap into our inner strengths.  This is the true reality and authentic way how we must live.  It’s the grammar of a Christian lifestyle.  As men and women of hope we’ll be living according to the Gospels.  Bertrand Russel (1872–1970), a British philosopher and political activist wrote, “The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”  True love comes with the Holy Spirit.  Knowledge of God makes for the understanding of the principles of life.  Concerning a spiritual text that speaks about every aspect of life there’s only one source, and that’s the Holy Bible.  Pray, read, and understand it.

But how can people prosper in life?  They can only truly do so by living according to God’s Word.  For if he provides for the lilies of the fields and the birds of the air, how much more would he not care for us.  Adam Smith (1723–1790), a Scottish moral philosopher and political activist said, “The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations.”  It’s for all loving Christians to build up the body of Christ.  We’re all a part of his body – rich and poor alike.

Physically, psychologically, and spiritually poor people have been beaten down and exploited.  It’s for Christians to bring them hope.  They ought to work tirelessly in the vineyards to see that the poverty of their aspirations becomes blossoms of success.  We must realize that with Christ all things are possible and all lives truly matter.