Every Day

3 Jul

“Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.”  ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I might be totally wrong in my assumption — God knows, it wouldn’t be the first time I was totally wrong about something! — yet, I believe that God has not made us for struggle and unhappiness.  I believe that God desires nothing but the best for us and that includes peace, love, and joy.  The choices that we make in life often bring about other than that.  Those consequences are not God’s doing, though.  They are our own doing.

Goethe, poet, author, and statesman in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, was absolutely correct, in my opinion, when he stated that “every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.”  We should.  We absolutely should.

I know, for myself, my day starts much better when I have a song in my heart, even if it is a song that I can’t get out of my head for a few hours.  I sing it to myself, bob my head, and, generally, feel much better about the day.

There are pictures that I have positioned in my office so that I could look at them depending upon my mood.  When I am stressed, I have a picture I gaze upon.  When I am frustrated, there is another picture.  When I am angry, there is a picture that calms me down.

I also read.  A lot.  I read novels and spiritual books.  I also scan the internet looking for short stories, critiques, biographies, and autobiographies.  Yes, poetry as well.

Starting the day with a song in my heart, or reading something interesting, or gazing upon a picture that takes me out of myself gives me what I need to speak those few sensible words each day.  They can make all the difference in how my day, how my world, will unfold.

Try to apply Goethe’s recommendations to your personal life.  It could be a game-changer for you.  Then, kick it up a notch and apply those same recommendations to your spiritual life.  Hear at least one “church” song, read one Bible story, look at a piece of religious art, and, if possible, share a word or two about the Lord.

FAITH ACTION:  Make your every word and deed count today so that others may see the love of God operative in your life.