Hard News, Good News
I received an email this morning that both encouraged and discouraged me. Funny how that can happen....
First, the encouragement. An individual who is a nationally known book-seller graciously took the time to read the final proof of my book. If this book was piece of furniture, it is time for sanding. The words as wood and the structure of design are done. He paid the book a huge compliment. He said the book is "Very, very, very good." This guy know his books and had my full permission to be candid. That is like a home run, or at least a ground-rule double. He is a major league book umpire.
On the discouragement side, he wrote that there are pages of minor (mostly) suggestions. He queried how candid I wanted him to be. I told him completely. Hmm...a lot of sanding in my future. Drats. However, I am all in with this book, sink or swim. Or, hit or strike out. I think perhaps a standard of maturity is the willingness to ask people for true feedback on some project, etc. But, the acid test is taking the advice constructively and without defensiveness. I can't say that is a trait that I exemplify. I applaud it and know that I have to be there as a writer and human being. A willingness to take input as a mature adult and not a whiny adolescent. Asking for feedback, to use an analogy, is the green belt of interpersonal Judo. Taking the chop is the black belt.
Ezekiel 3:17-21 describes the martial arts of maturity:
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
Ezekiel, a Levitical Priest, was called to be a Prophet at the age of 30, apparently that was the age when the priestly vocation officially began (Numbers 4:3). Sheds new light on Jesus being called at the age of thirty into the ministry of prophet, priest, and king. It makes sense that a priest should have some maturity before serving in a congregation. Youth has many virtues but wisdom is not typical one of them. Wisdom comes like good wine. With age. And blowing up bottles, and learning from it. Ezekiel was not chomping at the bit to become a prophet. He knew the fate of prophets. As long as he uttered what the people wanted to hear, he would be a rock star. If he said anything cross, the rocks would rain on his head and the stars would fall from the firmament of human adulation.
Jesus crossed many. They put Him on a Cross. But the Cross, a lie, couldn't keep him. The resurrection is not just a metaphysical necessity. It had to be material. Beware of those who treat the resurrection as only as an archetype for coming back when down and not really real (i.e. physical).
We have a low truth tolerance in our society. We all say we want it until it comes and delivers blows, truly better in theory than practice. Yet, being trained in Truth is a full-time vocation. As C.S. Lewis notes (paraphrased), "Only the pure in heart will see God. Or want to."
So, what spiritual trait allows us to take it, and be transformed by Truth? Humility.
"Humility, after the first shock, is a cheerful virtue.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
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