FOUR WORDS, POWERFUL THOUGHTS

YOUR LIFE, YOUR STORY

WRITE WELL, EDIT OFTEN

SUCCINCT WORDS HAVE TRACTION

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE 

I recently stumbled upon the creative art of succinctly incapsulating an inspirational or life truth within the confines of only four words so that folks understand and retain them.  Perhaps there’s a reason why many posters and posts on social media are short and sweet.  My personal observation over the years is that it’s much more difficult and thoughtful to express and convey some meaning in as few words as possible.  Or to put it anther way, it’s relatively easy to ramble on forever in attempting to express an idea.  It’s also easier to point out a problem versus offering a viable solution!  I’ve always liked the quote form Saint Francis of Assisi when he implored us to go out and preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.  On one occasion when I was asked to deliver the message at our church, I asked one of our associate pastors for advice.  He counseled me to always lay a foundation in scripture, have a good beginning and ending, and use as few words as possible in between!  “Sometimes less is more”.  The Bible is rich in profound quotes and wisdom for living which explains why it’s still relevant 2,000 years later.  Perhaps that speaks to the reality that we have an "Imperfect world, perfect God".

I’ve always collected quotations from a variety of sources when I recognized an eternal truth in them.  And I learned early on that we can’t possibly live long enough to gather essential words to live by in one lifetime, but we can learn from many others that have shared them.  Lighting a thousand candles with one candle doesn’t diminish the energy of yours and what possible good is wisdom if not shared?  Many quotes have been assimilated into the unknown vapor but when noted I’ve credited the creator.

So, I thought I’d intersperse some of these four-word observations in a post to “Make each word count” so that we can “Make each moment count”, understanding that “Succinct truths have traction”.

There’s no hiding from life for “It will find you” so we need to “Live in the moment” and “Suit up, show up!”  “Don’t just exist, live!”  “Create adventures for yourself”.  People today complain that unskilled, entry level, minimum wage jobs don’t support a family.  Of course not, because we all exchange our life hours for money depending on the skills we’ve assembled in our tool kits that a company is willing to pay us.  “Skills pay the bills!”  If you find yourself in a minimum wage job, realize that life is “My story, my ending” and instead of going home and watching television, start learning a new skill!  “Make yourself a priority.”  “Me, myself and I” incorporated.  The best job security resides between your ears and cannot ever be taken away from you, even if the world around you is lost.  And keep learning for Heraclitus observed long ago that “Nothing endures but change.”  Get used to it and embrace it!  “Create your own story”. “No guts, no story”.    “Write well, edit often”.  Keep rounding up job skills as the world changes all around you.  As they say in Texas, don’t be “All hat, no cattle”!

And take care of both your mind and your body for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Take the time to eat sensibly and exercise.  “Sore today, strong tomorrow.”  Some of the best advice I received when rehabilitating my knee joint replacement was to consider the pain signals as weakness leaving my body.  "No pain, no gain"!

“Sometimes less is more”.  Cast off the possessions and habits that become an anchor on your life.  “Clutter smothers, simplicity breathes”.  “Eliminate instead of organize” because “Letting go is freedom”!

“This too shall pass” is a timely Biblical quote now that the world is beginning to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and it has comforted many over the millennia to provide hope for the future.  “Storms don’t last forever!”  We see in life what we look for and the future belongs to those that believe in it.  We often have to dig deep to find the courage to persevere and Mary Anne Rademacher reminds us that “Courage doesn’t always roar”.  Sometimes it’s the small voice at the end of the day that says “I will try tomorrow”.  “Yesterday ended last night” and “Tomorrow is another day”. 

“Focus on the good” in life and “Stop waiting for happiness”.  “Broken crayons still color” and creativeness begins when we “Color outside the lines”.  My young grandson still colors using crayons without wrapping which he calls naked.  Always remember that “You are somebody’s blessing”.  “You are not alone” because God has promised to be with us always.  “Kind words cost nothing” and “Harsh words are costly”.  “Dream, believe, do, repeat!”  Practice good living like mindfulness breathing that simply encourages us to “Be still and know’ while we “Inhale love, exhale gratitude”.  “Today is the day” to “Do the right thing” and “Listen more, talk less.”  Nobody learns anything while they are talking.   

M. Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled introduced his book with “Life is not fair” and observed that “Ultimately love is everything”.  And “God’s love is unconditional”.  If you want to understand unconditional love, observe who’s happy to see you return if you accidently lock your dog and significant other in the garage for two hours!  One of my favorite country philosophers, Jason Isbell, sings in his hit If We were Vampires, “Maybe time running out is a gift, I’ll give every second I can find”.  If you are fortunate to spend a full life together, couples come to the realization that one of them will be left to spend some time alone, so “Leave room for magic” and then carry on in solitude, not loneliness.  “Loneliness is failed solitude”.  Solitude is positive engagement of oneself.  We can honor the bond we shared by being alone without being lonely and smiling as we remember the good times.  

Finally, “Seek joy, not happiness” in life.  I’ve discovered that there is a profound difference between happiness and joy.  Happiness is always temporary because it’s based on external circumstances like buying stuff.  But joy is internal.  We should be mindful of where we are spending our time, for that reveals where our heart resides.  And that reveals what gods we worship in life, bringing us either temporary happiness or eternal joy.  “Joy is always possible”!