Thursday, February 3, 2022

Reflection - Number Our Days - The Art Of Correction

Source (book): "Teach Us to Number Our Days", Chapter 55, "The Art Of Correction", Page 251.
By David Roper, Pastor, and regular and popular writer for Our Daily Bread.


We are often unable to tell people what they need to
PHOTO: We are often unable to tell people what they need to know because they want to know something else. - George MacDonald

Every old person thinks the world is going to the dogs, I suppose, and I'm one among them; although G. K. Chesterton, I think it was, informed us that each time the world has been in crisis in the past it wasn't the world that died but the dog.

Most of our anxieties are overrated. Furthermore, I have to remind myself that it's not my job to set the world straight, even though I think I know what's wrong with it. I'm reminded of one of Flannery O'Connor's characters, Sarah Ruth, who "in addition to her other bad qualities, . . . was forever sniffing up sin." I don't want to gather that reputation.

Yet every once in a while it comes to me that I ought to say something to my friends about the way they're conducting their lives. A word here or a word there might help.

Correction is "a kindness," Israel's King David insisted, (Psalm 141:5) a word that suggests an act of living loyalty. Loyal friends will correct one another, even when it's painful and disruptive of relationships to do so. It's one of the ways we help one another grow stronger. As the proverb states, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted." (Proverbs 27:6)

David felt indebted to those who corrected him and realized how much he owed them. "Let a righteous an strike me - it is a kindness; let him rebuke me - it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it." (Psalm 141:5)

Not everyone appreciates correction, however. It takes grace to receive correction. Unlike David, most folks are inclined to refuse it. But if they do accept the reproof, they will find, as David did, that it does become a fragrant oil on their heads, an anointing that makes their lives a sweet aroma wherever they go. Growth in grace does not always come through rapturous moments of biblical insight and spiritual delight. Sometimes it comes through the unpleasant chiding of a friend.

it occurs to me. however, that it also takes grace to give correction. We can be too severe. As Job said of the verbal blows his would-be friend Elihu gave him, his "arrow inflicts an incurable wound." (Job 34:6) Sometimes our efforts to heal result in harm.

Lucian of Samosata, the Greek rhetorician, wrote of his mentor, Demonax: "[He] was never known to shout or be overly vehement or angry, even when he had to correct someone. He touched on offenses, but pardoned offenders, saying that one should model one's self after doctors, who treat sickness, but are not angry with the sick. He thought that to err was human, but to put the error right was divine." (Here's another example of Jesus' axiom (saying) that the sons of this age are sometimes wiser than the sons of light. Demonax anticipated by two hundred years the biblical idea that we should condemn the sin while forgiving the sinner.)

Note that Demonax did not say, "to forgive is divine," as Alexander Pope turned the phrase, but rather, 'to put the error right" is divine. It's one thing to forgive an offense; it's quite another to help an offender heal. When we do so, we have aligned ourselves with God and His divine work of sanctification and have become fellow-workers with Him.

And remember, the first step in helping others is to take heed to ourselves. We're inclined to be so preoccupied with other people's faults that we fail to do justice to our own. (Galatians 6:1) As Jesus put it, we have to take the beam out of our own eye before we consider the mote that obscures our brother's sight.

The only wisdom we can hope to acquire
Is the wisdom of humility (a low or modest estimate of one's own importance): humility is endless.


We are often unable to tell people what they need to
know because they want to know something else. [279]
- George MacDonald


We are often unable to tell people what they need to know because they want to know something else. - George MacDonald
 

Every old person thinks the world is going to the dogs, I suppose, and I'm one among them; although G. K. Chesterton, I think it was, informed us that each time the world has been in crisis in the past it wasn't the world that died but the dog.

Most of our anxieties are overrated. Furthermore, I have to remind myself that it's not my job to set the world straight, even though I think I know what's wrong with it. I'm reminded of one of Flannery O'Connor's characters, Sarah Ruth, who "in addition to her other bad qualities, . . . was forever sniffing up sin." [280] I don't want to gather that reputation.


Every old person thinks the world is going to the dogs, I suppose, and I'm one among them
PHOTO: Every old person thinks the world is going to the dogs, I suppose, and I'm one among them; although G. K. Chesterton, I think it was, informed us that each time the world has been in crisis in the past it wasn't the world that died but the dog.
Picture posted by Jori Hamilton
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Yet every once in a while it comes to me that I ought to say something to my friends about the way they're conducting their lives. A word here or a word there might help.

Correction is "a kindness," Israel's King David insisted, (Psalm 141:5) [281] a word that suggests an act of living loyalty. Loyal friends will correct one another, even when it's painful and disruptive of relationships to do so. It's one of the ways we help one another grow stronger. As the proverb states, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted." (Proverbs 27:6) [282]


Correction is 'a kindness,' Israel's King David insisted, (Psalm 141:5) a word that suggests an act of living loyalty.
PHOTO: Correction is "a kindness," Israel's King David insisted, (Psalm 141:5) a word that suggests an act of living loyalty. Loyal friends will correct one another, even when it's painful and disruptive of relationships to do so. It's one of the ways we help one another grow stronger.
Portriat by Ajaton Andrea Joki
Picture saved by Barbara Crum to Bible scriptures
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David felt indebted to those who corrected him and realized how much he owed them. "Let a righteous an strike me - it is a kindness; let him rebuke me - it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it." (Psalm 141:5) [283]

Not everyone appreciates correction, however. It takes grace to receive correction. Unlike David, most folks are inclined to refuse it. But if they do accept the reproof, they will find, as David did, that it does become a fragrant oil on their heads, an anointing that makes their lives a sweet aroma wherever they go. Growth in grace does not always come through rapturous moments of biblical insight and spiritual delight. Sometimes it comes through the unpleasant chiding of a friend.


Growth in grace does not always come through rapturous moments of biblical insight and spiritual delight.
PHOTO: Growth in grace does not always come through rapturous moments of biblical insight and spiritual delight. Sometimes it comes through the unpleasant chiding of a friend.
Picture posted by Joseph Prince
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyX012artWYD1XiQHVhOTC-vYYUAnFo01DbI1ux-RGzVzSmMRIBqxTrCUuuJAXYPR1CkujTQ88vcMN5b5wykOU8j_GlpvXpF60SWlgcVciGk49OxADbIhHYUA-bGUIxHNfH_O66saO6KI_2Ympu9e03gmoKezDYXSjDYmPDtH9gVksEFpX3rU8-gTz=s1029
https://blog.josephprince.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Screen-Shot-2015-06-10-at-4.42.08-pm.png
https://blog.josephprince.com/tag/peace/


it occurs to me. however, that it also takes grace to give correction. We can be too severe. As Job said of the verbal blows his would-be friend Elihu gave him, his "arrow inflicts an incurable wound." (Job 34:6) [284] Sometimes our efforts to heal result in harm.


It also takes grace to give correction.
PHOTO: It also takes grace to give correction. We can be too severe. As Job said of the verbal blows his would-be friend Elihu gave him, his "arrow inflicts an incurable wound." (Job 34:6) Sometimes our efforts to heal result in harm.
Picture posted by Aaatchi Art - Transformation of Pain
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https://www.saatchiart.com/print/Painting-Transformation-of-Pain/900329/3322040/view


Lucian of Samosata, the Greek rhetorician, wrote of his mentor, Demonax: "[He] was never known to shout or be overly vehement or angry, even when he had to correct someone. He touched on offenses, but pardoned offenders, saying that one should model one's self after doctors, who treat sickness, but are not angry with the sick. He thought that to err was human, but to put the error right was divine." (Here's another example of Jesus' axiom (saying) that the sons of this age are sometimes wiser than the sons of light. Demonax anticipated by two hundred years the biblical idea that we should condemn the sin while forgiving the sinner.)


Lucian of Samosata, the Greek rhetorician, wrote of his mentor, Demonax:
PHOTO: Lucian of Samosata, the Greek rhetorician, wrote of his mentor, Demonax: "[He] was never known to shout or be overly vehement or angry, even when he had to correct someone. He touched on offenses, but pardoned offenders, saying that one should model one's self after doctors, who treat sickness, but are not angry with the sick. He thought that to err was human, but to put the error right was divine."
Picture posted by Alexander Veklyuk on 26 December 2013 - Christ and the Sinner
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https://www.deviantart.com/alexanderveklyuk/art/Christ-and-the-Sinner-422173486


Note that Demonax did not say, "to forgive is divine," as Alexander Pope turned the phrase, but rather, 'to put the error right" is divine. It's one thing to forgive an offense; it's quite another to help an offender heal. When we do so, we have aligned ourselves with God and His divine work of sanctification and have become fellow-workers with Him.

And remember, the first step in helping others is to take heed to ourselves. We're inclined to be so preoccupied with other people's faults that we fail to do justice to our own. (Galatians 6:1) [285] As Jesus put it, we have to take the beam out of our own eye before we consider the mote that obscures our brother's sight.


The first step in helping others is to take heed to ourselves.
PHOTO: The first step in helping others is to take heed to ourselves. We're inclined to be so preoccupied with other people's faults that we fail to do justice to our own. (Galatians 6:1)  As Jesus put it, we have to take the beam out of our own eye before we consider the mote that obscures our brother's sight.
Picture posted by lybia alexander
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The only wisdom we can hope to acquire
Is the wisdom of humility (a low or modest estimate of one's own importance): humility is endless. [286]


The only wisdom we can hope to acquire Is the wisdom of humility: humility is endless.
PHOTO: The only wisdom we can hope to acquire Is the wisdom of humility (a low or modest estimate of one's own importance): humility is endless. - T.S. Eliot, "East Coker," in Four Quartets.
Picture posted by Small Businessify.com
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that most of our anxieties are overrated. In addition to our other bad qualities, we are forever sniffing up sin.

Help us to remind ourselves that it's not our job to set the world straight, even though we think we know what's wrong with it. Every old person thinks the world is going to the dogs. But each time the world has been in crisis in the past it wasn't the world that died but the dog.

May we learn that we are often unable to tell people what they need to know because they want to know something else. Yet every once in a we feel that we ought to say something to others about the way they're conducting their lives.

Israel's King David insisted that correction is ‘a kindness.’ Loyal friends will correct one another, even when it's painful and disruptive of relationships to do so. It's one of the ways we help one another grow stronger. May we be like David, who felt indebted to those who corrected him and realized how much he owed them.

Lord, we learn that not everyone appreciates correction because it takes grace to receive correction. Unlike David, most people are inclined to refuse it. But if they do accept the reproof, they will find, as David did, that it does become a fragrant oil on their heads, an anointing that makes their lives a sweet aroma wherever they go. Growth in grace does not always come through rapturous moments of biblical insight and spiritual delight. Sometimes it comes through the unpleasant chiding of a friend. We pray that we have the grace to receive correction.

Lord, we learn too that it also takes grace to give correction. We can be too severe. And our ‘arrows inflict incurable wound’. Sometimes our efforts to heal result in harm.

May we learn not to shout or be overly vehement or angry, even when we had to correct someone. May we touch on offenses, but pardoned offenders. Like doctors, who treat sickness, but are not angry with the sick.

May we learn from our Lord Jesus that to err was human, but to put the error right is divine. But to remember that the sons of this age are sometimes wiser than the sons of light. May we remember to condemn the sin while forgiving the sinner.

We learn that it's one thing to forgive an offense; it's quite another to help an offender heal. When we do so, we have aligned ourselves with God and His divine work of sanctification and have become fellow-workers with Him.

We pray that we remember that the first step in helping others is to take heed to ourselves. We're inclined to be so preoccupied with other people's faults that we fail to do justice to our own. As Jesus put it, we have to take the beam out of our own eye before we consider the mote that obscures our brother's sight.

May we acquire the only wisdom we can hope to acquire, which is the wisdom of humility, and humility is endless.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Shannon
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Reflection - Number Our Days - The Art Of Correction
Source (book): "Teach Us to Number Our Days", Chapter 55, "The Art Of Correction", Page 251.
By David Roper, Pastor, and regular and popular writer for Our Daily Bread.



"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper

Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 


Reference
[1] From "Teach Us to Number Our Days", Copyright © 2008 by David Roper, ISBN 978-981-11-7184-0, Chapter 55, "The Art Of Correction", Page 251-254.

[279] George MacDonald, Lilith, chapter 9.

[280] Flannery O'Connor, "Parker's Back," in Everything That Rises Must Converge.

[281] Psalm 141:5

[282] Proverbs 27:6

[283] Psalm 141:5

[284] Job 34:6

[285] See Galatians 6:1.

[286] T.S. Eliot, "East Coker," in Four Quartets.


Links


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