Lead, Laugh, Love

Apparently quoting Socrates in his trial defense, Plato wrote in The Apology of Socrates, “For if I tell you that to do as you say would be a disobedience to the God, and therefore that I cannot hold my tongue, you will not believe that I am serious; and if I say again that daily to discourse about virtue, and of those other things about which you hear me examining myself and others, is the greatest good of man, and that the unexamined life is not worth living, you are still less likely to believe me.” Written about 399 B.C., Plato’s The Apology, is an account Socrates’ trial speech responding to the charges of not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. “The unexamined life is not worth living” was part of Socrates’ defense of his discourses about virtue, his own self-examination, and his reflections on the political discourse of the day. He challenged the collective wisdom of his day and even claimed to challenge and question his own life and thought processes.

Entering 2021, I wonder if the biggest issue we face in ourselves, our networks, our society, and our government is the unexamined life. When 2020 began, no one could have predicted the events of the year we would experience. In the new year, once again we have no idea what to expect, but what we can do in 2021 is examine our own lives more closely. A discipline that I want to develop in the new year is the nightly examen. A nightly examen is a way to review our actions throughout the day, acknowledge where we responded to God’s grace, and where we chose to do otherwise. St. Ignatius of Loyola popularized a practice within his religious order called the examen, a twice daily practice that included something similar to this five-step version:

1. Become aware of God’s presence. Notice that God is present through the good and the bad.
2. Review the day with gratitude. Slowly review your day acknowledging the many blessings received.
3. Pay attention to your emotions. Acknowledge where you fell short of even your own standards and where you failed to respond to God’s grace.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. Ask God to help your resolve to be better tomorrow.
5. Look toward tomorrow. With hope and joy, rest peacefully knowing that God is present with you.

“Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭66:8-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/psa.66.8-12.esv

Christ is our prophet in that he reveals to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

Christ is our priest, in that he once offered himself as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and to reconcile us to God. He also makes continual intercession for us.

Christ is our king, in that he subdued us to himself, he rules and defends us, and he restrains and conquers all his and our enemies.

(Summarized from the Westminster Shorter Catechism)

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts. — John Calvin, Commentary, Ephesians 3:21

Psalm 139 (AMP)

O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do];

You understand my thought from afar.

You scrutinize my path and my lying down,

And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken],

Behold, O Lord, You know it all.

I do not ask to see the way

My feet will have to tread;

But only that my soul may feed

Upon the living Bread.

’Tis better far that I should walk

By faith close to His side;

I may not know the way I go,

But oh, I know my Guide.

Refrain

His love can never fail,

His love can never fail,

My soul is satisfied to know

His love can never fail.

And if my feet would go astray,

They cannot, for I know

That Jesus guides my falt’ring steps,

As joyfully I go.

And tho’ I may not see His face,

My faith is strong and clear,

That in each hour of sore distress 

My Savior will be near.

Refrain

I will not fear, tho’ darkness come

Abroad o’er all the land,

If I may only feel the touch

Of His own loving hand.

And tho’ I tremble when I think

How weak I am, and frail,

My soul is satisfied to know

His love can never fail.

Refrain
E.S. Hall (1897)

For original lyrics and tune, check out:
http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/l/hlcnfail.htm