Two words kept coming up in my mind the last week. I heard believing and insisting very differently…

Michael Franti and Spearhead sing a song where Michael breaks down the word believing to be-life-ing. For as long as I have had that CD, that phrase finally caught my attention and my imagination. To believe in something or someone we are essentially being life for that idea or that person. That our very relationship gives it life.

 

The word insisting came across louder this week as well. I was on a conference call and someone referred to the war in Iraq as the elephant in the room when discussing topics of social interest, service, and justice. He insisted that we focus our energy and resources on peacemaking… and he’s probably been doing so for numbers of years…

 

Psalm 19 reads, “The precepts of the Lord give joy to my heart.” 

 

The precepts, or the law, or the code of conduct that enables us to live together as God’s people… that ought to give us joy… not just happiness… but joy in our hearts.

 

Can you imagine if our attention and intentionality to life gave others joy? And what if we did insist on peace, would not that offer people around the world joy?

 

Let us encourage one another to believe and insist in a better world this week…