Dash of Thought June 2025

As we all know, our lives speak louder than our words do. How we behave, how we meet others and, of course, how we speak to others says a lot about us. It reveals something of who we really are. Of course, we can make an effort to behave courteously, treat others kindly, speak to others respectfully. And, yes, we should take care of our behavior. We are also urged to do this by the biblical authors. However, this can quickly become really stressful, especially if it doesn't match who we are, if we try to portray something that we are not. Anyone who knows us a little better will see through us sooner or later. We cannot control our behavior, words and actions in the long term.
So what to do? "What you focus your thoughts and strength on often becomes your reality," I recently read in my devotional book as a commentary on Philippians 4:8. It says: "Think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right, and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect". Let us focus our senses on what is good. Let us take in what helps us to grow and increase in love - and let it shape us. We are simply exposed to some things - good and bad - whether we like it or not. And yet it is up to us to consciously direct our inner selves towards good, life-enhancing things, to expose our senses to what brings us closer to Christ.
We can only control what comes out of us to a limited extent and possibly with great effort. But we can influence what goes into us, what can and should shape us and our being. Which voices do we give space to? Which events do we deal with? How do we deal with (social) media? Which people do we spend our time with? What habits are we guided by? What do we occupy ourselves with in our free time?
Becoming more like Christ begins on our side by paying attention to what we look at and listen to - and what is allowed to take up space in our minds and hearts. When our being is then transformed with the help of God's Spirit - and Pentecost reminds us of this gift - our behavior, speech and actions also change - love received turns us into love given, kindness grows from kindness, mercy brings forth mercy, those who know they have been generously gifted live generosity themselves.
I wish everyone this encouraging experience!
 
Bishop Stefan Zürcher