seems like my laundry list of things-to-do is starting to pile up. i always do this.
in particular, i have a lot of emails to catch up on. to anyone who's written me recently, i'm sorry i haven't written back yet. as mechanical and imperfect a means of communication email may be, i realize that in many ways its the only way i'm going to be able to keep in touch with a lot of amazing people. i'm working on it. i wish i was better, but trust me. i'm working on it.
i've been thinking a lot lately about promises. one of my favourite quotes about promises is by that loveable guy jack handy.
It's funny how two simple words, "I promise," will stall people for a while.
why are promises so important to us? is it a cultural thing? or a human thing? certainly it's universal, because as far as i know promises exist in every nation. it's such a simple concept, and yet such a difficult intangible. and although it's a stupid joke, the above quote is so true. those two words really do invoke a sense of hope, of belief in us that belies our cynical and jaded natures. do you find however, that we prioritize our promises according to who we've promised?
doesn't a promise seem less concrete if we're only promising something to ourselves? after all, who knows if you were to break it. only you.
what about promises to god? same thing i guess. sure, god knows too. but god knows everything, when has that ever stopped us?
promises to other people are the big one though. because those have actual consequences. when we don't come through for someone else....there's no running from failure.
what does it say about our character when we change our definitions of a promise depending on the circumstances? when we cut corners when no one's looking?
i'm guilty of making my share of promises that i couildn't keep. and there's no worse feeling in the world. something about letting people down, but not only that. knowing that in breaking a promise, you're letting yourself down too.
but maybe that's all growing up is. learning when to make a promise you can keep, and knowing when to be honest with yourself. saying what you really mean, and meaning what you say.
on the bright side, i randomly grabbed some junk mail for my afternoon toilet break. i don't know what the hymn sounds like, but as with most hymns, i only wish lyrics today spoke a fraction of the volumes those old stiffs could put to paper. simply gorgeous.
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Thro' eternal ages let His praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List'ning ev'ry moment to the Spirit's call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
~r. kelso carter
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