Has anyone else noticed a trend for coffee shops to give out a little philosophy with their lattes recently? Their chalkboards give us a thought of the day instead of inviting us in with offers of sugar and caffeine. Is this a widespread trend or just my corner of London?
Some of the quotations make me smile. Some I'm indifferent to. And some I disagree with. I've been trying to put my finger on why they get to me, after all there's nothing really offensive about a quote from Mark Twain or Roald Dahl. Then last night I came across a blog post where a mum had gathered some inspirational quotations for her daughter's room; and I realised that what saddens me is that these quotes and thoughts sound beautiful and inspiring but they are not based on anything solid. I feel like we are trying to live our lives by blind optimism, platitudes or even superstition instead of tried and tested, beautiful, reliable Truth.
So in the absence of a real chalkboard or my own coffee shop, here are some tried and tested truths in response to some of the boards I've seen.
The first one was actually in a shop and went like this: 'imagine the good and the good will come.' Others of a similar vein are 'happiness is a choice', 'keep smiling and the life will get tired of upsetting you'.
The problem I have with these is that I see very little evidence that we have this much control over our own lives. If it was as easy as imagining, wishing for good things, making them happen, wouldn't we all have easier lives? I can't help thinking, too, that those of us with many choices before us are probably the lucky ones.
So my reply is:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8)
I spent much of my Christian life not understanding this verse- waiting for the day when those I love would all be well and happy and financially secure; not realising that the good God wants for us is himself- a right relationship with him and a heart set on 'things above.' If we read on in Romans chapter eight we find that his purpose is that we might be 'conformed to the image of his Son'- Jesus, the Man of Sorrows who carried a cross, and who promises us our own crosses- and also that it will be the best decision we ever made to follow him.
One more word from the man who wrote the above words (you know, the one who was beaten, shipwrecked, stoned and imprisoned)
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
(Romans 8)
