“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8
The opposites of these values seem to dominant our news these days. With scams abounding, we are on the alert for false claims. With raging negativity, positivity turns into denial. If there is excellence celebrated, we can feel jealous we are left out. There is so much bad news that we invest in despair so we aren’t taken by surprise. It’s a grim way to live.
Earlier in this joyful Letter, Paul breaks into an ancient song of the early church with the words, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” It is a verse worth contemplating. It is an invitation to take on the consciousness of Christ and see with the eyes of the heart. It is a call to courage, daring ourselves to see the world with the same wholeness and healing that Jesus did.
If “putting on the mind of Christ” is the theological call to a partnership with Jesus in seeing the realm of God that is here and still drawing near, then “think about these things” is an intentional spiritual practice. It activates our perception. It aligns our heart and mind so that we can hold the immediate reality of the world and see where the realm of God is breaking through and pulling us forward.
Think about these things is not bypassing the harsh realities of the world. It is a training of the mind to notice what is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable and excellent -and giving these values energy. Those “things” are embedded in every day once we have the eyes to see.
Thinking about these things changes energy, not only that which we carry in our body, but it amplifies wholeness and healing in the world. It sets us on an arc with a different ending than despair. It is a good way to live.
We are not asked to look away from what is painful or unjust. What might it mean to hold the hard realities of the world and remain alert to where goodness, courage, beauty, and healing are breaking through?
Use one of these mantras, or make a sentence prayer of your own, to practice seeing from the heart.
May I learn to see what is true.
May I notice what is good.
May I give my energy to what makes life more whole.
[Philippians]Think About These Things
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