Part 1 of this article was published on January 21 on this link HERE The following is continuation of that article.
January 29, 2022 | Loma Linda, California, United States | By Carlos Fayard, PhD, for Inter-American Division News
What we believe matters. It would be both an oversimplification and plainly incorrect to state that John Donne’s faith (see part 1 of this article) carried him through the plague unscathed. His Devotions rival Jeremiah’s Lamentations. He too questioned God’s care and presence, struggled with finding a sense of meaning through the severe and debilitating symptoms of the bubonic plague and faced death with trepidation. He struggled but did not despair in the sense given by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, a survivor of a concentration camp. Frankl defined despair as suffering without meaning. These celebrated verses reveal his deeply held belief:
“Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for, thou are not…
…One short sleep past, we wake eternally.
And death shall be no more. Death thou shalt die” (1)
How do we get there while the plague is still raging? How do we line up our beliefs with life giving and hope inspiring convictions? As describe in Part 1, having the fruit of the Spirit is psychologically equivalent to a having resilient mind. And to enjoy the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit has to be firmly connected to the Vine (John 15:1). As we abide in Christ, are there ways to “cultivate” love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-25)?
If you are like me and most everyone I know, we struggle with enjoying the fruit of the Spirit even when we are not facing the serious condition that Donne had to deal with. While detailing specifics for each virtue or fruit is beyond the scope of this brief note, let me share how you may “cultivate” one of them in your life: love.
Jesus provides the fundamentals for cultivating love in Matthew 23: 37-38: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.’ This is the first and most important commandment. 39 And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ “
Modestly and tentatively, let me share my limited understanding about this (3). First, the proper love of self can only take place in the context of true humility and awe for the love God has for us. Second, the Bible does not teach that we ought to insult ourselves so that we can die to self. In fact, Paul tells us in Romans 12:3: “Don’t think of yourself more highly than you should. Be reasonable when you think about yourself.” In other words, be “reasonable,” don’t practice the self-enhancement bias, but neither denigrate yourself. Furthermore, in Hebrews 2 Paul cites the Psalmist that reveals God’s perception of who we are: “a little lower than the angels,” wearing a “crown of honor and glory” (8: 5).
Those who are on the opposite end of self-enhancement, struggle with a view of themselves that is far from the way God sees them. While we all need to love ourselves in a manner that is similar to the way we love our neighbor, those who struggle with having a “reasonable” view of themselves may want to cultivate a true sense of love and compassion and see themselves the way God sees them. If you are among them, consider how 1 Corinthians 13 may apply to you.
You may want to cultivate a self-talk that reflects what a proper love of self is like. How do you answer these questions: Are you “kind” (v. 4) with yourself? Are you “patient” (v. 4) with yourself? Do you “easily” get angry with yourself (v. 5)? Do you “keep track of your wrongs” (v. 5)? If for some time you have not cultivated a proper love of self, very likely your self-talk may be denigrating and painfully negative. Paul clarifies that love does not involve boasting or pridefulness (v. 4). It is not selfish nor does it waste time comparing oneself with others (v. 5). Rather, it is “full with joy when truth is spoken” (v. 6). And the truth is that you are slightly less than an angel from heaven and crowned with God’s glory. You may wish to cultivate a self-talk that reflects the principles found in 1 Corinthians 13.
Finally, to cultivate resilience in the times of the “plague,” what you believe matters. Remain connected to the Vine (John 15) to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5), cultivating the love of God, the love of neighbor and the proper love of self (Matthew 23).
White, E.G. Desire of Ages. Mountain View: Pacific Press Publishing Association. Pg. 83
Carlos Fayard, PhD is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center at the Department of Psychiatry, Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He is the author of “Christian Principles for the Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy” and “Heart at Peace.”