Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)
Today is one of those days when I have to do something I
don’t like to do (and yet, I love to do it): disagreeing with a definition.
Most people would agree that prosperity means doing well financially or
materially, but it comes from Latin terms meaning “doing” and “well.” The
financial part is something we moderns have added. I’ve mentioned before that
joy is the sense that one is being cared for by someone ready,
willing, and able to do the job. If one is being cared for by someone ready,
willing, and able, then one is doing well. If one can do good to others,
one is doing well. I’ve found that life is better, and I feel I’m
doing well if I’m doing good to others, which is when I’m loving. And doing
good also tends to lead to honor. In a sense, these are all the same, or all
part of a loop.
And this is why I feel prosperous while I’m not rich. I
struggle with life just like most people, but I keep telling people that 2020
was the best year of my life, and while life since 2020 may not be quite as
good, I think I’ve been in that place or in that loop. And the way I found my
way there was just what I wrote about two days ago – one step in front of the
other, heel, toe, heel, toe - not watching
my steps but looking for things I can do to help others and to help myself.
And even as I’m typing these words, I’m whimpering at God that
I’m not getting anywhere in getting things done that I should. I’m being a
failure, etc. It’s not an either-or thing. It’s a both-and. I can know that I
prosper even when I feel like I’m screwing up. That’s where trust comes
in.
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