For the past several years I have adopted a theme and verse for the year. One year it was the Dr. Dryer quote made popular in the book and movie Wonder, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” My verse for that year was Ephesians 4:32-
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
This year I was struck by an article of Joanna Gaines in the Magnolia Journal in which she wrote of “looking up” and living in the moment. We had experienced that freedom rather poignantly at our daughter and her husband’s wedding when they outlawed cell phones and cameras during their ceremony in Kauai. It served to give us the opportunity to truly take in and enjoy those moments. So, I figured since it is 2020, this would be a good year to focus on my focus.
The question then became, just what should I focus on?
Not long after we had lost the guys, I memorized Philippians 4:4-13. Jason Tilley had copied Philippians 4:13 in the bill of his ball cap and that verse took on a special place in our hearts. The verses preceding it gave me something to look for during that time of intense grief. This year seemed like a good time to revisit them in some more depth.
As it turns out, there are actually 12 aspects that the Apostle Paul encourages his readers to focus on in these two verses:
Phil 4:8
Finally, brothers,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.
Phil 4:9
Whatever you have learned
or received
or heard from me,
or seen in me—
put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you
I figured this year I could focus on one each month. This month then would be the first one: whatever is true.
The first six “whatevers” are all adjectives. Those plus the next two nouns are things Paul says we should think about. Back when I was first learning about how to live with my grief finding what was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, what I had learned, received, heard, and seen were ways I could take my perspective from one that focused only on my loss to one that could also notice what was positive in my life as well. If I were to put it in one sentence or phrase (which really is probably too simplistic) it was kind of a glass half empty/ half full type of shift.
Anyway, I figure January’s “whatever” should be whatever is true.
The Greek word that is translated as true is άληθη (alethe) and actually occurs 26 other times in the New Testament. A common definition of true is that when something is true it “is consistent with fact or reality; not false or erroneous.” The Expositors commentary notes that Paul uses this true to characterize God as well as how believers should be. Back when we first lost the guys, I tried to focus on what I knew was true, not just on how I felt. It often served to remind me that I am loved by both God and family and that regardless of my circumstances, God is always good and will use my circumstances for my good as well.
As I look at these past few years I would have to say there has been a lot of focus on what is often described as “fake news”. It has caused me to try to be at least a little more discerning about what I choose to believe and search for the basic truth of what is being reported. Perhaps that can also serve as an impetus for this month as well: that of looking for what is true, both in how God is at work in my life as well as those around me.
Sometimes what may be factually true or correct is not always what is good. And I suppose I should be aware of what is true, whether it be positive or negative circumstances. But just like I clung to Romans 8:28 several years ago, I think, I think I can trust that God will work those less desirable truths for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. So this month as I turn my focus on to what is true, I think I also want to look for people, places, things, and actions that show me what is truly good and think about those things, just like the Apostle Paul encouraged me to.
Here’s to focusing on “whatever is true”…
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