The Cost of Listening to Others - July 31

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; PM Psalm 64, 65; 2 Samuel 2:1-11; Acts 15:36-16:5; Mark 6:14-29

Today Gospel is a difficult one.  Herod buckles to the demands of his daughter Herodias and kills John the baptizer.  It’s a violent and disturbing story, although much of human history is no different.  And while we could certainly explore how our own acquiescing to the demands of others leads can cause suffering and pain in this world, I’d rather offer a different insight. 

I’ve been reading a fascinating book titled Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday.  Holiday is a notable historian of ancient philosophy who draws upon ancient wisdom to make sense of our lives today.  He shares profound insight into the decision-making process of people such as Abraham Lincoln who calmed his mind to make a decision to seize Vicksburg in the American Civil War, or John F. Kennedy’s approach to the Bay of Pigs which arguably saved the world from a nuclear catastrophe by learning what is necessary to think about when making decisions.  I love a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh that he uses to illustrate this truth:

“Before we can make deep changes in our lives, we have to look into our diet, our way of consuming.  We have to live in such a way that we stop consuming the things that poison us and intoxicate us.  Then we will have the strength to allow the best in us to arise, and we will no longer be victims of anger, of frustration. (page 36)”

Holiday is exploring how the information that we consume clouds our lives.  Herod is an example of this. He listens to his daughter, and he listens to the critics and those people in his community that he wants to make proud, that he wants to show off his capable leadership skills.  He listens to a bunch of noise that corrupts him as a human being and leads his actions to demonstrate power and violence. 

How much do we allow others to influence our own decision-making, our own nurture and knowledge of God that bears a light within ourselves?  Maybe the harshness of today’s Gospel message is the ultimate cost of peer pressure, as opposed to listening to the still small voice that dwells deep within.

Faithfully,

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  What are some of the memories that come up when you think of peer pressure? Are there regrets you have from quickly listening to other people instead of a slow and thoughtful discernment process?

Daily Challenge:  Find some time to listen to your body, to your soul, to your own heart.  Find a quiet place, turn off your phone (power down or put on Do not Disturb), shut off your computer, and pray for 15 minutes.