Keeping Score, March 28

Monday, March 28

Romans 5:5: Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

A couple of years ago, I started a scoresheet for myself. A way for me to track how I did or didn’t “succeed” in different aspects of my daily living. I called it, Did I Do My Best Today?

The categories include things like Exercise … Gratitudes … Practicing one aspect of golf … Reading … Meditating … Drinking 5 glasses of water … Learning something new. There are also categories involving my business and work activities, as well as staying focused on goals. However, the three most important categories on my scoresheet are intentionally outward. They are Family & Relationships … Seeing blessings, wonder, and mystery in all things… and Making a difference in one person’s life.

The scoring I assign myself is on a scale of 1 to 6. I’ve kept the scoresheet daily, typically the next morning for the day before. I ask myself: Did I do my best today? Shining a light on these areas gives me the powerful reminder and affirmation, did I choose love for myself, for Donna, for my whole family? Did I choose to absolutely see blessings, wonder, and mystery in all of creation and honor all of it as chosen by God? Did I choose to make a difference in the life of at least one person with whom our paths crossed that day?

When I first started keeping score, I mostly gave myself 2’s and 3’s, sometimes a 4 in places. It was eye-opening. I knew I could choose to be better, to do better. As time went on and these categories and life practices became a part of my consciousness, I gradually moved to doing 5’s and 6’s most of the time now. Truthfully, an occasional 4 or less slips in, which is ok. It serves to remind me that I am human and to refocus me.

To be sure, it is a process. Having the daily reminder of these three categories is a blessing. At times, it feels like we can be alone in a dangerous, dark, difficult world. Yet, this practice helps me feel the embrace of a loving God and the encouragement to exemplify God and Jesus to all. In these times, we cry out for faith, for love, for hope. A sun that is eclipsed by clouds is not a sun forever hidden.

Donna and I have been around since the very first days of this congregation. As we all sought early on to decide on a name for our church, the people honed in on a phrase that would carry us through time, challenges, and difficulties. Abiding Hope. ‘Abiding” means lasting into eternity. Love and hope has been happening in our Abiding Hope community since the very beginning.

May we all choose (abiding) love and choose (abiding) hope now and forever!

Dear God, today I dedicate all I am and all I have as a conduit of the power of love and hope in the world. Refine my personality, increase my understanding, and deepen my skills so all I do might reflect your presence in the world. Amen

Doug Phelps