Tips for Shalom

I am thankful to be home, though I am still wiped.  All told yesterday, we were more or less awake for 24 hours.  Never easy to recover from that.  I marvel at the people who can do so.  We made it back to New Jersey though and for that I give thanks to God.  

Blogging will probably be a bit sparse the rest of the week, but I plan on finding a good rhythm (for everything including blogging) beginning next week.  For now, here is the first in a random category that actually came to mind while in the airplane bathroom.  It is something I would like to call Tips for Shalom.  

The Biblical notion of Shalom is a wonderful and rich one.  I will say more on it later, but for now, it is worth saying that the concept of Shalom involves the totally of flourishing, the inter-working of every relationship for the good of every individual and the whole, all to the glory of God.  At the very least, it involves everyone doing what they are called to do, no matter how big or small, perfectly well for the good of others and the honor and fame of God.  

There is more to it (after all, that is the summary of a guy who has slept very little during the last 72 hours).  But I want to offer some ‘tips’ in order to show that the little things we do or may be called to do can be done with a view towards blessing others and honoring God.  Like the paper towel dispensers in the airplane bathroom (or anywhere else for that matter).  

So what’s my tip?  It’s this:  For the good of others and the glory of God, please don’t overstuff the paper towel dispensers.  

Sure, it might not seem like a big deal (and in one sense it’s not), but imagine that every paper towel dispenser in every plane is overstuffed (as mine was yesterday), so that countless paper towels are wasted and countless people left a little bit frustrated over the whole thing.  Does that contribute to a whole lot of happiness?  The answer is plain.  

The littlest things we do either contribute to or take away from human flourishing and the glory of God.  Even something as simple as embracing the limits of a paper towel dispenser.  For real.  Let’s take the time to think about some of the little things we can do for the good of Shalom.  I’ll be sure to keep those random tips coming now and again, just to encourage us along the way as we seek to bless others and honor God.