Show Before Tell

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."   ... Micah 6:8

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The news about Philip Seymour Hoffman is so sad, isn't it? It's been hard to shake such a tragedy. I even dreamt about him last night--that's how much this has settled upon my mind.

And of course, there are millions of other stories resembling his. I know that.

But I guess it's times like these that make me wish we Christians--year around--would live our love for God rather than gripe about everybody who's doing it wrong. That we'd talk about how incredible God is rather than how naughty His children have been. That we'd cease complaining about politicians and worrying about the economy and remain calm, instead, because of proven trust.

If only we could stop angry-preacher-toned lecturing at Facebook, blogs, in conversations and show rather than tell:

Show how it feels to be in love with the God who created all this.
Show how to live set free, thus making others thirsty for that freedom.

As any good book on writing says: Show, don't tell.

Well, yes ... the Bible says to tell. But it also says to live what we tell. And to me? That kind of living requires so much time and dying to self that, really, where's the time for lectures that go down throats like sandpaper? But always there's much time for living, breathing instruction-by-doing:

... encouraging, giving, healing, holding, clothing, visiting and spreading passion and hope. Wild amounts of hope.

All which draws, not repels. Makes lost, drug-ravaged souls yearn for God, not run from or ignore Him. Makes God look, well, Good.

And that's my bit of unasked-for advice today. This is what's been on my mind since Sunday. Do with it what you will.
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Did you see the Bible verse at the top? Oh, I looove that verse,

Looove it.

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 "He who has compassion on them will guide them
    and lead them beside springs of water."   ... Isaiah 49:10