Monday Motivation: Augustine on Happiness

"Since the highest good is known and acquired in the truth, and that truth is wisdom, let us enjoy to the full the highest good, which we see and acquire in that truth. For those who enjoy the highest good are happy indeed. This truth shows forth all good things that are true, holding them out to be grasped by whoever has understanding and chooses one or many of them for his enjoyment." - St. Augustine

Ask and It Will be Given

What is the purpose of asking God for things? Doesn’t He already know what we want, and more importantly, what we need? C. S. Lewis asked this question as well: if petitionary prayer requires faith that the request will be granted (Matthew 7:7), how can petitionary prayer also account for submission to the will of God and a possible response of “no”?

If God has promised that for those who ask, it will be given, then it shows a lack of faith to place conditions on the request. To acknowledge that God might not fulfill the request either means God has gone back on His promise or that the one making the petition lacks true faith.

However, there are examples in the Bible of prayers that seem to hedge in their requests. Most notably, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39). He asks that this cup be taken from Him, but He conditions it, “if it be Your will.” The Father’s will come first, before any other request. He asks that the cup be taken, but the answer is no. Surely we cannot think that Jesus’ faith faltered so egregiously in the garden.

Monday Motivation: Dolly

With the passing of Dolly Parton last week, it truly felt like the world came together in a moment of mourning. Especially here in East Tennessee, Dolly was more than a legendary musician. In fact, her six-decade career was remembered secondary to her kindness and generosity. That's what made her so beloved. She loved openly. She did so much good with what she had:

• She established Imagination Library, sending children books every month for their first five years. More than 300 million books have been given. 
• She brought economic investment to the region through Dollywood and offered employees free tuition for higher education.
• She supported the school children of Sevier County, bringing the dropout rate down from 35% to 6% through incentives. 
• She supported Gatlinburg wildfire victims who lost their homes, giving families money for six months as they rebuilt. Her telethon raised another $13 million. 
• She poured the residuals from Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You" into the black community of Nashville.
• She funded marching band uniforms for black schools.
• She established an eagle sanctuary for non-releasable bald eagles. 
• She funded pediatric cancer and infectious disease research that led to the Moderna vaccine against COVID. 
• She gave more than $1 million toward disaster search-and-rescue and relief following Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee and western North Carolina. 
• And so, so much that never got the credit it deserved.

To be remembered for joy and kindness above all other accomplishments is a true blessing, and the world was blessed to have someone like Dolly. May her legacy and music continue to inspire others to live such a good life. 

"Better Get to Livin'"

"Coat of Many Colors"

"Jesus and Gravity"