Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

One of my favorite types of coffee is one from Honduras, specifically from the Copan region of Honduras.  The Copan region has a rich cultural history.  It’s famous for an archeological site of the Mayan Civilization.  I prefer coffee which has no bitter aftertaste while properly developed flavor.

Roasting a coffee bean where the individual characteristics of the bean are clear and distinct doesn’t happen by accident.  It requires attention to detail, hard work and patience, but the experience of drinking such a cup of coffee is worth it.

If the experience of a truly great cup of coffee requires hard work, attention to detail, and patience, then how much more does one’s life experience require the same and even more?

Something which I’ve been thinking about lately is discerning The Will of God.  It’s a question people have sought an answer to for a long time.  How might our life experience be more fully developed (richer experience) if we could easily answer this question?

Do you believe that we can know God’s will?  How would you know when you come upon the right answer?  Will you wake up one day and “just know?”  If you do feel like you have an answer, what do you do?  Do you act on it?  Do you keep researching and seeking, just in case you might be wrong?  After all, such a question should not be taken lightly, unless you don’t believe in God in the first place.

As I’ve pondered this question myself. Actually, I’ve pondered both, “What is God’s will?” and “Does God exist?”

If there is a God, meaning, a supreme being which is the cause of our existence, then wouldn’t it seem rational that we derive our meaning or purpose of living to originate from such a Creator?

Micah is a man who proclaimed to speak the will of God to a people group during the last half of the eighth century B.C.  There is something he is attributed to saying which I have pondered and believe to be true.

…He has told you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? -Micah 6:8 NASB

What do you think about the statement Micah made?  In essence he said, our Creator has already told you how to live, that’s do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.  Even if you don’t believe that we are created by a supreme being, shouldn’t we take the words of Micah to heart?  What if we all lived by these three principles?

Do Justice.

How does one “do justice?”  Essentially, it’s doing what is right.  It is right to tell the truth.  It is right to speak up for someone who doesn’t have a voice or ability to speak up for them self.  If you have a neighbor in need and you have the capacity to meet that need, isn’t it right to do so?

Love Kindness.

Being “kind” to another person, stems from love, a selfless love.  To love kindness, one almost has to consider others as more important than themselves.  It is a kind thing to hold the door open for another and permit them to enter first.  It’s a kind act of love to give your time to prepare a meal for a neighbor who is ill.  To “love kindness” is to prefer kind acts towards another as more precious than any personal gain of sorts.

Mercy is a “kind act.”  When someone does you wrong, are you quick to extend mercy and forgiveness or are you quick to “get even?”

Walk Humbly with your God.

Okay, maybe you don’t believe in God.  What if we just say “live humbly?”  [bctt tweet=”True humility isn’t a false awareness of one’s gifts or abilities.  It’s simply thinking less of oneself and more of another.” username=”danielthomas_”] A person can be confident in their abilities, while at the same time, have the conviction that their abilities or skills do not make them any better than another.

Sometimes when considering something to be true, I’ve had to consider the counter option.  We define something as “good” because we believe we can define a “bad.”  The opposite of humility is pride.  Pride says, “I matter more than others” or “I am better than you.”  Pride leads us to think that others are here to serve us and meet our needs.

Which character trait would you prefer everyone adopt: humility or pride?  Would you prefer everyone to believe that everyone else exists to meet their needs?  I wonder, if arrogant pride prevailed, and everyone believed that everyone else existed to serve them, what type of world or community would that world view develop?

Yet, what if everyone walked in humility?  What if everyone lived as though their purpose in life was to take the gifts and abilities they possess and meet the needs of those around them?  Wouldn’t that make the world a better place to live?

[bctt tweet=”What a richer experience we would all have if we simply did what was right, extended mercy to others, and lived a humble life?” username=””]

Coffee from the Copan region of Honduras has a complex fruity quality along with a lively, juicy acidity.  While the land in this region is well suited for growing really good coffee, the weather poses a challenge.  In a region such as this, it is the high rainfall that makes it difficult to dry the coffee beans after processing.  Coffee producers have had to work hard and give attention to detail to ensure they deliver a great coffee bean to the market.  Is it worth it?  As I finish this cup of coffee from this region, I do believe so.

[bctt tweet=”Our attention and effort to do what is right, extend mercy to others, and live a life of humility will inevitably create a better life experience for everyone involved. ” username=””]