The Buffett Zone

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Warren Buffett, the world’s richest person, has recently been in the news promoting a new approach to our country’s taxes, but there are a number of other things about him more interesting than that. His name, for example: Buffett.

I once heard an interview in which his grandchild said, “He doesn’t give us money unless it’s college tuition. He’s happy to pay for those expenses, but other than that doesn’t give us anything.”

And that’s where his interesting name comes in. The word “buffet” is a potent King James Bible word many of us cut our spiritual teeth on when we were kids. It means to strike against or push repeatedly. Mr. Buffett apparently recognizes that a little life-buffeting is a valuable thing.

Although I know nothing about the man’s spiritual point of view, his reasoning on the buffeting idea falls in line with Scripture. The biblical Paul mentions he’d been buffeted, listing it along with being hungry, thirsty, homeless and naked. His purpose was to warn new believers about what was ahead, urging them to persevere. He told them God would use the weak as strong voices for his saving message.

In another place Paul wrote about Satan buffeting him personally by way of physical pain. He again reminds readers God often displays great power through weak humans if they can rise above pain by taking advantage of God’s sufficient grace to endure.

All of us have been in the Buffet Zone now and again, bumping up against obstacles much like passengers in carnival bumper cars slam into one another. Warren Buffett has refused to use money to shield his grandchildren from the bumps and bruises of life, since those are the basis for a practical education in the “school of hard buffeting-knocks.”

The King James translation includes one more dramatic, instructional use of the word “buffet.” It’s used to describe the blows delivered to Jesus after his arrest: “They spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands.” (Matthew 26:67) And how did Jesus react?

He took it.

It was unfair… blasphemous… hurtful… evil. But he took it.

By responding to extreme, undeserved buffeting in this way, Jesus became our example. We’re to garner inner strength from the Father as he did, counting on him to meet out justice on our behalf. This goes against our natural instincts to lash back and get even. It also contradicts what we’re taught by the world. But becoming fully dependent on God for rescue leaves it up to him to control the buffeting and also the retribution.

This approach sounds risky, but counting on the sufficient grace of God always turns out to be a good risk.

“What glory is it, if, when you are buffeted for your faults, you shall take it patiently? But if, when you do well and suffer for it you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” (1 Peter 2:20)

What Not to Wear

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It was noon today before I remembered it was Halloween. I can’t say that was much of a loss, but I have to admit dressing up is fun once in a while, whether it’s for a costume or an evening out.

All of us dress up daily. If we didn’t, we’d be going around naked. We give thought to putting an outfit together and do our best to look good. Of course the emphasis is on our exterior, while the interior often gets ignored.

Scripture instructs us to “put on” an outfit described by God, one that will miraculously equip us to stand our ground against evil. The pieces of this invisible outfit are truth, righteousness, the Gospel, salvation and his word. Although these can’t be seen in a mirror, the results of wearing them leave positive impressions on those around us.

For all of us, what you see is not usually what you get. That’s because we can wear one thing on the outside and another on the inside. Sadly, they can be polar opposites. We can fool almost everyone about who we really are.

Anyone, that is, except God, who can never be fooled.

Stacy London and Clinton Kelly are pros at telling people “What Not to Wear.” They have a TV program by that name, offering fashion makeovers to those they feel don’t know how to look their best. Although they’re good at putting flattering outfits together, their counsel stops at their 360 degree mirror.

God, on the other hand, could host a program telling people what not to wear on the inside. Actually, he doesn’t need a show, since he’s already detailed his advice in the Bible. Internal fashion doesn’t change with the seasons or years. It works century to century.

His first bit of counsel is that we are not to worry about external fashion but grow in faith that he’ll give us everything we need, in the clothing category and all others. Being able to trust him for those externals is a sure sign our internals are looking good, too.

It wears well if we meditate on the truth of his Word and pour out gratitude for our salvation. He also tells us we’re to mimic his garment of righteousness and be grateful for the spiritual gifts he’s given us. And for accessories he says, “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

As far as wardrobes go, Stacy and Clinton’s pricey fashion purchases will one day wear out and need replacing, but God’s wardrobe is free of charge and lasts forever. And once we put on his internal outfit, we won’t stress as easily about the one we’re wearing on the outside.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

A Good Guffaw

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Yesterday, 6 long-term women friends got together for 24 hours at my sister’s cottage, gathering for the first time since April. Our intentions were six-fold: (1) to pull away from the pressures of everyday life; (2) to catch up on each others families; (3) to share a prayer time; (4) to hike at the beach; (5) to eat good food; (6) to laugh together. Although numbers 1-5 were meaningful, that number 6 was downright spectacular.

After sharing prayer requests, none of us felt like laughing. Among us were the heavy problems of surgery, disease, exhaustion, discouragement, and others. The load was heavy, but after we spent time turning it all over to God, it wasn’t difficult to switch gears and give ourselves over to number 6.

We hadn’t intended to get quite as hilarious as we did, but bringing out a “Catch Phrase” game was a good idea. None of us would call ourselves “gamey,” but once we got going in this contest of words, we had to force ourselves to stop at 1:00 am.

What is it about two hours of guffawing that’s so appealing? Science tells us it serves as an emotional balancing mechanism for stress.  Raucous laughter causes the brain to release something called endorphins, which can increase joy and even reduce physical pain. Indeed, we were feeling no pain last night.

Studies have shown that children laugh far more than adults, 300 times a day for them, 20 for us. Of course that makes perfect sense, but it’s a shame. God urges us to roll our burdens onto him in prayer and to trust his promises as true. The more we follow those instructions, the more we’ll find ourselves laughing.

Scripture tells us that even God has a good laugh once in a while: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs.” (Psalm 2:4) His laughter, however, is usually directed at those who rebel against him, a holy laughter linked with ultimate justice. In that way, our laughing and his are quite different, but then again, he doesn’t need an endorphin boost like we do.

The Lord’s gift of human laughter is so special that he gives us the know-how to do it even before we can talk. A baby’s first laugh brings monumental joy to parents, usually eliciting a laugh in return. It’s a happy, universal language that works well in every country, with every dialect, for every age. Even though some laughs are ha-ha-ha, some ho-ho-ho and others hee-hee-hee, we “get” them all.

Today while sitting in church, I realized my stomach muscles hurt. The 6 of us laughed so hard for so long last night, my abs mistakenly thought they’d had a work-out. Well, maybe they had, which would be just one more benefit of a good guffaw.

“There is a time for everything… a time to weep and a time to laugh.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1a,4a)