Author: Kevin Spear

I am a content creator and storyteller based in Florida, where I work for OneHope. I love digital and content marketing, writing, and the occasional doodle.

Categories
Encouragement

Cruelty for Cruelty’s Sake?

hands forming a heart shape
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

You can be good for the mere sake of goodness; you cannot be bad for the mere sake of badness. You can do a kind action when you are not feeling kind and when it gives you no pleasure, simply because kindness is right; but no one ever did a cruel action simply because cruelty is wrong

C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

We may try not to think about the stranger who is suffering next to us. And we may try to ignore the disheveled person at the intersection with a sign begging for money. We may even develop a story about the person that he is conning us, or she is working for a network of panhandlers.

Rarely does anyone do cruelty for cruelty’s sake. If they did, we would conclude that the person is a psychopath. No, we usually have a reason for acting badly. But that doesn’t make it right.

It is far better to be kind for kindness’ sake, even when we don’t feel like it, because it is right.

Categories
motivation

Men Without Chests

father teaching his son how to ride a bike
Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels.com

We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise.
C. S. Lewis in  The Abolition of Man

What do we expect of men today? I read and hear stories about a crisis of manhood. And then I see men trying to display their manhood with big trucks, macho attitudes, and a disdain for anything that hints of femininity.

Continue reading “Men Without Chests”
Categories
motivation

When Setbacks Happen

Sketch of me with leg pain illustrating when setback happen.

Earlier this month, I went for my weekend run. I was going to run six miles, determined to keep on my plan to run a half marathon this fall. Then the pain started, and I found myself pondering what to do when setbacks happen.

  • Should I quit?
  • Should I cut today’s run short?
  • If I push through, will I injure myself?

The pain didn’t go away. Eventually, I decided it was foolish to push my knee to the point of severe damage. Ironic, isn’t it? I wrote a post on sticking with it, and I injured myself.

It was so ironic, I didn’t want to write this post! I sat on it for two weeks. How could I write a post about a setback right after encouraging others to stick with it? But that’s exactly when I needed to write it.

Sticking with it is easy when slow and steady progress is unimpeded. It’s much harder when I have to take a detour. But that’s when the successful learn from failure.

What do you do when you have a plan and reality throws you a curveball?

Categories
motivation

Sticking With it

Sketch of a guy sticking with it when the sun is hot and his legs ache.
  • Is this it?
  • Is my goal over?
  • I thought this was a worthy goal.
  • God, where are you in all this?

When the negative thoughts come, sticking with it feels like an impossible task. But that is where the magic happens.

During a marathon, when the sun was hot and my hamstrings were screaming at me, I discovered that goals are crucial, even when they don’t feel attainable. Besides, what good is a goal if it is easy to reach?

That moment taught me something more profound than fitness or a goal. It taught me the value of endurance and perseverance.

What has helped you stick with it during the hard times? Leave a comment below.

Categories
motivation

Start with What is Right

photo of man writing on blackboard
Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

Compromise is a fact of life. The question isn’t whether we must compromise but when and how much. That is why it is essential to start with what is right in the beginning instead of starting with what is acceptable.

"Start with What is Right" Franz Kafka. Quote accessed at https://brainyquote.com
www.brainyquote.com/s/a_1d2f2

If we start from the mindset of, “This is good enough,” what happens when things don’t go as planned and it’s not good enough? Or if we aim low, sure, we may hit the target, but could it have been better?

When we are in the beginning stages of planning, it is too early to settle for “good enough.” Aim for the best solution, for what is right. If setbacks and compromises keep us off the mark, at least we won’t end up with a less than acceptable result.