Dear Grace Family:
Recently I have been reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk. The book is a well-written summary of Musk’s life. Like so many successful people, Musk has several unusual personality traits, including obsessive and compulsive tendencies. Musk is also someone who likes to take risks, sometimes even dangerous risks. Musk has a noticeable deficit in his ability to feel or to express empathy. It is as if his obsession with his work consumes his ability to empathize with others.
Thinking about Musk’s life, I remember that many smart and gifted people have deficits in things like empathy and compassion. The drive and commitment to pursue life on other planets takes all of one’s energy, so perhaps Musk can be excused for his tunnel vision. The life of Elon Musk reminds me that God makes us all differently, and sometimes our great virtues, like a great work ethic, can lead us to neglect compassion for others and similar virtues. Understanding that some of our personality traits may limit our capacity for important virtues is exercising self-awareness at its best. We all need healthy doses of self-awareness!
This Sunday, April 28, the scripture passages are John 20: 1-3 and 11-16. Pastor Gary is preparing a message entitled “Peace Revisited” based upon these passages. I hope you have noticed that all of the messages from Easter Sunday to now have invited us to look more closely at the Easter story. How does the resurrection change everything in our lives for the better? It is important to ask ourselves this question regularly. Hopefully, our awareness of the resurrection helps us to live without fear for the future.
I noticed that we had several new people in worship at both services Sunday. I hope some of them came because you invited them. This week, let’s invite more first-time worshippers! We should brag about our church at least as much as we brag about our favorite restaurant!
I look forward to seeing you and worshiping with you Sunday!
Steve Hart