Soli Deo Gloria

Soli Deo Gloria, a Latin term for Glory to God alone, was used by artists Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and others to signify that their work was produced for the sake of praising God. The abbreviation S. D. G. was placed at the end of a work.

Walter C. Meloon founded the Craft boat company in the 1920s with the goal to build world class boats "for the Glory of God." During World War II, General Eisenhower asked Craft to build 400 boats in 15 days for crossing the Rhine River. Craft got the job done---and gave God the glory.  

Domino's Pizza, under the leadership of Tom Monaghan, became enormously successful enabling Monaghan to begin building a colossal mansion.About one-third of the way into the project, Monaghan began reading Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. 

Reading the chapter on pride transformed his life: 

It made me realize that pride is the source of all sin. I did so many things to impress people---cars, yachts, this house. C. S. Lewis was saying that the reason I was working so hard was to have more. More what? More than other people.

Monaghan decided to stop the project immediately. Instead he put his money into developing Catholic projects like Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida.

Samuel Truett Cathay, founder of the Christian restaurant that provides no meals on Sundays---Chick-fil-A---said, 

Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone--our time, our love, our resources--and I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.

Walking Where You Want to Go

In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to walk from here?

The Cheshire Cat responds, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”

“I don't much care where,” said Alice.

“Then it doesn't matter which way you go,” said the Cat.

“So long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.

“Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”

Here's one way to discover where you want to go:

Write down three things you want written on your tombstone and then start living the way you want to be remembered. 

A Tragic Serendipity

As a young adult, the Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky, arrested for treasonous acts against Tsar Nicholas I, was sentenced to death. Blindfolded, robed in white burial shroud, he was tied to a post.

As the rifles of execution were cocked and aimed, a horseman arrived with a prearranged message from the Tsar: instead of death Dostoevsky’s sentence had been changed to 10 years of hard labor. 

As he boarded the convict train for Siberia, a woman gave him a copy of the New Testament, a book that he devoured during his 10 years in prison. Dostoevsky emerged from exile with unshakable Christian convictions. 

Prison forced Dostoevsky to live with thieves, murderers, rapists, drunks, and drug abusers. Over time he glimpsed the image of God in even the lowest of prisoners. 

The near-death horror and the suffering of Siberian imprisonment gave Dostoevsky an intimate knowledge of the mysterious depth of the human soul with its burden of tribulation, terror and pity strengthened by the transcendent  joy of love and service.

Almost everyone who has been humbled by a near death experience or some other tragic event gains freedom from worldly pursuits. They feel God-controlled instead of self-controlled. They discover that only in God’s service do they find peace.

The Joyful Table

Happiness	Unhappiness	Joy
Red Lamborghini	Totaled Corvette with a $15,000 unpaid note	A walk in the park
Corner office in Petronas Towers	Windowless basement office	Contentment in all things
Night with a desperate housewife	Sexually transmitted disease	A wife of noble character
Executive power	Servitude	A willing and obedient heart
Fully funded 401-K	Bear market at retirement	Generosity
Fame and fortune	Harassed and helpless	Humble and grateful service
Tequila Sunrise	Hangover	A fruitful vine
Beauty and splendor	Unattractive and bitter	Righteous and pure
Intelligent and knowledgeable	Ignorant and apathetic	Wise and discerning
Superiority	Inferiority	Selflessness
Possessing worldly things	Craving, lusting, boasting	A virtuous life
Pride in accomplishments	Arrogance and hubris	Warm-hearted appreciation