Impact mindfulness is pro-faith, in all the forms under which one’s faith might take shape. Mine happens to be the Christian faith.
Impact mindfulness proposes that religious dogmatic beliefs, on the other hand, are “impact blinders.” They cause us to see the world through a dogmatic prism that distorts the facts, or the true and bigger picture of what is. For instance, take the biblical story of the pharisees attempted stoning of the women caught in adultery. According to their dogmatic belief, what they were doing was 100% correct, righteous even. That is until Jesus stooped down and helped them see the bigger picture.
I was reading from the sermon on the mount this morning. In it I believe there are great kernels of truth that support the concepts underpinning impact mindfulness. Remember, impact mindfulness is nothing more than a term that I dreamed up to describe a mindset, or system of believing and acting that is as old as the bible itself. There is nothing new here. But maybe there is a new way of looking, or expressing, these very old ideas.
Impact mindfulness is nothing more than a term that I dreamed up to describe a mindset, or system of believing and acting that is as old as the bible itself.
Prioritizing Impact over Interest
There are many instances within the sermon that support this notion. Jesus tells us not to practice righteousness (giving, prayer, fasting) in order to be seen or heard (self-interest), but in order to accomplish good (impact). He goes on to tell us not be obsessed with wealth, or the things money can buy (economic self-interest), but in doing good (impact).
He sums up these admonitions with the simple law that we now call the golden rule…”do to others what you would have them do to you.” I believe there is no expression that better captures what is at the heart of “prioritizing impact over interest.”
“Do to others what you would have them do to you.” I believe there is no expression that better captures what is at the heart of “prioritizing impact over interest.”
The Big US
There are two areas within the sermon that I believe really speak to this idea of the Big US. One is where Jesus tells us to love all people, even our enemies. He then tells us that the sun rises on the “righteous” and the “unrighteous.” I am not altogether clear if maybe he wasn’t speaking a little tongue in cheek with those terms (hence my quotes). In other words, God does not show favoritism and neither should we.
He also tells us not to judge others. Not to look at specks and disregard planks. He is basically telling us that no one is perfect. All are in need of mercy. He is merciful…why can’t we be as well?
After all, as you have read here before, we’re all in this boat together…and we’ve all done something that merits the plank (walking it, that is)…but then who will be aboard to man (or, save) the ship?
We’ve all done something that merits the plank (walking it, that is)…but then who will be aboard to man (or, save) the ship?
Removing Impact Blinders
I have always looked at the entire sermon on the mount as an exercise in removing blinders. Let’s put it in context. Around the time Jesus delivered the sermon (to Jews), the Jewish faith had largely lapsed into one of rigid dogmatic precepts that deviously disguised evil as good. All of what Jesus said that glorious morning was in direct opposition to that. He breathed life into the letter of the law…letters that had been twisted and contorted for the self-interest of the Jewish religious leaders. In direct contrast to them, Jesus taught that the true “letter of the law” was not discover-able in the dogma, but in righteousness, or doing good, or (as I like to say) positive impacts.
Jesus taught that the true “letter of the law” was not discover-able in the dogma, but in righteousness, or doing good, or (as I like to say) positive impacts.
Many of today’s religious scholars will immediately began to shout in unison that I am advocating a works based religion. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I am not advocating any “religion” at all…only the benefit to humanity of people pursuing the path of positive impact. And I believe what was said by Jesus on impact mindfulness supports that.
Impact mindfulness is wholly consistent with my faith. In fact it provides the inspiration for me to actually put that faith into practice.
That, I believe, is what Jesus called us to do in his wonderful sermon.