Your Part and God’s Part

Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840–1914) was a prominent naval officer, historian, and strategist. He was also a devout Christian and published a book on spiritual formation. This selection is from an 1890 letter to his daughter, age 17. 

“Mamma has told me that you had asked her how you could make yourself care for persons whom you do not naturally love.… You will notice that indifference to other people, the failure to be moved by their happiness or sorrow, though not as bad as hatred, or ill-will, to them, is nevertheless as much opposed to that charity, or love, which our Lord and His apostles dwell upon as the great distinctive grace of the Christian character. It is well to note this. 

“Like yourself, I am naturally indifferent to others; and for many years I thought it almost something to be proud of. I did not meddle with other people’s business, which is undoubtedly a good thing; unfortunately, in me it was due to the fact that I did not care anything about their business, whether it went well or ill. It is only very lately that I have realized that it is not enough to refrain from, and keep under, bad or unkind feelings toward others; charity demands that we have toward them feelings of kindly interest; of sympathy; even of affection, in accordance with the relationship which they bear to us, as relatives, as friends, or as neighbors.…

“Now as to the means of gaining this better nature, it is necessary to distinguish between your part and God’s part. Your part is to give care and thought as to your loving duty to others, and then to try earnestly and carry it out.… Works we can do, but change our nature we cannot. This is God’s part. He requires of us our will and wish, which if we have we will doubtless do works of love; but do what we will, He only can change the heart.

“Therefore, to become what you wish, to have kindly interest in and sympathy with others, you must: first, do works of kindness, and second, pray continually to God to change your nature in this respect and give you a loving heart. It will take time, but never despair of it. I believe you do try not to have unkind feelings toward others, but don’t stop content with that; aim at having kind interest in them.” 

Reflection

What strategy is Mahan advising for developing feelings that align with what we want to do? How do you respond to his advice? Does his advice match the teaching from the apostle Paul in today’s Bible readings? Try putting the admiral’s advice into practice this week.