Transforming Giants: A Response to “Five Stones”

Last updated on: August 15, 2013 at 6:34 pm by Bruce Epperly

Transforming Giants: A Response to “Five Stones” 2013-08-15T18:34:33-04:00 Bruce Epperly

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

There’s always a giant blocking our future; but, we have the resources to respond with creativity and persistence to overcome what stands in our way. These obstacles can be Goliath-like in nature, but God has given us five stones and the example of the young shepherd David to respond to any crisis that stands in our way. Certain practices will give us the focus, persistence, and power to defeat these giants just as David defeated Goliath with five small stones. That’s the central affirmation of Shane Stanford and Brad Martin’s small but powerful Five Stones: Conquering Your Giants.

This past week I have been playing at Craigville Beach on Cape Cod with my almost three year old grandson. The waves are gentle and there’s virtually no undertow. At first, however, my small grandson was frightened of the few inch swells. Looking out to sea, the ocean must have seemed large and he so small. Over the next few days, he discovered that he could run, dance, and even paddle a bit through the waves. On the final day of his visit, we couldn’t get him out of the water, except with the lure of Four Seas Ice Cream. The feat might have been insignificant to an observer, but he had just defeated a giant. He had discovered a small boy had the resources to face the ocean and that the people he loved would insure his safety and support his success. For him, this is one more tangible step that will help him face future giants. He had just lived out the statement that “courage is fear that has said its prayers.” He had discovered the secret of Five Stones.

As I pondered Five Stones, I asked myself: Can we practice in advance for facing giants? Stanford and Martin give a short course in facing giants. They believe that all of us, like David, can find the five stones we need to face the obstacles that appear to block our future and challenge our dreams. They see the five stones as: a mental picture, tools, a plan, training, and courage.

From my perspective, facing giants involves having a vision and discovering spiritual practices that nurture our imagination and self-esteem. The issue is, accordingly, both theological and practical. There are many possible visions or theological frameworks; however, the following nurture our agency and belief in God’s companionship and support of our growth:

God wants you to have abundant life.
God provides possibilities and the energy to active them.
God is our companion every step of our life journey.
God supports our well-being and provides opportunities to nurture our personal growth.
Within every challenge, God has placed possibilities for our growth.
God is willing to give us more than we can ask or imagine.
We are created in God’s image and have everything we need to succeed, prosper, and serve God.
Our actions can transform our lives, our loved ones, and the world.
Every moment reveals God’s wisdom and energy.
What we do matters to God; we are called to be God’s companions in healing the world.

These theological affirmations provide a framework for dealing with the giants in your way. They are the foundation for courage, imagination, and persistence. There is nothing entirely new about these: they reflect the best of New Testament theology and more particularly the wisdom of Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians.

Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians joins vision and practice in personal and institutional transformation. The text begins with a life-transformation affirmation: the good work God has begun in your life God will bring to fulfillment and it will be a harvest of righteousness. Paul continues with counseling us to have the mind of Christ (a spacious and humble mind, welcoming all creation), embrace our agency as partners in God’s creative process (working out our salvation with awe and excitement), living toward God’s vision (running the race with eyes on the prize), all with the belief that God will supply our needs and that we can do all things – face all obstacles – with Christ who strengthens us.

Paul gives us practices to respond to the giants in our way. They can be found in Philippians 4:4-7:

Rejoice* in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. *5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, beloved,* whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about* these things. 9Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Responding to giants and challenges involves the interplay of faith, gratitude, prayer, and affirmative living. These create a life of joy, grounded in an awareness of God’s presence, which is not only the greatest antidote to fear but also the greatest inspiration to courage and creativity. Prayer connects us with a power greater than ourselves, from whom all blessings flow. Gratitude reminds us of all our successes and resources and opens us to trusting God’s care in all things. Affirmations enlarge our spirits and sense of agency and ability. We are never alone, but live in a god-filled world in which great gifts and possibilities are available to us. God responds to our needs, gives us the possibilities and energy to achieve them, and treasures our attempts at transformation.

On every life map, we can, like the ancient mariners, affix the words “there be giants.” But, more importantly, we can inscribe the affirmations:

God is with us.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
In all things we are conquerors through Christ.
God will supply all our deepest needs.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

With these words of affirmation, a life of interdependent prayer, a community of friends, and the gentle but persistent providence of God, we can face, transform, or go around any giant that stands in our way.

For more conversation on Five Stones, see the Patheos Book Club here.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 14, 2013

The Adventurous Lectionary for August 18, 2013: Divine Withdrawal and Human Suffering

Next Post

August 19, 2013 The Adventurous Lectionary for August 25: God’s Providence -- Abstract or Concrete?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews The Adventurous Lectionary Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz