"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.Today's thought will be short and to the point. While growing up in Hawaii we had a saying - "Eh, no make tantada!" Simply translated it means to stop showing off (as in the sound a fanfare makes, tantada). Being humble was a value we grew up with here. We did the things we did out of a sense of duty or from a place of compassion. Doing something just to bring attention to yourself was greatly frowned on.
Reading today's passage brought back the memories of how, as children, we used to apply what today is called "positive peer pressure" to any of our friends who started to show off. Something must have worked because my friends and I are all successful and happy in whatever we are doing. None of us go around trying to be more than we are, nor do we attract unwanted, unneeded attention to ourselves or our actions. We simply did what we had to do because it was the right thing.
So, next time you're about to do something for someone else, or for yourself, listen carefully. If you hear the "tantada" stop, regroup, examine yourself, and move forward with what you were going to do in the right spirit and for the right reasons.
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