Month: May 2017

The greatest love we can give is to place ourselves in their shoes, to take their pain, to sacrifice ourselves for them. 

This great love has already manifested with Jesus. 

That is it. The greatest single act of love has already been given to us. All we can do is be greatful and humble about it. But, we are also called to love. In particular we are called to love some who are difficult to love. 

Imagine this definition of love in the context of “Love your enemy”.

This means we are to take the place of our enemy’s shoes, pain, and sacrifice. 

While this is relatively straightforward for ones we find easy to love, how do we manifest this in those who have done us wrong?

How do we balance the need for justice with a love for those who have committed acts against us?  “Tough Love”, the first answer that comes to mind, seems a weak argument.  There is also the need for the righting of wrongs to protect others from experiencing the same thing. 

Maybe the tie in is with the golden rule. By placing myself in my enemy’s shoes I can think of what I would want to see someone do to me if I were caught me doing the wrong that I had committed. I would want an open and straight-forward confrontation. I would not want to be shamed, I would want the opportunity to fix it and make it right, and ultimately I would want correction and help.

The Mission:  Today practice the Devine and cosmic love. Put yourself in the place of another – your feet in their shoes, your heart in their heart. 

———-

Mark K.

Today we learn some deeper meaning behind the command to “do unto others” or the “Golden Rule”

We are not only charged to do to others what we would have done to us, but this is the very nature of the universe.  The equal but opposite laws of physics applied to the human experience.

What we do in the world will be returned to us.  If we give, it will be given to us.  If we take, it will be taken from us.

So the command is not only for obedience, but to live well in the world.  A gift, a hint about how the world works.  Do you want to be wealthy, give you money away! (Mind that the wealth you receive back may be of a different kind, but you will know that it is wealth…and even more valuable.)

This reminds me of the saying that I have seen around…”Be the change you want to see in the world”

I’ve always liked this because it causes us to consider that WE are the ones that need to act, instead of waiting for others to bring about the changes we would like to see.  Get off the couch and get to it!

The Mission:  What is it you seek from life and from others?  Today, make it your goal to give to others the very thing you seek.

———-

Mark K.

I have taken a bit of time away from this book and from this Journal. Certainly not on purpose, but distracted by the changes at work, the end of the semester, preparing for the Summer, etc.

Today’s Book of Mysteries story is very relevant.  It explains why the snake is a symbol of evil (not evil itself).  Evil twists the truth much the way a snake moves and attacks.  But, also, because it is cold blooded.  Because it is cold blooded it cannot go for very long periods of time, we can out run it, we can outlast it…so is it with our relationship with evil.  We can persevere and outlast it.

A couple things are going on in my life right now.  First, I’m making an effort to focus on things OUTSIDE of work as a primary means of applying myself.  Bible study, music, cycling, writing, etc.  At the same time, I’m still very connected to my work at KVCC, being pulled into changing responsibilities, and experiencing continued challenges there.  I take today’s analogy of my relationship with evil to be an indication of how important it is for me to simply persevere.  I am warm blooded (hot blooded actually!) and the evil attacks cannot outlast me.

My comfort is that I have God on my side.  He demands that I live by his rules, but he is on my side.  If God is on my side, who can stand against me?

There is a lot of contention going on at work, not only with me.  Lots of conversations are happening that need to be more inclusive with those who are going to be impacted by them.  Low level decision makers are trying to make a mark to impress the President and are acting independently.  My role needs to be focused more on my ability to bridge these decisions with those who are impacted by them.  The challenge is, can I persevere with this role and not get “hot headed” to the point that I get in the way of that role?  

I say sometimes that the Social Scientist brings something very important to ever meeting.  They bring a sense of balanced opinion, a demand for evidence, clear thinking and problem solving skills, creativity, and a recognition of multiple perspectives.  The Christian brings something to the table as well.  A sense of what is good, love and kindness, generosity, caring, compassion, and a perseverance that will outlast evil.

The Mission: In the face of whatever evil, trouble, attack, or sin you’re dealing with, don’t give in.  Don’t give up.  But press on in the good.

These are the terms for “Heaven” and “Earth”….the one for Heaven, is plural.  Those things that are of the Earth are finite, hence the singular aspect of the term Aretz for Earthly things.

Shamayim, on the other hand, refers to all things Heavenly, this is plural.  We set our hearts on something…do we set it on something that is finite (such as Earthly things and possessions) or do we set our hearts on infinite things (such as those things in the spiritual realm?

That our bodies were created out of earth, we are definitely in the Earthly realm.  We spend a lot of our time devoted to Earthly things.  In fact, we are not to neglect these things but are called on to be good stewards of the Earth and all that is in it.  This translates to everything from taking care of the planet to eating well and getting rest (taking care of our Earthly vessel, our bodies.)

But just as it says in the Bible about storing up your treasures…do we store them up in the Earthly realm (where they can be stolen or can decompose…as do all things that are Earthly), or do we store things up in Heaven, where nothing can steal them and they last forever?  

This is the real challenge of the modern social world.  There is so much out there to “fill up” or at least, create the semblance of being filled up.  This is a high distraction.  Our world also rewards those who pay attention to these things.  Wealth, fame, and power are all Earthly in many ways and distract us from the real needs that we have to connect with the fountain that will “never run dry” and will address our thirst forever.

The inner drive to find something like this…as we see all over our literature and legend (Holy Grail, Fountain of Youth, etc.), is universal.  Some may have suppressed it to the point that it is pretty much gone, but ultimately we feel a bit empty and lost in the world since we have lost our intimate connection with the universe through God.

The Fall in the Garden was the creation of a barrier between us and the Universe.  Before then we had intimate knowledge of the universe and our place in it.  Perhaps that is why early humans were so able to figure out the world and innovate the way they did.  It would be hard to imagine moder people figuring out how to combine naturally occurring elements to create steel.  

The Mission: What are your possessions?  Today, let go.  Free up your heart of its earthy possessions.  And fill it up with the spiritual and heavenly.

———-

Mark K.