I wonder sometimes how much healthier (emotionally) I'd be if I just simply noticed.
Seeing the world around me as intended rather than as interpreted by MY situation seems to be a better way to live. I thought advent would be a great season to notice. I wonder how things may have worked out for those that decided the coming of the messiah was cause for genocide had they paused and noticed?? Father, help me to notice your hand before I cause harm!! If anyone will come after me they must become as a little child--Messiah
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When you talk about simply noticing, my mind immediately jumps to my desire to live without judging others, without attachment to "things". Hebrews 12 asks us to live in peace with all men and to be holy. What does that look like in 2008?
ReplyDeleteI have been reading some of the wisdom of the desert fathers from the fourth century, and this tale came to mind immediately:
"Abbot Anastasius had a book written on very fine parchment which was worth eighteen pence, and had in it both the Old and New Testaments in full. So that day when Abbot Anastasius went to read his book, and found that it was gone, he realized that the brother had taken it. But he did not send after him to inquire about it for fear that the brother might add perjury to theft. Well, the brother went down into the nearby city in order to sell the book. And the price he asked was sixteen pence. The buyer said: Give me the book that I may find out whether it is worth that much. With that, the buyer took the book to the holy Anatasius and said: Father, take a look at this book, please, and tell me whether you think I ought to buy it for sixteen pence. Is it worth that much? Abbot Anastasius said: Yes, it is a fine book, it is worth that much. So the buyer went back to the brother and said: Here is your money. I showed the book to Abbot Anastasius and he said it is a fine book and is worth at least sixteen pence. But the brother asked: Was that all he said? Did he make any other remarks? No, said the buyer, he did not say another word. Well, said the brother, I have changed my mind and I don't want to sell this book after all. Then he hastened to Abbot Anastasius and begged him with tears to take back his book, but the Abbot would not accept it, saying: Go in peace, brother, I make you a present of it. But the brother said, If you do not take it back I shall never have any peace. After that the brother dwelt with Abbot Anastasius for the rest of his life."
How can we rest so solidly in Christ that we can live without judgement? How can we evangelize not just with words but also by our very existence and with each action that we take?
What an awesome story!! Life could possibly be so much more if we just stopped trying to do God's work for Him and just love well.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean seeing the world around you as intended? You are meant to experience the world around you not just look at it. You need to use your personal experiences to interpret the world around you because without context it means nothing. The key point though is to experience life rather then observe or watch. Things mean so much more when you experience them emotionally even just sympathetically.
ReplyDeletePS switch to decaf bub. also get some sugar
ReplyDeletehey hose,
ReplyDeletenot that i can speak for curtis, but it doesn't sound like he was discrediting the value experience. experience without being cognescent of life is like sleeping-walking.
It seems to me that everyone experiences life in varying degrees, while not everyone observes or sees the real world or is able to see God at work in and around themselves! First of all, our own experience determines our view of ourselves, others, and circumstances. Experience helps us make our own system of drawing conclusions. For example, my parents did not permit anyone to come to the table with a cap on their head. Well, even though I don't think of why I feel this way often, I react strongly to people wearing caps while they are eating even in a fast food restaurant!! I use this example to make a point. Whether I am right or wrong, my opinion of that person's upbringing rests on whether or not they take off their cap to eat!! How distorted!
ReplyDeleteWell, if I can turn this around and remember that everyone else's experience causes them to react, act, or believe certain things. Then I won't be so quick to judge them or tell them how they ought to think. I can realise they are also learning as they walk the road of life, and they are just where God wants them to be! I can be asking God how their experience with me in the picture will help them to come to salvation or growth in Christ as we cross paths.
I think that the idea of being intentional and purposeful goes right along with this. I think what Curtis says here is noticing or intentionally stepping back adn thinking before we speak or act. It seems to me that our attitude is perhaps the most important 'tool' in our 'toolbox' of life. If I can get up each day and ask God to open my eyes to opportunities to bless and finish the day thanking Him for those opportunities, then I am truly living as a disciple. To say it more simply, be like Jesus as I go about my Father's business always desiring to do the Will of God. Then I will be truly blessed and a blessing.