Three things last:
faith, hope, and love,
but the greatest of them
is love. ~ Saul of Tarsus, Christian Apostle
Hatred does not cease by hatred,
but only by love;
this is the eternal rule. ~ Gautama Buddha
Bear, being short on time, but wanting to "hang in" with the A - Z Challenge, will be brief.
I was asked sometime ago by a friend, how to define the word "love," as it appears in the Bible. He was really unsatisfied with a lot of the current language that is being used.
I said perhaps compassion would be the best word in our time and place.
He wrote back, saying, "Yeah. That works."
I'm not thinking of erotic attraction or friendship. The love I'm considering in intentional. It doesn't depend on liking, or not liking, a person or people.
That's why it runs all the way of simple kindness to complex justice, which has been my point for the last couple of days.
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
J IS FOR JUSTICE — ANOTHER SIDE OF LOVE
An advisory
This post is coming to you in pieces. I know what I want to tell you, but I haven't had time to put it together.It's been a busy day; a good day, with lots of things happening — so nobody needs to worry. Extra sleeping, shopping, new work, cleaning up. J has run away to San Francisco, via Vancouver, where she met up with her high-school girlfriend. It's pretty safe letting those two out together.
Thinking Justice
I think of justice as complementary in nature love. If you say you love someone, the very least you will do is see that person is treated in a fair and just matter. With a justice that goes beyond the letter of the law. The Hebrew prophets, including Jesus, often spoke of the importance of treating people justly.Another way of looking at this is by seeing justice and love as two sides of the same coin. That is the approach taken by Joseph Fletcher in his 1966 book Situation Ethics: The New Morality. Fletcher argues that love ad justice are the same thing, and he says "justice is love distributed."
Thinking Beyond Justice
There is one other thing that fits with this. Beyond love and justice, there is also kindness in our personal relations. I'll deal with that next.Monday, July 25, 2011
WELL, I WOKE UP SUNDAY MORNING . . . (2)
SO, I got to the point of saying Jesus didn't die for our sins.
Now, on to something which people may find even more puzzling.
I'm less and less inclined to think, or talk, of "sin." For four reasons.
First, I've thought, for a very long time, that humans are naturally self-centred. Which seems logical. If you aren't concerned about your welfare, if you don't pay attention to living, you die. That seems incredibly simple.
Second, I think that all of us are spiritual beings having a human experience. I take it to be true that we are "made in the image of God." Which means that, on some level, we are divine beings.
That being said, the third point. As self-centred beings, and also divine beings, having an "unusual" experience. How do we fit in? That is the question that stays with us all through our lives. We might use the word "socialization," or something like that. The overall message is that kindness, or compassion, is the most helpful thing. And that, really, is the opposition of self-centredness.
So we reach the point of recognizing that we are imperfect people, living in an imperfect world. Yes, we have "defects of character," because we have not learned entirely to fit into the community which surrounds us, and we're still worried about our own self-preservation. One of the functions of faith, or spirituality, or whatever you call it, is to find creative ways to live with one another.
In the end, the conflict is between self and community. And the more uncertain — more frightened — we become, the more we are likely to focus on self-preservation, and the less likely we are to focus on community. Which is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing. Because we cannot do it all ourselves. Simply put, my survival depends on your survival.
We don't normally think of life on such stark terms. We often tend to consider ourself as self-made people, who worship our creator (i.e., ourselves).
Yes, I know; that is a lot of territory to cover in a short space. But I'm trying not to bore you.
Now, on to something which people may find even more puzzling.
I'm less and less inclined to think, or talk, of "sin." For four reasons.
First, I've thought, for a very long time, that humans are naturally self-centred. Which seems logical. If you aren't concerned about your welfare, if you don't pay attention to living, you die. That seems incredibly simple.
Second, I think that all of us are spiritual beings having a human experience. I take it to be true that we are "made in the image of God." Which means that, on some level, we are divine beings.
That being said, the third point. As self-centred beings, and also divine beings, having an "unusual" experience. How do we fit in? That is the question that stays with us all through our lives. We might use the word "socialization," or something like that. The overall message is that kindness, or compassion, is the most helpful thing. And that, really, is the opposition of self-centredness.
So we reach the point of recognizing that we are imperfect people, living in an imperfect world. Yes, we have "defects of character," because we have not learned entirely to fit into the community which surrounds us, and we're still worried about our own self-preservation. One of the functions of faith, or spirituality, or whatever you call it, is to find creative ways to live with one another.
In the end, the conflict is between self and community. And the more uncertain — more frightened — we become, the more we are likely to focus on self-preservation, and the less likely we are to focus on community. Which is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing. Because we cannot do it all ourselves. Simply put, my survival depends on your survival.
We don't normally think of life on such stark terms. We often tend to consider ourself as self-made people, who worship our creator (i.e., ourselves).
Yes, I know; that is a lot of territory to cover in a short space. But I'm trying not to bore you.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
FOCUSED
It was a week or so ago that I wrote about the experience of feeling "diminished" by all the "editing" we are doing in our lives, and our life together. All because we are moving into an apartment which has about half the size of our house, and has little storage space.
A lot of things are going to Village Green (our Mennonite-operated thrift or "goodwill" shop). A lot of paper is being recycled. All of this is good.
It also means I'm engaged in a process of sorting out what is important.
What do I really want to do in this last stage of my life (my "psychosocial development"), where the virtue is wisdom, and the options are integrity (i.e., wholeness) or despair? (This, according to psychologist Erik Erikson.)
In addition to my personal introspection, I'll continue to work (in one way or another) on ethical projects. Those include health care and animal welfare. But they will also include a closer involvement in issues of poverty, hunger, and homelessness. I may not be able to walk as much at rallies, but my fingers move quickly, and my thoughts can be sharp. (Such things happen when you combine a journalist and an ethicist.)
I'm not changing my commitment to life, and to others around me. To change would mean betraying who and what I have been, and am. What is changing is the manner in which I live out my commitment. But I'm not changing that commitment.
A lot of things are going to Village Green (our Mennonite-operated thrift or "goodwill" shop). A lot of paper is being recycled. All of this is good.
It also means I'm engaged in a process of sorting out what is important.
What do I really want to do in this last stage of my life (my "psychosocial development"), where the virtue is wisdom, and the options are integrity (i.e., wholeness) or despair? (This, according to psychologist Erik Erikson.)
In addition to my personal introspection, I'll continue to work (in one way or another) on ethical projects. Those include health care and animal welfare. But they will also include a closer involvement in issues of poverty, hunger, and homelessness. I may not be able to walk as much at rallies, but my fingers move quickly, and my thoughts can be sharp. (Such things happen when you combine a journalist and an ethicist.)
I'm not changing my commitment to life, and to others around me. To change would mean betraying who and what I have been, and am. What is changing is the manner in which I live out my commitment. But I'm not changing that commitment.
Monday, July 26, 2010
OH GIVE ME A HOME …
It doesn't have to be a "home on the range." It just needs to be a nice home — reasonably clean, where taps, and lights, and things like that work properly.
Sadly, there are a lot of people who don't have decent housing.
So I put some thoughts together on my Bears Noting blog. It's a bit heavier thinking than I normally do here. But if you're concerned about how some of us live, take a peek.
(And if you would care to comment, please leave your comment there.)
Hmmmm. . . . did somebody say something about unpopular beliefs and ideas?
Sadly, there are a lot of people who don't have decent housing.
So I put some thoughts together on my Bears Noting blog. It's a bit heavier thinking than I normally do here. But if you're concerned about how some of us live, take a peek.
(And if you would care to comment, please leave your comment there.)
Hmmmm. . . . did somebody say something about unpopular beliefs and ideas?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
TAKING RISKS — HOPEFULLY SURVIVING
Sonia (over at Gutsy Writer) got me thinking about this topic a few days ago. I had some questions for myself.
What does it mean do take risks?
Why should I take risks?
What kinds of risks could/should/would I take?
I've taken a lot of risks in my life. Changing jobs; changing careers; moving across a country for work; walking into burning buildings with nothing more than an inch and a half (diameter) fire hose; getting married; having children; writing, broadcasting and blogging; upholding unpopular beliefs and ideas. In each case, these were things I did because I thought they were the right thing to do. A couple of those proved to be really bad (two were health destroying); the vast majority were good, and I'd do them again.
Even though I'm hitting retirement, I don't expect my attitude will change much. I'm probably a bit old for walking into burning buildings and having more children. I'll probably spend more time upholding unpopular ideas, in a time when democracy, human rights, co-operation, citizen action, and faith are all under attack, particularly in North America.
I'd love to have you come along. And if you're coming along, I really hope you will chat with me about what you and I are thinking.
Do we have a deal?
What does it mean do take risks?
Why should I take risks?
What kinds of risks could/should/would I take?
I've taken a lot of risks in my life. Changing jobs; changing careers; moving across a country for work; walking into burning buildings with nothing more than an inch and a half (diameter) fire hose; getting married; having children; writing, broadcasting and blogging; upholding unpopular beliefs and ideas. In each case, these were things I did because I thought they were the right thing to do. A couple of those proved to be really bad (two were health destroying); the vast majority were good, and I'd do them again.
Even though I'm hitting retirement, I don't expect my attitude will change much. I'm probably a bit old for walking into burning buildings and having more children. I'll probably spend more time upholding unpopular ideas, in a time when democracy, human rights, co-operation, citizen action, and faith are all under attack, particularly in North America.
I'd love to have you come along. And if you're coming along, I really hope you will chat with me about what you and I are thinking.
Do we have a deal?
Sunday, June 27, 2010
LAMENT FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2010
Two very different events, contests of a sort, are making news today.
On one hand, the FIFA World Cup of Football (or Soccer) continues in South Africa. The defending champions, Italy, and the highly favoured French, have been knocked out of contention, along with the United States. One of today's key matches pits England against Germany. The quote that hangs in the air comes from Bill Shankley, a former Liverpool manager. "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I can assure them it's much more serious than that."
On the North American continent, leaders of the 20 major industrial countries, the so-called G20, are meeting in Toronto, Canada. Their presence has be marked by large, peaceful protests, but also violent and destructive action by anarchists. In the midst of talk about global banking and economic reform, and the possibility of a second recession, ordinary people on the street are asking, "What about us, and those even less fortunate? What about safe food, clean water, pure air, effective health care — especially for women and children?" Real matters of life and death, or things perhaps "much more serious than that."
Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy, immortal one,
Have mercy upon us.
On one hand, the FIFA World Cup of Football (or Soccer) continues in South Africa. The defending champions, Italy, and the highly favoured French, have been knocked out of contention, along with the United States. One of today's key matches pits England against Germany. The quote that hangs in the air comes from Bill Shankley, a former Liverpool manager. "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I can assure them it's much more serious than that."
On the North American continent, leaders of the 20 major industrial countries, the so-called G20, are meeting in Toronto, Canada. Their presence has be marked by large, peaceful protests, but also violent and destructive action by anarchists. In the midst of talk about global banking and economic reform, and the possibility of a second recession, ordinary people on the street are asking, "What about us, and those even less fortunate? What about safe food, clean water, pure air, effective health care — especially for women and children?" Real matters of life and death, or things perhaps "much more serious than that."
Holy God,
Holy and mighty,
Holy, immortal one,
Have mercy upon us.
Monday, February 1, 2010
DESERT EPIPHANIES — "BIBLICAL AND POST-BIBLICAL (GREEK) CHRISTIANITY"
While I've been busy telling you about Bears Noting, I didn't mention my other blog: Desert Epiphanies. That's were I do my wonderings about God, faith, and the world.
Ironically, I have blogged there before my promised comments on Bears Noting. In this case it is about the Greek influence in the writing of the New Testament and Christian doctrine, which confounds many peoples' ability to believe today. That confusion arises because we do not live in the context of Greek philosophy, particularly the writings of Plato and Aristotle.
What we need to do is find a 21st century context for our faith, realizing that ideas are going to be "lost in translation." I'm sure that's going to be scary for many people. And helpful to others.
If you're wondering about this, click on the link and hop over.
Ironically, I have blogged there before my promised comments on Bears Noting. In this case it is about the Greek influence in the writing of the New Testament and Christian doctrine, which confounds many peoples' ability to believe today. That confusion arises because we do not live in the context of Greek philosophy, particularly the writings of Plato and Aristotle.
What we need to do is find a 21st century context for our faith, realizing that ideas are going to be "lost in translation." I'm sure that's going to be scary for many people. And helpful to others.
If you're wondering about this, click on the link and hop over.
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