it is possible then, to arise, to feel the warmth, nourishing warmth of the sun and listen to the sounds of people waking up, going about their daily business, arising from yet another night of restless wandering and wondering about in the labyrinths of the mind, lost, alone, unhappy...and to arise happy, feeling it spreading slowly across the expanse of heart...gradually reaching into the crevices and cracks of a broken heart.
it is possible to remember the wounds, and yet wake up with compassion also spreading across in renewed understanding of one's own weaknesses, and other's weaknesses...with something akin to full-fledged forgiveness, but not yet, it is instinctive, it is not quite rational. it comes from somewhere deeper. with that understanding comes the strength to look at the bigger picture, the vast tapestry where all of us are interlinked inextricably.
compassion spreads, and it is a way path towards love.
the ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well - Elisabeth Kubler - Ross
2 comments:
The Letter to the Philippians was written by a prisoner, so at first it
may seem strange that the keynote of the book is joy. After serving a
two-year prison sentence in Caesarea, Paul was now in prison in Rome.
But he wrote about joy. Either he was lying or he knew something that we
need to learn.
Missionary E. Stanley Jones wrote, “The Stoic endures trouble; the
Hindu accepts; the [Muslim] submits; the Buddhist takes it as inevitable;
only the Christian exults in the midst of trouble.” Do you exult? Do you
have a sense of rejoicing in your life?
In Philippians Paul twice wrote: “Rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians
3:1, 4:4, NIV). If someone who had no background in suffering, no years of
experience, no prison sentence, just said, “Don't worry, be happy,” it
would sound shallow. However, in this case it's powerful, because the
author has suffered beatings, imprisonment, stoning and shipwreck.
In Philippians 3:1, in the original Greek, the verse is rendered, “Be
constantly rejoicing.” This prisoner is saying, “Be constantly, as a
manner of lifestyle, rejoicing.” This means that joy is something set
apart from our circumstances. Joy has to do with what's going on inside us.
Joy needs to be guarded -- it's easy to lose our perspective and go
through life with our eyes on the wrong things. We need to focus on our
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Joy is not an automatic response. Joy is a choice, and it is a learned
response. Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be
content” (Philippians 4:11, NKJV). Paul says that we learn to be joyful.
It wouldn't make sense if Paul said, “Rejoice in your circumstances,”
because some circumstances in our lives are not worth rejoicing about.
Joy is not just putting on a smile. If I drop a typewriter on my foot
and break my foot, I don't say, “Praise the Lord! I broke my foot.” But
despite mishaps, we can choose to rejoice in the Lord Jesus. Jesus said,
“I am the vine, you are the branches. ... These things I have spoken to
you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full”
(John 15:5,11, NKJV).
We need to remind ourselves that God is still on the throne and that
“in all things God really does work together for good for those who love
Him” (Cf. Romans 8:2.
Paul wrote, “Rejoice in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:3, NKJV). Here the
word “rejoice,” in the original Greek, means “to brag” or “to boast
in.” That's what Paul was saying: “I'm not bragging about what I've done.
I'm not bragging about being a Jewish person. I'm not bragging about my
circumcision. I'm bragging about Jesus Christ. I rejoice in Him. Look
at what He has done” (Cf. Philippians 3:3-4).
Circumstances change, and we may not know when difficult times will
come. However, through our relationship with Jesus, we can have joy, even
in times of suffering. Then, as Paul did, we too can say, “I'm
rejoicing in Christ. Look at what He has done!” (Cf. Philippians 3:3-4).
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your gift of salvation to us. We know that no
matter what problems we face, nothing can separate us from the love of
Christ. As we seek to share this Good News with the world, help us to
rejoice in Your goodness. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
[Firebird]
thank u for ur comment, it has much food for thought...and thanks for dropping by as well...
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