Sort of a freestyle ramble, partially inspired by Ken’s recent announcement of a piece about the house of prayer being under attack having been featured.
Houses of prayer are always under attack, with words if not with swords. People tear each other down, so that they can stand on the rubble and call it a holy mountain.
There is nothing holy about it, though. If it were holy, it would be built on teachings, not on destruction.
It is said ...
It is said, before you can know a man, you must walk a mile in his shoes
I say, before you can judge a man’s religion you must slip off your shoes, and enter in .. to his house, to his temple, to his church building, mosque, synagogue, or Kingdom Hall.
I say, before you can judge a man’s religion you must slip off your shoes, and enter in .. to his house, to his temple, to his church building, mosque, synagogue, or Kingdom Hall.
If not literally, at least figuratively.
I mean, seriously, would you want to be judged based on what your enemies say of you? Do you hate your children, because someone at their school called them a dweeb? Are your feelings, thoughts, ideas, and beliefs so ephemeral, so flighty, that they waver at every slightest breeze of hot breath of opinion that spills from another’s mouth?
Can you learn how to operate a V.C.R. without it meaning that you are disloyal to your toaster?
Extrapolate data, test theories, question beliefs – your own, theirs, everyone’s. If you do not understand why something does not seem to make sense, demand answer. Yes, even from God demand answer. Scream to the heaven that you do not understand, that if God wants you to follow him, you need to understand so he better show you what makes sense.
Want it! Take a bite out of information and feel it melt upon your tongue, slide down your throat, and lodge itself in your heart and spleen, like courage .. like love.
Why does this man believe what he believes? What does he believe? Is it harmful and to whom? Should you cower against the wall when he passes by, or invite him to dinner? Is he the enemy? Or, is he a misguided creation, as, to some extent, are we all, and nothing more sinister than that. Does he rebel against God? Does he rebel against Man?
Look into his eyes, slip into his shoes, wriggle your toes around and get the feel of his soul, and listen .. .that’s what ears are for. Question . .that’s what mouths are for. Think .. that’s what brains are for. Love .. that’s what hearts are for.
We are all a reflection of God. Some reflections are distorted through abuse, misuse, shoddy building materials that went into the making of the mirror, but, all are reflections, all the same. We are all one Race, from one Creator. There is no “us” to be against “them” in Man, because we are all Man. There is one “us” and we are “them”.
Are you an atheist? Then one of us is an atheist. Are you a jew? Then one of us is a Jew. Are you a homosexual? Then one of us is a homosexual. Are you a cold blooded killer? Then one of us is a cold blooded killer. And, we are all responsible to seek out how to live in the way that is right, to upbuild each other, and to help heal those who are distorted.
Firstly, we are responsible to heal ourselves. Do not embrace what you know is wrong, even if it is the easiest path. This does you damage. If you feel inadequate, then you are inadequate. Though, it may only be because you believe that you are. Seek your strength and rely on God to help you use it wisely. Seek your weakness, and rely on God to be your shield. Only when you are strong and well protected can you stand in the mad battle of life as a protector for those who have yet to learn to stand on their own two feet at all.
And, then, you must heal others, upbuild others – which can never be done by force. Do not lie, do not judge as worth more or less than others. Remember that you had weaknesses, too; and, help them find their strengths, so that, one day, they, too, are strong enough to face their weaknesses and overcome them.
Im a Universalist. It’s there so I belive in it.
its all the Church and every day its different. Thats the way God planned it " – ))
Faith in and reliance on God is the “answer” to so many of our difficulties.. even if we must scream or pray or ask or shout to Him for understanding …and are willing not only to WAIT for an answer but to ACT upon the answer when it is received… though we may not fully even understand that answer at the time.
Words fail me to say more.. except to thank you for writing this!!!!!
BRAVO
I try not judge people, but just the same I get judged. I do not like everybody, and am surely not liked by everybody. It is very hard to claim to be “right” in this world and not be hypocrite.