Sparkle
July 31st, 2006,
“We should measure our love for God by our love for man…” (Mis. 12:28)
I love this quote—it is simple yet not quite easy to live up to. A couple of times I have been asked the question “what do you want to gain from your study in CS/life”—(something like that) that’s really a paraphrase…but anyway I’ve always said that I want to be able to love selflessly. Often I put a lot of limitations on who I love and even “how” I express love.
But I am learning that I don’t have to limit those I love to my family and friends—I may express my love to them differently from how I might express it to a stranger on the street but as long as I am continuously acknowledging everyone and seeing them as an expression of God then that’s a step.
I have always wondered how is it possible to love everyone—Sometimes I would find myself saying how much I hate so and so… then immediately I would say well hate is such a strong word—I don’t hate them-- I just cant stand them…or my new phrase –I don’t care for them. This sounds pretty bad—and it is… but I am in a learning curve right now where I am slowly but promisingly “seeing the light”. I found the above quote and the one below really helpful.
“The physician who lacks sympathy for his fellow being is deficient in human affection, and we have the apostolic warrant for asking: "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can heloveGod whom he hath not seen?" Not having this spiritual affection, the physician lacks faith in the divine Mind and has not that recognition of infinite Love which alone confers the healing power. Such so-called Scientists will strain out gnats, while they swallow the camels of bigoted pedantry.” (S&H. 366:14)
These quotes to me are simply asking us to be real—real enough to freely share this “spiritual affection” not only with those we pray with and are involved in our lives one way or the other—but everyone. In order to do this though, I have had to stop judging people, be it from an outlook of their physical being or by their actions. This is not easy.—In fact this has been the hardest part.
But every time when I start with seeing each person as simply expressing God I allow myself to become real with them. I smile, share a greeting, comment them on their style whatever it is---it breaks the barrier and helps me in my journey to loving selflessly.
I love this quote—it is simple yet not quite easy to live up to. A couple of times I have been asked the question “what do you want to gain from your study in CS/life”—(something like that) that’s really a paraphrase…but anyway I’ve always said that I want to be able to love selflessly. Often I put a lot of limitations on who I love and even “how” I express love.
But I am learning that I don’t have to limit those I love to my family and friends—I may express my love to them differently from how I might express it to a stranger on the street but as long as I am continuously acknowledging everyone and seeing them as an expression of God then that’s a step.
I have always wondered how is it possible to love everyone—Sometimes I would find myself saying how much I hate so and so… then immediately I would say well hate is such a strong word—I don’t hate them-- I just cant stand them…or my new phrase –I don’t care for them. This sounds pretty bad—and it is… but I am in a learning curve right now where I am slowly but promisingly “seeing the light”. I found the above quote and the one below really helpful.
“The physician who lacks sympathy for his fellow being is deficient in human affection, and we have the apostolic warrant for asking: "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can heloveGod whom he hath not seen?" Not having this spiritual affection, the physician lacks faith in the divine Mind and has not that recognition of infinite Love which alone confers the healing power. Such so-called Scientists will strain out gnats, while they swallow the camels of bigoted pedantry.” (S&H. 366:14)
These quotes to me are simply asking us to be real—real enough to freely share this “spiritual affection” not only with those we pray with and are involved in our lives one way or the other—but everyone. In order to do this though, I have had to stop judging people, be it from an outlook of their physical being or by their actions. This is not easy.—In fact this has been the hardest part.
But every time when I start with seeing each person as simply expressing God I allow myself to become real with them. I smile, share a greeting, comment them on their style whatever it is---it breaks the barrier and helps me in my journey to loving selflessly.