The more I study, observe, reflect, pray, live, the surer I am that there's this greater understanding of people.`
It transcends organized religion, judgment, morals, values, opinions, beliefs, lifestyles, choices, circumstance. It has more to do with broad spirituality, a certain awareness. A kind heart, and open mind.
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It's an understanding that will beget acceptance and love, regardless of our differences, yours and mine.
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I'm not saying I've attained this understanding. Or that I fully grasp it, even. It's bigger than you, bigger than me. But I feel like I've seen glimpses.
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When one I loved was dying, and his hereafter was imminent.
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When I met someone who was different from me, in most outward, conceivable ways, and I enjoyed being with him anyway. Because I saw that there was no right to wrong, no bad to good, no my way to his.
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When I accepted that another woman is no better than me, no worse than me, though we spend our time in such opposite worlds, with opposing morals and pastimes. I will love and celebrate her anyway.
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It comes down to more than I can take in with my own eyes. You know? Because not everything can be explained away in black and white, categorized as yes or no, placed in my treasure box or yours. Who am I to imagine otherwise? To think I'm privileged with belief, or that I have an advantage through my lifestyle?
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When I embrace it, this way of thinking and trust, I feel most right in my heart. With God. In the world.
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What do you think? What's your philosophy?
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picture by p.j. mcadie at flickr.com
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picture by p.j. mcadie at flickr.com
31 comments:
Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with my God.
I love that image. And I think (hope) this type of understanding is something growing in the world. This seems to be the understanding that would ultimately bring that peace and happiness of all beings that we all hope for. And as a writer, you can of course do a lot about it, right?
I have this written on my Website: I write to understand who I am. I love to let go of who I am. I live to represent Him.
That about sums it up.
Happy Friday, woman.
~ Wendy
Love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Love my neighbor as myself.
:-)
Someone gave me a little paperweight a long time ago that says "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Kindness comes in many forms and I hope I spread a little kindness in some way every day.
I try to live my life by His word, listening for every whisper, but understand that my walk with Him evolves every single day.
Janna, I think on context, so often. How we all grow, internationally, within our own environments, and too, within our own cultures. Culture can be more than race and ethnicity, but rather our choices day to day in how we live. One context can not be right over another. It is simpy how we filter both our now and whatever the ultimate truth is.
And too, there is the fact that we are all on our own individual journeys, no two at the same point, so of course we will express differently. Let's learn from one another.
Mornin' you welcoming woman.
xo
erin
I think none of us can even come close to understanding God's love. Wishing you an awe-inspiring day today. Hugs :O)
This was beautiful, I love the picture you painted throughout this post. I think it's important to embrace every struggle that comes your way, and each time change comes your philosophy should evolve.
Happy Friday!
The Golden Rule.
Hear, hear! That's beautiful, and I agree. We are more alike than different.
How many problems in the world could be solved if we all tried to develop this philosophy. For starters, there would be no war. Think of that.
I love what Capri said.
Sigh. The Gospel can be reduced to several of Christ's wonderful verses.
...“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37
P
This was the most beautiful post ever! Your soul is the same as your capacity to love. It is bottomless and has no boundaries.
Love your broad definition of love and acceptance. The Teacher would certainly approve, since it was His most frequent message. :) Hugs
My philosophy is grace and more grace, unless I see someone hurting you--then I'm gonna say something.
I love this new look! And you.
What a fabulous blog post. You're as beautiful inside as you are out, Janna. *hugs*
Life life to the fullest each day. Don't stop believing in anything. Things are impossible if you believe them to be. Pull in your full with everything you get.
If you knew me you'd think I'd see the cup as half full. Really, in all actuality, I actually see it as just half. Why? There's just no way of telling. It's only slightly half full if you poured in another drop.
But I still remain optimistic at most.
I think you are a very wise woman, my friend.
Beautiful, Janna, and very honest. Loved it.
I know nothing in the end, but an oft undeserved kindness showered on me by friends and strangers, even in my darkest days, when any god may have said I deserved nothing. I hope I have done the same with my life and what little I have to give. I guess my philosophy this year is to listen to others and HEAR them right where they are--A year of love.
Good post and interesting comments.
I like Jessica Nelson's reply--loving God is the right thing to do, but no one said it was easy in this world.
I believe that my life is an on-going process...of learning, understanding and evolving. I learn from every difficult situation, conflict, experience good or bad...it keeps me going and growing, with never a drab moment.
To chase after the heart of Christ. To live as He lived. Walk as He walked. To love as He loved.
What a lovely and powerful reflection. I agree with all of it. The more space I can make in my heart for love, the more love I bring to my life. Thank you for this to ponder as I travel home today.
Thank you so much for finding/visiting my blog! I love yours, I will come back! LOVE your philosophy and share it!
love.
Carrie
My philosophy is to love people because He first loved me. Makes livin here on earth much more tolerable until that day he takes me home. Forgive too. That's a real biggie.
Stephen Tremp
I guess the way I live my life is by something my mother taught me.
She said, "If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything."
I see too many people passing judgments on others without knowing anything about them.
i there!
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This week I put this on my fridge: "Walk with positivity and see who joins you." I think I'll make it my philosophy for a while.
Great post Janna!
We are most comfortable with boxes for people, ideas, experiences, things. But that's not the reality.
We're made for relationship. That's where we will find our truest, deepest comfort.
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