Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Compassion’ Category

Song of Solomon

[His call] “I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse … Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.” [Her response] “I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?” [but later] I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.” — Song of Solomon 5:1-3, 6

Some see the Biblical “Song of Solomon” as nothing more than ancient poetry but within its pages there is an important lesson — no relationship remains static, it either grows or quietly wains.

Whether with Christ or each other, within a church or secular organization, relationships are quietly built or diminished with personal responsiveness or its lack.

Seth Godin, motivational speaker and blogger, puts it this way

“Most partnerships don’t end up in court.

Most friendships don’t end in a fight.

Most customers don’t leave in a huff.

Instead, when one party feels underappreciated, or perhaps taken advantage of, she stops showing up as often. Stops investing. Begins to move on …

Just because there are no firestorms on the porch doesn’t mean you’re doing okay. More likely, there are relationships out there that need more investment, quiet customers who are unhappy but not making a big deal out of it. They’re worth a lot more than the angry ones.” — Read Seth Godin’s complete post here

It takes alertness to the subtle change and a reaching out.

— fritz@langgang.com
See related post: “Jesus Passing By” – May 21, 2011

Read Full Post »

The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand.”
— Luke 15:29-31 (Message Bible)

Children have a keen sense of fairness. What parent of more than one child hasn’t heard “You’re not being fair!”

Jesus tells the famous parable of “The Prodigal Son” — a young man who rejected his family, took his inheritance early, and went to live the “good life!”. Life happened and it wasn’t good, he realized the real “good life” was back home. To his and his brother’s surprise the father not only took him back but fully restored him to the family giving the ring, robe, and shoes.

It didn’t seem fair to either. Neither child understood the most important factor of true fairness — LOVE. Learning selfless LOVE enables receiving undeserved forgiveness AND it enables rejoicing, without keeping score, when others receive.

Sound bite: “Love is the missing factor of human fairness.”
Prayer: “Jesus, put the love of God in both my heart and mind so I can understand your actions, forgiveness, and grace. Amen”

— fritz@langgang.com

Read Full Post »

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Many are familiar with Jesus’ story of the “Good Samaritan” — a foreigner proves himself neighbor to a man in need when others don’t — but few notice why Jesus told it.

Luke noticed. A man who already knew the Bible law was trying to justify his views by asking “Who is my neighbor?” — just who was he required to love?

His culture distinguished between people groups.

His people kept their own as hard luck slaves no more than seven years but foreigners forever. His people couldn’t charge their own loan interest but they could foreigners. His ate no unclean animals but sold them to foreigners. His called foreigners “Dogs”. This man was seeking justification for his cultural view of justice.

But Jesus told of a foreigner who held no such distinctions — He had compassion on anyone in need, not just his own. As a Samaritan, that man’s religious beliefs were way off target but his heart was spot on.

This tells us at least two (2) things:
1. Everyone deserves compassion, not just our own;
2. Jesus doesn’t justify our views on anything — he offers forgiveness, healing, and change of heart.

fritz@langgang.com

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts