A (Somewhat Trivial) Request for Advice and Help

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August 8, 2010 at 2:37 am #205266

Anonymous
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I have been cross-posting my weekly New Year’s Resolution posts from my personal blog to this forum for some time now. The following is what I posted tonight, and I would like to ask for your input here, as well.

When I wrote my New Year’s Resolution post (http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-years-resolution-2010.html) at the beginning of the year, I had no idea what my life would be like at the beginning of this month – and how difficult it would be to write the introductory post for my resolution this month. I have been incredibly busy this week, and I have had a very hard time organizing my thoughts to begin my focus on “rejoicing less in iniquity and more in truth”. Therefore, I am doing something I have not done in the 2 1/2 years I’ve been pursuing this resolutions path – not writing a post at the beginning of the month and asking instead for input and help in beginning and framing this focus. I simply am at a loss.

So, please consider my resolution this month and give me advice about how you would begin to address the idea that charity “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth”.

August 9, 2010 at 7:04 am #233886

Anonymous
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Well, I’ve never passed up an opportunity to put in my two cents so… why start now? 😳

This one’s really tough and I make up that it may be tough for you too, Ray, because on the surface it elicits a black/white construct. With my current “view”, I feel that “iniquity” is simply a lesson being taught by the universe. And truth is the “light” inside all of us. Therefore, “iniquity” is not following the “light” and “truth” is embracing the “light”.

Sorry if this is oversimplified but I think there is another part of charity and that is being charitable to oneself. In that context, one accepts that one will make mistakes, go against the “light” but in that process one learns, re-embraces the light and rejoices in the “truth” learned. In many ways, this is the whole point of life: learning, growing, progressing and loving. But loving oneself is equally as important as loving others.

I come to this conclusion in part because my own “view” supposes that both iniquity and truth are personal. Therefore the charity extended in this context is charity to oneself.

August 9, 2010 at 12:51 pm #233887

Anonymous
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Thanks, swim. I really like that, and I hadn’t thought of that particular application.

August 11, 2010 at 11:27 pm #233888
Anonymous
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My view of the first half is kind of simple. I take it as an invitation to consider whether I have any of the spirit of vengeance and separation that cause me to rejoice when bad things happen to others. If I am possessed by love, I feel at one with others, and I feel their setbacks and victories along with them almost as if I were they. This is one of the facets of how this this passage illuminates charity in a way helps explain how I could give all my goods to the poor and give my body to be burned and still have no charity.

The second half, on the other hand (about rejoicing in the truth), still eludes me. I have some ideas about it, but I have no sense that they are “right”. About all I can do is try continual re-statements of the passage.

Charity doesn’t grin when something bad befalls, but loves knowing that others and self are one.

Charity isn’t a gloater, but instead empathizes in pure knowledge of the unity of mankind.

Charity doesn’t dance at the doom of others, but dances in continual harmony.

Charity knows that all things will be made right in the end, so it doesn’t delight in exacting justice today.

Charity loves not that evil befalls, but delights to know that all is as it should be eternally.

*shrug*