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Something struck me as I was contemplating the end of this month’s resolution (to suffer more in kindness) and the beginning of next month’s resolution (to envy less). I was trying to figure out if I would post more about suffering long in kindness or if I should shift to an initial examination of envying less. Suddenly, something struck me as I looked at how my resolution for the year was constructed – and I simply want to share it now, before I start to analyze the application of it each month. Over the last two years, I have grown to understand that the Sermon on the Mount is a grand encapsulation of the journey to godliness and perfection (completion, wholeness and full development). It is a delineation of the central characteristics of godliness, but it also is an explanation of the process by which such characteristics are internalized in the process of becoming something more than our mortal natures – in the process of developing the proper eternal nature. I wrote a post about this concept last June 27th entitled, “An Epiphany Regarding ‘Ask, Seek, Find’ – A Truly Beautiful Message”. (
http://thingsofmysoul.blogspot.com/2009/06/epiphany-regarding-ask-seek-find-truly.html As I remembered this, and as I looked at my resolution for this year, it struck me that 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is structured according to the same eternal round – that it also shows not only the central nature of godliness but also that it is arranged to show the practical process by which that nature can be internalized to make us Beings better than we naturally are. These verses are a ladder to Heaven, just as the Sermon on the Mount is that same ladder – built slightly differently, but “True” (pointed in the proper direction) in the same way.
As I continue to analyze these verses over the course of this year, I hope that the progressive nature of each manifestation is apparent – and I hope I remember to make that progression clear from one month to the next. The first step is to show how learning to suffer more in kindness leads inexorably to envying less, and I hope to make that connection clear by the end of next month.
Old-Timer wrote:learning to suffer more in kindness leads inexorably to envying less
This jumped out at me Ray. Not sure if you’re looking for my 2 cents….
😳 Charity is about intention, imho. Suffering more in kindness, therefore, is an act of charity with the purest of intentions: no expectations. Using that as the framework, envy is breaking the emotional health, the pure intention. It comes with baggage: expectations. “Why am I not as ‘blessed’ as he is?” Again, if the charity is pure, the intention pure, the expectation is non-existent. Thus, there could be no envy, for, without expectation, there is nothing to “compare and contrast”. It all simply is what it is. Pure, unconditional love will indeed suffer more in kindness. And, that kindness will extend to all, both directly and indirectly. Without external expectations, or internal expectations for that matter, there is no scoreboard, no “what have you done for me lately”. It’s simply pure intent.
Excellent! swimordie wrote:Old-Timer wrote:learning to suffer more in kindness leads inexorably to envying less
This jumped out at me Ray. Not sure if you’re looking for my 2 cents….
😳 Charity is about intention, imho. Suffering more in kindness, therefore, is an act of charity with the purest of intentions: no expectations. Using that as the framework, envy is breaking the emotional health, the pure intention. It comes with baggage: expectations. “Why am I not as ‘blessed’ as he is?” Again, if the charity is pure, the intention pure, the expectation is non-existent. Thus, there could be no envy, for, without expectation, there is nothing to “compare and contrast”. It all simply is what it is. Pure, unconditional love will indeed suffer more in kindness. And, that kindness will extend to all, both directly and indirectly. Without external expectations, or internal expectations for that matter, there is no scoreboard, no “what have you done for me lately”. It’s simply pure intent.
Love these! Another angle is the approach of unity; we ARE one. As we grow in Spirit, we learn that we are not separate, and as “one,” there is never anything to envy. We simply rejoice in the joy of each of us together, and suffer together too. I think it is the natural extension of the teaching to love another as oneself.
Rix wrote:Another angle is the approach of unity; we ARE one. As we grow in Spirit, we learn that we are not separate, and as “one,” there is never anything to envy. We simply rejoice in the joy of each of us together, and suffer together too. I think it is the natural extension of the teaching to love another as oneself.
Wow, Rix. Oneness certainly dispels envy and strife. How can I envy myself or argue with myself? This is going to sound super-heretical to some people, but one of my recent self-talk maxims is, “[person’s name], God, may very well be me. I, God, may very well be [person’s name].” The nature of reality is part of our discovery, isn’t it?
Great thoughts, everyone. I love the way you’ve all looked at this. Thanks! Swim, I might quote you without citation in a future resolutions post on my blog – since I don’t want to link here from there.
Tom Haws wrote:Rix wrote:Another angle is the approach of unity; we ARE one. As we grow in Spirit, we learn that we are not separate, and as “one,” there is never anything to envy. We simply rejoice in the joy of each of us together, and suffer together too. I think it is the natural extension of the teaching to love another as oneself.
Wow, Rix. Oneness certainly dispels envy and strife. How can I envy myself or argue with myself? This is going to sound super-heretical to some people, but one of my recent self-talk maxims is, “[person’s name], God, may very well be me. I, God, may very well be [person’s name].” The nature of reality is part of our discovery, isn’t it?
Yes Tom, I love how you put that! The oneness paradigm answers alotta questions, doesn’t it?!
Tom Haws wrote:This is going to sound super-heretical to some people, but one of my recent self-talk maxims is, “[person’s name], God, may very well be me. I, God, may very well be [person’s name].” The nature of reality is part of our discovery, isn’t it?
I guess it may sound heretical, but I absolutely love it, Tom!!!
Old-Timer wrote:
Swim, I might quote you without citation in a future resolutions post on my blog – since I don’t want to link here from there.I’m humbled by the proposition, Ray!! Have at it!!
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