Hello, everyone. Today’s blog might seem a bit strange unless I give you a bit of background. Recently, I spoke in a religious setting about the importance of being lovingly honest and direct with one another if we want to build a healthy, trusting, supportive group. This went down very badly with some of those present. One, in particular, said we should be paying very little attention to our thoughts and feelings, but rather “deconstructing” ourselves, until there is nothing personal left at all. With this approach, feelings, thoughts and honesty have very little importance. Rather, they would be seen as childish and immature.
I do hope I’ve done justice to this man’s words. I thought about what he had said for a long time afterwards, and eventually wrote the prayer/poem below. Remembering that we can’t all think the same, do see what you think.
**************************************
Lord, you never said
We should detach ourselves from life;
You came so we can have life
To the full.
You never said
That we should deconstruct ourselves;
You came so we can have life
To the full.
You never said
Get rid of your emotions;
You loved, wept, raged –
And lived life to the full.
***********************************
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).
Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus (John 11:5; NLT).
Then Jesus wept (John 11:35; NLT).
When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry (Mark 10:14; NLT).
He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).
Oh, and I’ve just been reading about detachment too! :D I’ll write what I think just now, Ruth, but it’s getting on for evening with the usual feelings of tiredness that seem to overwhelm me at this time … so if what I write seems jumbled, that’s the reason. I didn’t want to leave it till tomorrow.
I think there are certain things that we can aim to detach ourselves from, e.g. the lusting after money, negative situations, negative people … but it would seem too difficult (and perhaps not to be advised) to detach ourselves from our feelings and emotions. I think to try to do so would render us as nothing but an automaton, and then how could we help and support each other?
I suppose it depends on the situation in which we feel the need to speak with loving honesty. Perhaps sometimes it’s better to say nothing … then again, it could be damaging to say nothing at all. Probably, the best example is Jesus himself who always spoke with honesty whenever his disciples argued among themselves. He never watered down anything to appease anyone, but spoke in a forthright manner, but also in a loving one.
I also think that God wouldn’t want us to be like empty vessels for the purpose of channeling messages through.
I’m going to give this more time – these are just some initial thoughts that came to mind.
XXX