Tag: christ jesus

Keeping score or giving 100%?

Published on by lindseybiggs2 Comments

“It’s not about power; it’s about love.”

This is a beautiful statement that I heard last night.

I was sharing with some friends that my husband often gets up with me when I can’t sleep and will make pancakes for me, watch a movie with me or pray for me.

One of our friends was being cheeky and asked him, “how long do you think this power over you will last?” My husband replied, “it’s not about power; it’s about love.”

Beautiful! He summed up the impetus behind our family’s motives and actions much better than I could.

Often we think about relationships in terms of keeping score – making sure we are doing an equal amount of loving acts, favors and signs of affection for one another.

However, there is a more spiritual way to look at things.

Early on in our marriage, my husband and I were given the gift of attending a seminar called “Celebrate marriage!” (we had only been married a couple of weeks at this time). The speaker shared many valuable things; one idea that has stuck with me is that marriage isn’t about each person giving 50%. Marriage is about each person giving 100%. When each person in a marriage gives 100% all the time, there is no withholding of love or affection. Each person is looking for opportunities to give all the time.

Wow, what a revolutionary and spiritual view of relationships! It really symbolizes our relationship to God, who is always pouring out more love than we could ever accept! God’s love is unconditional (this is illustrated in Christ Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, for instance). And God doesn’t keep score – thankfully! 🙂

So, if we are made in God’s image and likeness that means we are capable of loving unselfishly – the way God loves. We can pour out love to the people around us – taking every opportunity to give and not worry about what we might get in return.

This seems like a tall order, but it’s nothing more than a mental discipline – not giving in to fears about lack, limits or the future that would prevent us from being as generous and as loving as we can be this moment.

Christian healer and teacher, Mary Baker Eddy, wrote:

“Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, enlarging, purifying, and elevating it.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 57)

And she asks these pointed questions:

“God is Love. Can we ask Him to be more? God is intelligence. Can we inform the infinite Mind of anything He does not already comprehend? Do we expect to change perfection? Shall we plead for more at the open fount, which is pouring forth more than we accept?” (Ibid, p. 2)

Sometimes we may forget just how big and limitless God is. But maintaining this infinite view of God illustrates just how big and limitless the love is that we have to give to each other. And this love blesses us making us feel fulfilled and joyful.

 

 

 

 

Life lessons and a Star Wars analogy

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

The fear of loss is a path to the dark side.
Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed that is.
Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose. – Yoda

After this advice was given by Yoda to Anakin, Anakin Skywalker (in Star Wars episode III) was led into greater temptation before he was able to train himself to let go of everything he feared to lose (mainly his wife, Padme). And ultimately when he succumbed to the dark side, he lost it all anyway.

Fortunately, in the end of Star Wars episode VI, we see that hate is not the master of love. Meeting Luke helps Anakin – now Darth Vader – to remember his true self. After Anakin dies he is transformed back into the force and joins Obi Wan, Yoda and others before him.

I think important lessons can be taken from this fictional story.

For instance, spiritual healer, Mary Baker Eddy, also warned against personal attachment back in the early 1900’s. She instructed that those who were members of the church she established should not be motivated by personal attachment or animosity. Perhaps she sensed, as those in the Bible did, that this led to evil. Instead, she instructed them to be governed by divine Love; to be charitable, kind, and forgiving.

This is also the path that Christ Jesus taught – the path of life.

…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. – Gal 5:22

Instead of becoming Jedi masters and having to live as monk-like warriors, we can become masters of our own thinking. We posses the power to overcome all evil in our thought and to demonstrate the all-power of goodness and love.

Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love. If you maintain this position, who or what can cause you to sin or suffer? – Mary Baker Eddy

Take each day to do this. The the entire perception of mankind will feel the difference and will be uplifted by it. Your example is a shining light to others enabling them to do the same.

Reblog: Golden Rule Day (a spiritual perspective on Valentine’s Day)

Published on by lindseybiggsLeave a comment

by Virginia Harris, C.S.B.

Do you remember Valentine’s Day when you were a kid in elementary school? What I remember is coming to school with a brown paper sack filled with valentine cards for everyone in my class, to be placed on each desk at the first recess. No one was left out, everyone received a Valentine – even the kid(s) who I was sure didn’t like me much. But it was the one day I could make a little gesture to be a friend to everyone…so said my mom. Read more