No Ill part 5
I have long thought that its important to have someone in your life that you are absolutely crazy about. And someone that is absolutely crazy about you. And in my case, for the last almost seven years, that has been the same person. My mini-me. My son. Logan. I always tell people, one of my favorite things about my kid is that while HE will try as hard as he can to get one over on his old man... at the exact same time he won't let ANYBODY else get one over on me. He protects me all the way. And that's what I do for him too. Its a bond that cannot be broken. A father's love given to (and returned by) his son. But I said all that to say this: I'm coming to believe that we should act that way towards everybody. I once heard a preacher preach about how everyone is equally important. And that was a hard message for me to agree with. Because I've always played favorites. Always had a VIP club, if I can say it that way. MY people. And if anyone was foolish enough to mess with my people... well... that mistake didn't often happen twice. So having this view of... equality, I guess you could call it... it has taken me a while to come around to it. But while my kid comes first--sorry, folks, always has and always will--I AM getting a deeper understanding of love. Of treating everybody like they're my favorite. Going the extra mile no matter who it is or what they need. And I say NEED because there's a big difference oftentimes between what you want and what you need. What is actually good for you, and what you want in the moment. I don't think catering to wants and whims is very helpful. I think it hurts more than it helps. But if you see a need... and you can meet it... you should meet it. Don't worry about this religious idea of "feeling led." God is love. He wants you to love people. That's why He created you--so He could love you and you could love Him back by loving people. The Holy Spirit--the Spirit of Truth that leads and guides us into all truth--will always lead us to love people. And those who are lead by the Spirit are called (or identified as) the Son(s) of God. Jesus said people would know His disciples by the love they had one for another. And, to be perfectly honest with you, I'd rather people say, "Tom's really nice," rather than, "Tom's a good Christian." Because even when you put that word "good" on it, it seems like "Christian" has an almost negative connotation. People associate Christians with being judgmental, hypocritical, and worse. So if you're going to label me, I'd prefer you just let my actions speak for themselves. Because my actions flow from what I believe. And I believe in love. I believe love works no ill to His neighbor. So don't do something that is going to hurt someone else. Paul went so far as to talk about not eating certain things if it would cause a brother to stumble. And, taking it even a step further... more than just not doing ill... do good. Treat people like they're your favorite. Lay your life down for them. Give them everything you've got and everything you are. And don't worry about what comes next. Don't worry about what came before. Just live. Just live. Live by loving. Love by living. Work no ill. Do good!