SOMETHING ABOUT LOVE
I don’t know why I was thinking about this on the Saturday before Easter but if it’s on the brain it’s sometimes worth saying. Dangerous rule of thumb. But it’s a 6ixth Man Lesson. I had a few minutes before going to a music rehearsal for a band I’m in and I was thinking about how lonely Jesus or any ostracized criminal would have felt being prepped for the humiliating crucifixion. Then I thought specifically about Jesus and the idea of being convicted, humiliated, sold out and ostracized despite being innocent. Those thoughts led me to think about how resolute we humans can be once our minds are made up to hate someone.
I saw some footage the other day of “Tea Party” movement members protesting President Obama. Relax, this is not about to get political. Anyway, one of the protesters had a stuffed monkey on her shoulder and held a sign that said, “Obama…go back to Kenya.” I know plenty of people who oppose Obama but I don’t think they’d call him a monkey. I’ve always said that when we become racists, we’re allowing indoctrination to betray our intelligence.
Particularly in the United States, we are daily dependent upon interdependence, the ability to work cooperatively. This is often mistaken for adopting the worldviews of others and casting convictions aside but that’s not what I mean. Since I was in fourth grade, I’ve continuously learned that when we dig our heels in to hate people that is not the same as opposing ideology. Surely you’ve looked in the mirror and been angry about something on par with a raving lunatic. At that point you either fueled your own unrelenting fury toward someone or came to the realization that a dichotomy should divide your value based convictions from an outright hate for humans who hold contrary opinions to your own.
It’s checkmate every time I reflect on Jesus’ willingness to die for human atonement. Just the idea alone is uncanny because of how often we choose to fight battles that become brutally personal. I told my wife the other day that, while growing up, I couldn’t wait to be an adult. I was bent on all kinds of revenge. Then I added, “…but I grew up and learned that I wasn’t entitled to such revenge and it broke my heart.” True story, but looking at the cross of Christ is a great anesthesia for the angrily punch drunk world I call home.
Posted: by Norman Anthony
Category: Bigger than Me, Character, Today's Post
What I appreciate about entries such as this is the reminder factor. That is to say that we (I) need spiritual reminders every now and then . When you reference Jesus and what he went through it puts things in perspective for me . I often find myself alone, yet never been up for conviction or humiliation. I know the pain of self inflicted humiliation and conviction, that’s easy. I am very good at sabotaging my own life. The fact that I am an analytical, self conscious, more insecure than willing to admit individual does nothing to help my case out either. Now when you talk about the word love, that’s another area where reality reminders are needed for me .
My interpretation of part of this message is the fact that God loves us so much that he sent his son to die for us. Jesus took on the humiliation, conviction, and crucifixion ; the pain for our sins. Yet everyday I fall short on love and what it means to love correctly. I fall short on the love I give to my fellow man. I fall short on the love I give my kids and my wife. I fall short on the love I give myself. The great thing about life though is that every day I have an opportunity to give it another shot. Give love another shot. Especially when there are days when I do get so filled with rage that I scare myself.
Punch drunk world, what a concept. If I am not careful, I too will walk around punch drunk. Does it count if it’s self inflicted? Either way , when I finally meet my maker the last thing I want to be remembered as is “Punchy”.
Hi Norman,
I’m just curious about one of your last comments about entitlement and revenge. What conclusion are you drawing there?
Hope all is well.
@Amber
By entitled I meant that as a kid I was a pretty
Straight arrow. I saw a lot of bad things done to people I cared about so I thought it would all even out later. I used to think I had a right to hate people. Still feel that way when I’m hurtiing. But at day’s end, I’ve never been hurt and as lonely as Jesus was. And he finished his act of Love.
Here’s a more direct answer to your question Amber. The conclusion I’m drawing is that Jesus presents a truly intriguing mystery when I consider that he was human and in my humanity I naturally respond to evil with a desire to see it vanquished and the perpetrator eliminated. Conversely, the cross of Christ presents this tension of Jesus confronting evil directly wow offering redemption to perpetrators of the very evil in question. It’s like playing on both sides in an athletic contest and while it’s hard to understand, I get enough of the idea to know I’m not off the hook simply because evil poses legitimate threats to the world at large. I can combat the evildoers without regard for their redemption but I can’t do so and say I am a follower of Jesus unless I’m also interested in their being reconciled to God. Hard man…
Hi Norman,
Thanks for responding to my post. Yes, it was me who wrote to you 🙂
I think in a lot of ways when I read the things that you write you present concepts that I’ve never thought of before. I admire your ways of thinking, but also that you live out your philosophies in everyday life when trying to be a good husband, son and member of society. When I read your latest blog I wondered how you could feel you never had a right to be angry, and subsequently how you deal with your anger. I’m not saying I’m a perfect person, but when I see someone committing evil acts in the world I still wonder how to confront them for the better without letting my own ego get in the way. That is, to correct the action itself and not ONLY allow myself to feel somehow stronger or better through the act of correction. To stay pure to the purpose and not get drunk on the feeling of righteousness that comes with it. I hope you understand what I mean.
The best example I can think of seeing you exhibit this principle is when you went to the donut shop and were frustrated with the actions of the homeless man standing outside. How you questioned your own actions after he refused to come in to talk to you but wanted your assistance. How you struggled with doing what you thought was right, but then having your generosity of time rejected in lieu of material goods. It is hard not to let your ego get insulted when you try to contribute to someone and then they reject you. The task of being “good” becomes defiled by our ego thinking others should have to accept our graciousness our specific way, when in reality freedom of choice and understanding are perhaps better gifts. Still, I think I would have had the same reaction as you! In some ways this is applicable to trying to see the bigger picture while combating smaller picture emotions or thoughts. It certainly remains hard to be true to our principles on an everyday basis.
When you state that you not only have a need to right personal wrongs but to combat their own redemption, I understand what you mean. I also think it’s a very difficult task. Thanks for the wisdom!
Amber…thank you. I guess it’s about having multi-dimensionality in love, something very hard for myself and I’m sure many others. That’s why teaching was likely my ultimate challenge. For every evil confronted and you and I know there is legitimate evil in some kids, I would try to see that a back story has created context for behavior. And it’s not an excuse for deviant behavior but rather a scaffold so we can see what the behavior is using as construction material. For instance, I had this one kid my first year in RUSD who was on drugs but I couldn’t prove it. He was a freshman and the mom later told me that he was running away from home for days on end and keeping paraphernalia in the house. We got to a point in the year where I was exasperated by the aloofness, the inconsistency, the self-destructiveness on the kid’s part but I realized I was probably mad at the surface element which was merely the outcome. I was humbled when I talked to the mom because there was so much more the kid needed that had nothing to do with grades. I told her (the mom) let’s saver your son’s life and save his grade later. I keep having to learn how to have that perspective. It is difficult as you say.
@ Jason
I’m with you on the falling short part but I gotta tell you man that you are working hard and I see your desire to be a responder as opposed to a reactor in your relationships, especially the familial ones. I was joking with a pastor on Saturday saying that man…when people decide to follow Christ maybe we should tell ’em the good news up front and let ’em figure out the bad on their own – that it’s hard like swimmin’ in the Everglades sometimes. The world is immersing us in one school of thought but before we realize we’re sold…we’ve bought in making it hard to follow Christ up stream. It’s a ride though and weekends like this one always remind me it’s worth it.
mr.c i have a question see if u can understand me cuz im having a little trouble understanding what im trying 2 say myself…i have wonderful parents that tell me cherish everyday cherish those around you even those u not like…especially my dad who says qoute;keep ur friends close but ur enemies closer..: (but not fist close maricruz)..lol..but how can i do that when people try to hurt me or did hurt…then i think..?how did jesus do that with such patience and care..(i think those are the words) w/o even trying to do something to back himself up or prove himself right? how can the LOVE help or fix somethign so…???? hurt..pain….trouble..?
hope u understood me cuz i cant even get the right words out?
love the blog though…..
@ Mari
I think I get your question Mari. If you’re asking, “How did Jesus love people who hurt him?” it’s not an easy answer. But I will say that outside of God’s help, I don’t see how it is possible. Jesus put up with all of the hurt and pain because according to Christianity, if he hadn’t died on that cross, there would be no hope for human beings. We would never have peace with God and we would be worthy of destruction. Jesus allowed himself to be killed so that we could live and the Bible says in Hebrews 12:2…
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
So when you get hurt, maybe you can look at those people and say, “I can love them because Christ thought enough of us humans to die for us even though he was dying for the people who were killing him.” He saw the bigger picture and that made it possible for him to love. It’s the most difficult thing you’ll ever do and it doesn’t mean you have to be friends with your enemies. It just means that we should want our enemies to meet God. Hope that helps.