They're all talking about the "most expensive divorce in Hollywood history". First of all, divorce is not news in Hollywood, second, divorce is not news anywhere. We are a society of expendables and planned obsolescence. In California, there's an uproar about the legality of same sex marriage, why? Our society seems to have misplaced the value and solemnity of marriage. There was a startling statistic about the rate of divorce in our country, slightly over 50% of marriage end in divorce. Nothing startling anymore about that statistic, marriage is a casualty of a "throw-away" lifestyle. More often than not infidelity is the reason for divorce. Usually, the media has a scorned woman involved. Somebody figured out that news about women extracting vengeance on men "sells papers". It is an age-old problem... Hell has no fury like a woman scorned. That adapted phrase came from a play, "The Mourning Bride" by William Congreave, written in the 1690's. The line from the play, "Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd.", speaks to the reason for the fury as love lost. The examples of this fury are many. In Genesis 39, Joseph is a servant of Potiphar, Pharaoh's captain of the guard. Potiphar's wife entreated Joseph with sexual temptation and his refusal got him jail time. Judges 16 tells us Samson found himself powerless at Deiliah's hand after he lied to her. As a result of casting dispersions on Herodias, wife of Herod, John the Baptist lost his head (Matthew 14:1-9). Modern examples come easily to mind as the salacious news of the day pervades our media. Carrie Underwood's song "Before He Cheats" is a chart topper. Perhaps huge divorce settlements have supplanted the inner desires of the scorned to do physical harm to the scorner. Are men held blameless, simply suffering from ravages of women gone wild? Is this the remedy for a most unforgivable sin?
This rage is perhaps understandable but in context is it justifiable? As relationships go there is an unspeakable scorn that occurs daily in our lives. Men and women scorn equally. God loves us all with such intensity that He has given His Son so that we may live eternally. Jesus brings a resolution to the dilemma of mankind. Yet, for most of us, we scorn God's Love almost everyday. We fail to live up to the least of His expectations. Our responsibility to God is relatively simple. Love God with all your heart. Love one another. Be grateful for the blessings bestowed on us. God steps up amidst our scorn and offers forgiveness. How small we are in comparison... Our vengeance makes us smaller. Consider the wrath of God and His forgiveness when you think with fury about extracting remedies for the scorn of your love. Have a grateful, forgiving heart. Love God. Love one another.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Gentleness
Gentleness is a quality we often associate with loved ones. We directly associate a gentle nature with grandmothers and grandfathers of a "kinder and gentler" era. Will you be a gentle and kind hearted elder within your family? Can we survive in this hard world by being gentle and kind hearted? There are many who teach management skills that insist there is no place for gentleness and kindness when dealing with subordinates. Does this attitude transcend the workplace into our family lives? Do we treat our children with gentleness and kindheartedness? Do we treat our spouses with gentleness and kindheartedness? Have the stresses of our lives muddled the work and home environments? Lots of questions, not so many answers that affirm an effort toward kindness and gentleness. Our demands for excellence and submission seem to preclude gentleness and kindheartedness.
Paul, in his letters to churches, exhorts them to be kind and gentle to one another. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul says in 3:10, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.". And in his letter to the Corinthians, in chapter 13 he explains the qualities of love, he tells God's people that love is patient, kind, not easily angered and that love never fails. It is these reminders that we need every day.
What a delicate balance we have made for ourselves! We harden ourselves to insure that this cruel world does not squash us and by so doing we lose sight of the importance of kindness and gentleness that is essential to demonstrate our love for one another. Paul stays on message to the Ephesians in Chapter 4, "Be completely humble and gentle, bearing one another in love". And to the Galatians 5:22, he says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.".
Do you suppose that the kindly and gentle elders of yesterday had a widely different perspective than we do today? Is that perspective of our own making as it was for Paul's correspondents? Are we simply reacting to the way others treat us and lack the courage to put ourselves "out there" by being kind and gentle. Given that an animal beaten with a stick seemingly has two choices, cower and flee or attack viciously; given that same choice, how do we react? Most of us envision ourselves battle hardened and ready to attack. This is the choice that most often results in two prominent casualties, kindness and gentleness. Will you be remembered for your kindness? Will your gentle spirit exude the love that brings us all together?
Remember to forgive, be grateful, love God, love one another and be kind and gentle.
Paul, in his letters to churches, exhorts them to be kind and gentle to one another. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul says in 3:10, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.". And in his letter to the Corinthians, in chapter 13 he explains the qualities of love, he tells God's people that love is patient, kind, not easily angered and that love never fails. It is these reminders that we need every day.
What a delicate balance we have made for ourselves! We harden ourselves to insure that this cruel world does not squash us and by so doing we lose sight of the importance of kindness and gentleness that is essential to demonstrate our love for one another. Paul stays on message to the Ephesians in Chapter 4, "Be completely humble and gentle, bearing one another in love". And to the Galatians 5:22, he says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.".
Do you suppose that the kindly and gentle elders of yesterday had a widely different perspective than we do today? Is that perspective of our own making as it was for Paul's correspondents? Are we simply reacting to the way others treat us and lack the courage to put ourselves "out there" by being kind and gentle. Given that an animal beaten with a stick seemingly has two choices, cower and flee or attack viciously; given that same choice, how do we react? Most of us envision ourselves battle hardened and ready to attack. This is the choice that most often results in two prominent casualties, kindness and gentleness. Will you be remembered for your kindness? Will your gentle spirit exude the love that brings us all together?
Remember to forgive, be grateful, love God, love one another and be kind and gentle.
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