Tuesday, July 23, 2019

I see you

"I see you."

That's what I said today to a little bug that was on my path (or I was on his) this morning during my walk.

It got me thinking that maybe seeing is the first step towards love.

Seeing leads to caring

Caring leads to understanding.

Understanding leads to empathy.

Empathy leads to compassion.

Compassion leads to love.






Monday, July 8, 2019

Thoughts from the Cross

Yesterday I was provoked while in Gospel Doctrine by a conversation about the things that Christ said while on the cross. My thoughts below.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. This could be exactly what it sounds like: Christ asking His Father to forgive the guards for their acts against His Son. But, I did have a thought that goes beyond this. I believe Christ and His Father were tethered at all times. They held each others mind in a way that we maybe we can't understand. In fact, I think that Christ sensed something in the mind of His Father - an anger or hostility to the guards. If that's the case, he could've been saying: Don't blame them, don't hurt them - it's not their fault. 

Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Christ knew where he was going and He knew where the prisoner was going. Gives us clear view into Christ's understanding and support of the afterlife and Spirit World.

Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. This is so much about His humanity. He reveals something many have: a deep love and compassion for His Mother and her welfare.

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? God is with us and revealed so much in our despair and trials. In fact, I think we often find God in our trials. Given this, it is a cruel irony that in His moment of greatest need God is hidden from Him. This is probably something he's never experienced. In fact, he may have spent His entire life supported by His Father. But now, in his greatest agony, God the Father is gone. Not from a lack of love, but I think for the need of Christ to fulfill the Atonement on His own. 

I thirst. Two words, simple in utterance, but somber and painful. The pain and misery were unimaginable; and in this, he simply wants something purely human. Refreshing water.

It is finished. Something happened here; it's not that he's giving up, but that the Atonement is done. He's completed it and the work he was sent to do is done. 

Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. Only he is able to give his Spirit up, and in this instance he gives his Spirit back to His Father and is gone.