Greetings Dear Reader,
Let me say first that this has nothing to do with
bears. Forbear is a word that we do not often
hear outside of Bible reading. It is,
however, a good word. We have replaced
it with tolerance and the difference in meaning is slight enough that they both
work. I prefer forebear because it is associated
with our foundational abundance from Plenty’s horn, love.
An exercise I do in my mind when I feel I am becoming impatient
is to consider why I have set a limit on my forbearance, tolerance of
another. Some things are intolerable
such as violence or harmful aggression.
Most of the things that upset us, however, are a matter of impatience or
preference on our part.
We are taught that the source of our ability to forbear is
our love of others. We are to forebear in
love. We are to live “with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.” Humility, gentleness, and patience are required
of us with everyone. The moment we begin
to suggest reasons why we are the exception to this guidance is the moment where
we proclaim that our impatience, pride, and harshness are allowable and that
love is not the foundation this time.
When based on the love that we receive from the Father,
there is no limit to the supply of forbearance we have available for others. We can copiously apply gentle, humble,
patient tolerance to any situation if we choose to do so. We have a great capacity for this and it can
change the world. The most difficult
person or persons in our lives are due our best forbearance in love.
The truly notable thing about this is that it benefits us
more than it does others. It keeps us
from nursing anger and bitterness. It
diminishes our habits of pride and creates gentle behaviors within us. These become our ways and can become our
lifestyle. The benefit is that we move
through difficulties with an air of peace because we are not caught up in the
anger that is bred from failing to be tolerant.
This does not mean that we agree with everything another
does Dear Reader. It means that we respond
in love no matter how much we disagree.
It means that we do not expect those who do not follow Christ to act
like those who do follow him. It is why
the Father provides love and forbearance in plenty for us. From the foundation of love, forbearance can
flow from us in a way that changes the hearts of others if we only allow
it. I must dwell on this and make it my
portion. I must become the embodiment of
copious forbearance in love. If we walk
together in this, Dear Reader, we can create an area of tolerance that does not
comprise our faith and gives others dry ground to get their footing in it.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis Thorn:
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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