Greetings Dear Reader,
Whether it is reading the original story or
watching one of the Disney movies, I love this Beauty and the Beast. It is a tale of love and redemption. It reminds us all that love can overcome
things far better than we imagine.
Still, there is horror there too. We have a monster inside of us that is powerful
and wishes to only serve himself. We
deny, hide, or indulge this beast as our mind wills. We put the needs of the beast ahead of our
obligation to love the Father and love all other humans. We indulge the cravings that make us selfish
and breed hatred.
I realize that sounds very dark but that is
because it is. There is darkness in each
of us that is only eradicated by the love and light of Christ. That light only enters by our allowing it, however. Jesus does not force his way in but knocks
and asks.
If I am to continue to keep the darkness at
bay, I must see even the minor things in me that lead to rejecting the
light. “Just giving advice” leads to my
desire to control. If asked I will point
out options but I must avoid the trap of telling others what to do about
anything. If pushed on the issue, I must
lovingly point out that it is healthier for other to reason out their own choices
through prayer and honest thinking.
When I show love, it must be without
expectation. I must not attach any
obligation to love given or received save that of my obligation to love
everyone without condition or expectation.
I must give with generosity and one the giving is done; I have no right
or expectation of how my gift is used.
Kindness must be my way of life. Anger
has no right to life beyond the day and it is better dispatched quickly. Offenses are optional in the adopting. It is better to leave them lie and be
lovingly unoffendable.
All of these things keep the darkness
illuminated. I am not there and have
very far to go to be there. I was
reminded by someone I love that I am better than I was. I celebrate the love and mercy of the Father
that has my life in a place where others benefit. The beauty of this constant vigilance is that
when every thought is being trained to love others, the journey is consumed by working
to love others. It is steeped in working
to love the Father.
There is a Beast in me who still rages to
have his way. The beauty is that the
love of Christ and of those who see me working to no longer be that man is
given freely without my demanding it. It
is rich and sweet and I treasure it, Dear Reader. When we journey together showing each other
love with no other agenda, the travel is where the beauty is. I love you, Dear Reader. This tale is truly as old as time. I am thankful that we are in it together.
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 ͡°)
Every human story is part of the great
story that leads to the Father getting everything back to Good.
Contacts for Aramis Thorn:
#aramisthorn
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