That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Through the week I have been writing this great sorrow has visited me.  Two dear friends have passed away.  I have had to watch young parents burry their young child.  Another precipitating sorrow walks with me daily about which I am not free to speak. 

It is in these moments that I realize that the daily challenges seem so difficult because my energy goes to processing the grief and loss.  We hear about floods and do not really comprehend them until they impact us.  We do not feel the loss of waters washing away all there is until it is OUR all there is. 

The slow flood of things over the last year have tried to wash me away.  I thought I was strong.  I am not.  I have faith.  I want to say unequivocally that it is Christ and the kindness of others that is sustaining me.  Only through faith and following am I not destroyed.  My emotions want me to despair and doubt.  I refuse. 

We must train our minds to be stronger than our feelings or we will lose ourselves every time.  I was in danger of losing myself.  The sorrow and grief remind me where to look.  The pain and loss drive me to pursue.  The joy in the darkest parts of the journey is found in following the Light.  “That's all I want to say right now, I don't want to say too much…Except Sweet Jesus, roll all over me.”

Sweet River Roll – Waterdeep

Homebound Henry's got a tumor in his head
He wakes up every morning after dreaming he was dead
He used to think that life was boring, but now that's not the case
He turns to his wife in the evening, he says "Honey I'm afraid I'm gonna lose this race."

Sweet River, roll all over me
Sweet River, roll all over me 

Soaking wet Juliet- she lives in a well full of tears
Her husband left her for some bimbo after twenty-two years

Now she's got to start all over, but she's just so terrified
She thinks it woulda been so much easier if he woulda just died 

Sweet River, roll all over me
Sweet River, roll all over me 

And I'm lookin out my car window sittin' in the pouring rain
Although your house is fifteen miles away, I can still feel your pain

I've thought and prayed and worked it through about a hundred times or more
How your soul just cries to everyone to help you get up off the floor 

Right now it's morning, you're probably totally unaware
Of the flood of kisses you hold back by the way that you despair

It ain't me I'm talking about here, or anybody else you can touch
That's all I want to say right now, I don't want to say too much…

Except Sweet Jesus, roll all over me
Sweet Jesus, roll all over me...

You gotta come down and just set me free

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ You Say

Greetings Dear Reader,

We get so caught up in our own thoughts and feelings that we do not hear it when others say good things to us.  We treat the good like we are coated with oil and the bad like we are made of glue.  We imagine things far more harmful than what was actually said.

When we build lies, even on the truth we do so much damage to ourselves.  We can create a maelstrom of negative thought that destroys us.  The trap of negativity in our minds becomes quicksand.  We think we are the authority on us when that is just not true.

I know that I do not see my good or bad qualities as clearly as I should.  There are those who see me as wonderful and those who see me as horrid.  I must be careful not to believe my own press and not to fail to see that which is true about me.  The vital truth about me is contained in the Father’s view of me. 

You too Dear Reader need to see the love and great regard that the Father has for you.  You do not grasp the depth to which you are cherished.  That is all I am going to say right now, except perhaps, you should listen to this song… 

You Say - Lauren Daigle

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?

Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And You say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don't belong, oh You say that I am Yours

And I believe, oh I believe

What You say of me

I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me

In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity, o-ooh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And You say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don't belong, oh You say that I am Yours

And I believe, oh I believe

What You say of me

Oh, I believe

Taking all I have and now I'm laying it at Your feet

You have every failure God, You have every victory, o-ooh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don't belong, oh You say that I am Yours

And I believe, oh I believe

What You say of me

I believe

Oh I believe, yes I believe

What You say of me

I believe

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ Unaware

Greetings Dear Reader,

“Right now it's morning, you're probably totally unaware
Of the flood of kisses you hold back by the way that you despair

It ain't me I'm talking about here, or anybody else you can touch
That's all I want to say right now, I don't want to say too much…”

Rivers roll whether we wish it or not.  They roll even if we do not know they exist.  They carry their water and flotsam along the course they flow.  Rivers roll because it is their nature to do so.

We can use them for great purposes.  They allow for commerce and leisure travel.  They feed dams for hydroelectric energy.  When we dam a river for its energy we create a potential flood should the dam fail.  We have all see the effects of floods.  They devastate. 

Our denial of the Father’s love for us shows in so many of our poorer habits.  We choose things that keep us from knowing the love of God.  We think that through unbelief and self-gratification we can hold back the flood that is coming.  Love crushes those barriers like a rolling storm-engorged river.

I can only do so much.  What I can do is refrain from creating barriers and do my part in showing that love to others.  That, however, is all I am going to say right now…

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ I Thought and Prayed and Worked it Through

Greetings Dear Reader,

“And I'm lookin out my car window sittin' in the pouring rain
Although your house is fifteen miles away, I can still feel your pain

I've thought and prayed and worked it through about a hundred times or more
How your soul just cries to everyone to help you get up off the floor”

I hear you Dear Reader.  I do not often have the answer in a practical applicable form but I do hear you.  Your pain is real and I understand it.  Even if you think I do not understand it, I do not have to in order to love you and care about your pain.

We all end up on the floor at some time.  We all need help to get up and try again.  Too often we fail to help each other rise.  We look down, condemn, and step over or on those who need a hand. 

We also alienate those who want to genuinely help.  We let our pride or our romance with our pain keep us from accepting help when we need it.  We sometimes let our hurt become our identity.  We claim we are not victims whilst playing the role in every moment. 

My failure is often to tell everyone I am OK when I am not.  I do draw a line between making my troubles my banner and denying them.  I must be more forthcoming when I speak to my friends.  I must be more open here as well. 

We all need help to get up off the floor.  We should do better at doing that for each other.  That’s all I’m gonna say right now.  I don’t wanna say too much.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ Soaking Wet Juliet

Greetings Dear Reader,

“Soaking wet Juliet- she lives in a well full of tears
Her husband left her for some bimbo after twenty-two years

Now she's got to start all over, but she's just so terrified
She thinks it woulda been so much easier if he woulda just died” 

Relationships are so difficult in our time.  Conflicts of values, priorities, and lifestyles limit our ability or willingness to connect.  Once in relationships there are easier escape clauses and diversions.  The complexity of the world and our roles in it make it too easy to disregard commitment, responsibilities, and vows. 

We actually use our own desires and wants as justification for violation of the trust of others.  Please read clearly that I said “WE”.   I am guilty of this as well.   We abandon lives that are our responsibility in the name of finding ourselves.  We pursue our dreams leaving a wake of destruction and pain.  It always comes back to us. 

The other side of that is our failure to forgive those who wrong us.  We carry the pain as our new best friend.  We turn bitterness into our way of life.  We make the betrayal our banner and gather like minds under it.  This too leaves a wake of pain in its path and returns nothing good to us.

We justify our failures.  Sometimes we abandon all of our values just to get what we want.  In truth, even if things turn out well for us we have bought that success on the lives of others.  That is never acceptable, but that is all I am going to say right now.  I don’t want to say too much…except, sweet river, roll.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ Homebound Henry

Greetings Dear Reader,

“Homebound Henry's got a tumor in his head
He wakes up every morning after dreaming he was dead
He used to think that life was boring, but now that's not the case
He turns to his wife in the evening, he says ‘Honey I'm afraid I'm gonna lose this race.’"

This first verse of the song I chose as my springboard into this always haunts me a little.  I know people who are facing terminal or chronic disease and pain.  I also know the long-term impact of nightmares on our ability to cope. Pain and trauma impede our hope and too often others just do not understand.

I know that even talking about the maladies that I face is uncomfortable for me.  I do not wish to complain or burden others with carrying my pack.  I also know that when I do not address my needs I slip into unhealthy ways of dealing with them. 

We need to be more compassionate to the ongoing pain of others.  There is a balance between enabling their weakness related to it and not showing the needed kindness.  We must not let pain be our banner but we must also care about the pain of others.  I have friends who suffer daily from emotional, mental, or physical pain.  Some of those with physical maladies have a clock on their lives. 

Since we are all on the same journey and is not a race, it does not harm us to be more compassionate and caring.  We lose nothing when we invest kindness in the hurt of others.  I would wager that instead we gain.  My obligation is not to get “my needs” met.  It is to care for others and trust that my needs will get met. 

Again, I find that following Christ is not about me.  It is about being sure that I am compassionate and loving others at any cost.  When I focus on my own pain and needs I turn inward.  That is not how we are designed, but that is all I am going to say right now. I do not want to say too much.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ Self Talk

Greetings Dear Reader,

We hear and see things often about our inner dialogue.  Not a day goes by where social media does not include a meme about who we are and how we should think of ourselves.  The subject is vital but I wonder if we have the discipline to apply it.

When I think of self talk, I think that the negative messages over which we ruminate are the dangerous things.  All wrong begins as a thought.  We ponder something and then it becomes an action.  Our negative feelings about everything start as a tendril of thought that we allow to grow into weeds that clog our minds.

Thomas Traherne said, “To think well is to serve God in the interior court.”  We are told in the epistles to bring into captivity every thought.  It is how we think that determines what we do.  It is our minds that lead us to good or ill.

We choose.  We take in data and accept or reject it.  We tend to believe lies over the truth.  We embrace negative over positive.  I must capture every thought.  I must kill the bad ones and propagate the good ones.  I must reject the lies and have faith in the truth.  I must only say what is good and true.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now ~ Too Many Words

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have been downsizing my library of late.  My goal is to reduce it by half.  As I work through what to lose and keep something occurred to me that had not.  I sit here spinning out my thoughts and tales so easily because I have a computer.  So many of the books I have were written before there were computers.  Many of those were created before the typewriter.

Even my earliest writings were done on a typewriter.  When I consider the works of writers like Charles Dickens I see the many hours of penning tales, restarts, and then typesetting to create the newspaper in which the story was forged or the book to be published. 

Anyone can write what he or she wishes and throw it out on the blogosphere for others to read or ignore.  It is too easy to say too much.  It takes no discipline to rant about anything for pages.  I often wish to do this.  The discipline is to say what needs saying and do so lovingly, politely. 

I do not need to trample on anyone to express my thoughts and questions.  I would prefer to have the real-life conversations in person so that I can listen as well as communicate.  It is easy to use too many words.

As I work to craft my novels I fill in detail and descriptions to extend the experience for you Dear Reader.  Here I aim to be brief out of respect for your precious time.  I would be honored to hear a word or two from you.  I will keep it brief so that I make space to listen.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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“That’s All I Gonna Say Right Now” ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

There comes a time when we must all choose.  What we choose always matters and there are ripples, reverberations, and repercussions.  Some things can be healed or mended.  Words can never be recalled.

We go through the process.  We feel, think, and speak.  We judge and condemn.  We become angry, make assumptions, and harbor opinions that damage those we love and our own spirits.  As we sink deeper into the things that harm us we speak lies and do harm.  I still carry the echoes of words said to me when what I needed what an ear and some kindness.

We know that we need help and we summon the courage to speak.  We seek out someone and take the risk.  Then, all that person does is talk, advise, and fail.  They do not see that we need someone to just listen.  We need them to listen with heart and spirit and be with us.

Recent events have required that I confront that heart.  I am a very good listener when I remember to listen.  Sometimes, however, I get mired in my own thoughts and feelings and forget that I am supposed to be that good listener.  A series of serious events have reminded me that I need to constantly sharpen this blade.  If I do not I become dull of hearing and fail to be of good use to others.

I intend to spend some time delving into this.  I intend to listen to the things others say and form a better strategy for helping.  This week has included death, tragedy, and pain that impact me deeply.  As I see how things unfold I realize just how little I can do other than be there. 

Please walk with me Dear Reader.  Tell me what you want me to listen for.  I know that I must become more aware of the flood of love that awaits us all in a world that works so hard to hold it back.  That is all I am going to say right now.  I don't want to say too much.  Sweet river, roll.    

Sweet River Roll – Waterdeep

Homebound Henry's got a tumor in his head
He wakes up every morning after dreaming he was dead
He used to think that life was boring, but now that's not the case
He turns to his wife in the evening, he says "Honey I'm afraid I'm gonna lose this race."

Sweet River, roll all over me
Sweet River, roll all over me 

Soaking wet Juliet- she lives in a well full of tears
Her husband left her for some bimbo after twenty-two years

Now she's got to start all over, but she's just so terrified
She thinks it woulda been so much easier if he woulda just died 

Sweet River, roll all over me
Sweet River, roll all over me 

And I'm lookin out my car window sittin' in the pouring rain
Although your house is fifteen miles away, I can still feel your pain

I've thought and prayed and worked it through about a hundred times or more
How your soul just cries to everyone to help you get up off the floor 

Right now it's morning, you're probably totally unaware
Of the flood of kisses you hold back by the way that you despair

It ain't me I'm talking about here, or anybody else you can touch
That's all I want to say right now, I don't want to say too much…

Except Sweet Jesus, roll all over me
Sweet Jesus, roll all over me...

You gotta come down and just set me free

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Sensitivity Training – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

One must be neither oversensitive nor insensitive.  One must always be sensitive to their surroundings.  We move through a world of fellow travelers who have wants, needs, dreams, and desires.  Christ followers are obligated to engage with the needs of others. 

I am obliged to measure my thoughts, words, and actions in a way that shows kindness and love.  My love for others is to be my benchmark.  Nothing gives me an exception for this.  Whether I deliver that through working for social justice or handing out a cup of cool water I must discern what will be the most loving act in any moment.

It is impossible for me to be perfect.  My fellow travelers share the same malady.  If I remain sensitive to this common condition then I can determine which responses show the most love.  I can remember to be kinder, more understanding, and .more forgiving.

It is in the intentional sensitivity to the difference between people and what they do that I live.  Actions may reveal many things about people.  None of those actions allow me to fail to love and respect a person.  Nothing precludes me from being sensitive and engaged with the needs of others.

If I walk through the world with this focus then I can be sure to engage in the love that I am to show to all.   The journey must be one of intentional sensitivity to world around me.  It is in that sensitivity that we find it easier to journey with Christ.  I must remain sensitive at all times.  I must engage with people and love them where they are in every moment.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Sensitivity Training – Toxic People or Toxic Situations

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is another of those fine lines with strict requirements.  It is a path one must walk when following Christ.   There are toxic people.  They are besieged by things that cause them to do more harm than good.  We will return to my thoughts on that shortly.

First I would address the easier task of toxic situations.  Circumstances can evolve where even well-meaning people find themselves in an untenable situation.  The problem occurs when unhealthy behavior becomes the norm.    We see it in extremes when people endure abuse on a regular basis because they cannot see that there is a way out.

When we see a toxic situation we are obligated to work to ablate it.  We must do so in love and patience but we must do so.  Excising a toxic pattern in a group can make the stronger and more productive.  I once worked with a group of people who had developed a pattern of working overtime to exhaustion.   When I refused to buy into this as a necessity they assured me that I could not get my work done without the same pattern of behavior. 

By the grace of God I was able to set an example of working smarter and not harder.  Even our supervisor was skeptical until I showed him a few weeks of consistent success.  He was the one who suggested the team try my approach and to their benefit it worked.  When our productivity rose and the overtime was unnecessary we saw increased moral as well.  Toxic situations are reparable as long as there is not a toxic individual feeding the problem.

Toxic individuals are a more difficult to deal with.  Whatever pain or need drives them to be so is not something one can easily unravel.  In many cases we cannot motivate the person to change.  It becomes necessary to then determine the level of exposure that is healthy for us.  No one can determine this for someone else. 

There is no room for hatred or anger at the toxic individual.  We may feel these things but we cannot allow them to live.  We must love everyone if we are to love God.  It is required, therefore, that we determine the depth to which we can involve our lives with the individual without taking damage.   We also need to be very certain that we do not reject someone out of hand.

There are other factors that must be considered.   What is my obligation to the individual?  Am I dealing with the impact of this person properly for my own health?  Are my thoughts and actions ones of love, humility, and grace?  I must be sensitive to the needs of others but not at the expense of my own well-being.  Even in the path of the toxic there is a measure of protection.  Again it is a hard line to walk and I can only do so in faith.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Sensitivity Training – Helping or Interfering

Greetings Dear Reader,

As a lifelong teacher I forget sometimes that my help is not always needed.  When it is not it can be an impedance instead of assistance.  If I do not assess others and keep arrogance and pride at bay I can do more harm than good.

When I interfere in the guise of helping I can hinder progress.  It can also seem critical.  Teaching when it is not needed can even hinder learning.  It I am not careful about this I can defeat my own purposes.

It feels quite good to be sought out for assistance.  The trick is to receive such requests with humility and grace.  I need to remember that it costs something to ask for help.  I must focus on the need of the individual  asking instead of on my pride at being asked.  I must create a safe space for others to learn and grow.  I must always see how the opportunity promotes a better whole. 

The other face of this is knowing when to offer help when not asked for it.  There are times when this is necessary.  There are even times when it is imperative.  I must assure that when I offer assistance that I am not butting in or interfering.  I must also not hesitate to offer or do so in pride when help is warranted.

Realizing that I am not responsible for someone accepting help is also crucial.  I must humbly assist when needed.  I must give my best when helping.   I cannot force anyone to apply the learning.  I cannot make someone learn.

The sensitivity training here is for me to use my gifts with humility without interfering.  It is to always be willing to help without stepping into a situation unwanted.  I must not force my thoughts onto anyone.  It is in love and grace that I must give my all to those in need.          

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Sensitivity Training – Information versus Gossip

Greetings Dear Reader,

Gossip is obvious when it comes from the mouth of a person.  We still need avoid it and assure that we do not engage in talk about others that is defaming or demeaning.  It is always wrong to speak ill of others as a form of entertainment.

It becomes more difficult in some arenas.   Sometime we cannot verify the veracity of things that we see in social media.  We also fall prey to repeating things that are funny but may not be accurate.  Humor at the expense of others that is slanderous is still wrong.

I need information to know the needs of others.  I need data to do my job and to relate to my friends.  I must also assure that do not listen to things that are untrue of unkind even if they are true.   Sometimes the line between information and gossip may be very thin.   The knowledge that I need to understand a situation may contain negative information.  I must be vigilant that I do not let a necessary conversation drift over into slander or negative speculation.

It requires that I am constantly sensitive to the conversation.  If it turns to gossip then I must tactfully redirect it.  It is important that I discern between what is true and good when I converse.  After all I am accountable for every idle word.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Sensitivity Training – Political Stuff

Greetings Dear Reader,

It seems like election season has become a four year process instead of one for the year of the election.   One would think that with the season being so long that politicians would become an endangered species.  Instead they seem to breed like rabbits; the sharp pointy teeth kind of rabbits.

Everyone has a political opinion.   Some share them more frequently, vociferously, and energetically than others.  Across the entire political spectrum there are individuals with strong feelings and opinions.  Even among committed and serious Christ followers there exists honest disagreement on important issues.

This is where serious sensitivity training is required.  I am free to have all the opinions, stands, and leanings I wish.  There must be serious filters on how I use and communicate those positions.   There are a few purposes to those filters.

My first duty is to the great commandments.  My political leanings, my voting, and my communication about politics must all adhere to these two commandments.  If my position does not reflect an all-encompassing love for God and sacrificial love for my neighbor then I am in error. 

I may not politicize my faith.  Rather my politics must always be subject to my faith.  If I follow the two great commandments then I will be right in my politics.  Being right in my politics and following Christ means that I must not be arrogant, angry, or aggressive in any discussion of the matters. 

If I am motivated by love then I will be kind and tenderhearted.  When it comes to politics then I will have no enemies.  Politics are something shared by a common people. That means they are my neighbors.  So I cannot have political enemies.  Again it comes back to loving my neighbors.  It always comes back to loving someone: God, neighbors, or enemies.

There are issues about which I feel very strongly.  That does not give me lease to impose my feelings on others.  I must work.  I must show love and devotion to what is right with all my heart.  I must also be kind and sensitive that those who oppose my views may do so with the same feeling of Christ centered conviction.  I must put our relationship in Christ above all political position. 

It is love that crushes barriers.  It is love that is the great equalizer.  I will focus on that and see to the rest within its framework.  It is the only thing that endures.

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Sensitivity Training – Sin and Condemnation

Greetings Dear Reader,

I realize that all of you do not acknowledge that we “sin”.  I will not debate that here although we can have a discussion about it if you wish.  I am proceeding from the assumption we do sin.  Notice the use of “we” there.  It is key to the discussion Dear Reader.

I must never become insensitive to sin.  I must see all sin and abhorrent and detestable; especially my own.  That is the thing to which I must always remain sensitive.  I cannot condemn others.  I have too much of my own for which I must account.  My failures demand their own condemnation were it not for the love and compassion of Christ.

If I am to obey the central commands to love God and love humans then I cannot also condemn those people.  If I condemn others then I am not being loving.  If I spend my time tending to the solutions to my own sin then I will not have time for condemnation anyway.  It is my obligation to see to my own sin so that I can better follow Christ.

I must walk the balance between recognizing when I see sin in others and not condemning them for it.  The recognition must trigger love and compassion in me.  It must move me to be a better example of love and redemption.  I must live as a fellow traveler and not as someone who has it all figured out.  I assure you that I do not.

The condemnation of others is not my place.  I am to be about working at getting us back to good.  I am commanded to love everyone where they are.  I must be sensitive to this in every thought.  I cannot condemn anyone without violating this.   It really is that simple.  In following Christ I must navigate the narrow line between contempt for all sin including my own and love for all people no matter where they are in the journey.

I cannot be sensitive to the needs of others whilst condemning them.  I cannot love unconditionally and damn people at the same time.  All I need do to embrace this is to stay sensitive to my own sin.  I am a crooked stick just like you Dear Reader.   

Don’t Tell Them Jesus Loves Them – Steve Camp

Oh, the suffering souls

Crying out for love

In a world that seldom cares

See the hungry hearts

Longing to be filled

With much more than our prayers

And a young girl sells herself on Seventh Avenue

And you hear her crying out for help

My God! What will we do?

Don't tell them Jesus loves them

Till you're ready to love them too!

Till your heart breaks from their sorrow

And the pain they're going through

With a life full of compassion

May we do what we must do?

Don't tell them Jesus loves them

Till you're ready to love them too!

All the desperate men

Are we reaching for the souls,

That are sinking down sin?

Oh, cry for the church

We've lost our passion for the lost

And there are billions left to win

And another 40,000 children starved to death today

Would we risk all we have

To see one of them saved!?!

Don't tell them Jesus loves them

Till you're ready to love them too!

Till your heart breaks from their sorrow

And the pain they're going through

With a life full of compassion

May we do what we must do?

Don't tell them Jesus loves them

Till you're ready to love them too!

Why have we waited so long

To show them Jesus lives

To share salvation's song!

Why have our hearts become so proud

That we fail to see

To love them is to love God!

And a young girl sells herself on Seventh Avenue

Hear her crying out for help

What will we do?

Don't tell them Jesus loves them

Till you're ready to love them too!

Till your heart breaks from their sorrow

And the pain they're going through

With a life full of compassion

May we do what we must do?

Don't tell them Jesus loves them

Till you're ready to love them too!

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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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