A Necessary Progression – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I said this is a short simple progression.   The path to loving others is always going to take time to learn.  It is always going to necessitate that we take steps to get to the habit of loving others. 

If we practice kindness and being tender hearted, we learn to love.  Intentionally doing things to be kind builds our understanding for the need of it.  It shows us that compassion is the path to take to do well.   Having compassion heightens our sense of what others need.  It moves us to act in ways that are selfless and serve others.

If we forgive we have room for love.  If we forgive it is much easier to be kind and compassionate.  If we do not forgive we give a foothold to bitterness and evil.  Love for others does not come from just willing it.  We need to love in order for others to see the path to Christ.

This necessary progression allows me to follow Christ daily.  It lights the journey and lightens the burden.  It is in following this path that I will find my way home.  It is not always easy but always worth the effort.

Ephesians 4:12

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

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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A Necessary Progression – Forgiving One Another

Greetings Dear Reader,

This thing called forgiveness is so neglected by so many.  It is neglected yet so very powerful.  It is need both as a gift given to others and received by ourselves.  It is a fluid to lubricate the progression.

 I fear that we have lost the understanding of how vital it is to forgive and seek forgiveness.  I do not use colorful metaphors as I find them to be vulgar and often disrespectful.  A couple of weeks ago, for the first time in a long while I slipped in front of a coworker.

She immediately noticed it and commented on it.  After a few moments of further conversation I made a point of asking her forgiveness.  She commented that she was not offended and that forgiveness was not necessary.   I am thankful for her graciousness but I think we have lost an understanding of the depth to which we need to be forgiven for things.

Seeking forgiveness is a transference of power.  When I have transgressed in some way and seek forgiveness I transfer the power of the relationship to the offended party.  It takes courage and humility.  It takes a commitment to restoration and reconciliation. 

In a world where anger and strife seem to multiply exponentially forgiveness stands out so brightly.  We validate others when we ask for forgiveness.  We restore relationships and germinate hope.  I need to remember that Jesus ask the Father to forgive us as we forgive others.  That is reason enough to forgive readily.

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 ͡°)

A Necessary Progression – Tender Hearts

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I ponder this aspect of the necessary progression toward unconditional love I think of the antithesis.   Our society has hardened its hearts toward so many things.  We have not just become hard hearted about some things.  We have become indifferent and complacent.

Whether it is refugees from other shores or homeless veterans in our cities we do not care enough for the needs of others.  We politicize issues of compassion and kindness so that factions fight and those in peril get forgotten.

We measure someone’s politics and belief before we offer comfort and aid.  We legitimize murder over resources, land, and convenience.  We allow others to be in want whilst we have plenty.  It is all because we are not moved by the needs of others.

I realize that we convince ourselves that we are compassionate.  Instead I would say that we are not tender hearted enough.  Our hearts must be tender toward our enemies and neighbors.  I must be tender hearted toward all needs.  I cannot solve all problems but I must not disconnect from them.  I must that every death diminishes me.   Every hunger pang should resonate in my belly.  Every sorrow deserves my compassion.

I cannot claim to love all humans and be heard hearted towards the needs around me.  I cannot be selfish and self-absorbed and claim to have a tender heart.  If I hope to show love to others I must do so in the tender actions of meeting their needs.   It is in those actions that I show unconditional love and more importantly experience how to do 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 home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

A Necessary Progression - Kindness

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have written on kindness before and could write on it for days.  As we look at the necessary progression toward showing unconditional love to others it is worth revisiting. 

The word kindness appears forty-eight times in the Bible.  We are required to be kind to others.  It is not something to take lightly.  It is a way to get to love.  It is a path out of anger and bitterness.

I know people for whom giving them a kindness is painful.  They have been so mistreated by others that kindness if foreign to them.  I heard someone just last week say that for fifteen years they have been verbally mistreated daily by someone that mattered.  When people are kind to her it confuses her.

We must be kind to everyone.  Friends, family, strangers, and enemies must be always treated with kindness.  It is what erodes hatred and fear.  Jesus made clear that even cups of cold water make it difference. 

I must approach everyone with kindness.  Some will embrace it.  Others will reject it.  Some will even use it to use me.  That is not the concern.  My responsibility is to keep being kind. 

Kindness is part of the unstoppable force that can heal hearts and souls.  I see it as a vital weapon in the battle for faith and following.  It is a facet of the gemstone that becomes unconditional love.

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 ͡°)

A Necessary Progression – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently someone tried to tell me what a good man I am.  I do not believe that I am a good man.  I can easily recall a time when I was nothing but a mass of anger and pain.  I can clearly recall the thoughts, desires, and actions the evidence the contrary.  I see clearly that I am not good but rather fallen and in need of daily grace.

With that understood I have left behind most of the anger and learned to manage most of the pain.  It is not anything I have accomplished and I am no better than anyone else.  Instead it is a moment by moment yielding to that which has been imparted to me.  It is stepping into the grace offered me.

Since I did not come fully to the idea of loving others it is important that I review the necessary progression that got me there.  It will be a short venture along the path but perhaps in it I can renew my strength and impart something of value to you Dear Reader.

In a time when our land desperately needs to see the path to loving our neighbors and enemies it is important that I recall how I got here.  Walk with me for a spell as we find the necessary progression.  As always I value your thoughts and questions.    

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 ͡°)