Your Brother’s Keeper ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Whether we like it or not, we are an interdependent species.  We can, if we choose to, live alone and without congress with other humans.  It does not produce our best selves.  It yields some good occasionally but is not how we are designed.

The first murder is a result of failing to understand that we are responsible to care for each other.  All oppression, theft, discrimination, and hate stems from not seeing that we are responsible for the care of each other.  When we dismiss anyone, we are dismissing those for whom we are required to care.

I cannot imagine that we can fix this outright.  We are all selfish in some way.  There are those who demand equality for everyone but those that disagree with them.  We hear demands to care for others made by rich people who do nothing to make that a reality.  There are those who claim to love Jesus who segregate and disrespect people because of race or class.  There are none of us who are not guilty in some way of failing to keep our brothers and sisters.

We work for our side or our cause.  We let anger and violence be our stance over things that can only be solved through peace and love.  We think that the only way to bring peace is to “sacrifice our children and kill all our enemies.”  The only way to create peace is through love and kindness.  We may think we cannot get there, but the path to it begins with accepting that we are not better than anyone.  It starts with recognizing that everyone who suffers contributes to my suffering.  All hunger is my hunger.  “Every man’s death diminishes me.”

The path to peace is how I treat store clerks, bus drivers, and strangers in the store.  It is celebrating every life as though it matters as much as mine.  It is realizing that my life matters more than I acknowledge.  It is seeing our lives through the eyes of the Father who declares that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.  It is, Dear Reader, the acceptance that even when I do not like it, I am my brother and sister’s keeper.  I will be accountable for how I treat everyone and how I allow others to be treated.

We are all headed in the same direction.  Whether you share my faith or not, we will all have to account for how we treat each other.  We will all be asked about how we treated the least among us.  I have failed to be always aware of my obligation to others but that does not mean I cannot spend the remainder of my journey working to love every human in my path.  It means that I can let peace begin with my interactions with others everywhere I go.  Please, Dear Reader, let us try to walk together in peace.  It is easier than you think.

Let There Be Peace on Earth – UP Concert Chorus

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be

With God as our Father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow

To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me

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

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

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Your Brother’s Keeper ~ Freedom

Greetings Dear Reader,

Even in this year of turbulence, we have the freedom to celebrate.  I can travel where I wish when I want.  We have seen that we have to plan for shortages and have strategies that involve the respect and care needed to protect others.  None of this has taken our freedom.

We have forgotten in our abundance that freedom is not something that lives on its own.  It is something that exists when one takes responsibility for its survival and propagation.  Freedom, liberty must be fed and watered by the humans who have it through the care of those with whom they share it.  If we are not propagating the benefits and the obligations of liberty to everyone, we are weakening it bit by bit.

If we forget that men and women gave their lives to defend our Constitution, we dishonor their lives if we dishonor it.  This means outwardly defying it or subtly denying its freedoms to others.  We must live in a way that shows our gratitude for our freedom.  We must not be hypocritical in our application of it.

When the Father allows us to have freedom, he requires that we live in that freedom with love and respect for others.  None of the loud voices I hear protesting or arguing seem to be demanding freedom equally for everyone.  The loudest voices seem to be wanting to destroy what guarantees our freedom or keep a system that hinders freedom for some.  The lesser heard voices are the ones that demand that we create equality for everyone and fix the glaring imbalances in our system.

If I am to follow Christ well, my freedom must be shared with everyone.  I must treat everyone with love and kindness.  If I see oppression, I must stand against it.  My love and kindness must be the method I use to support those who lack freedom and to confront those who deny it.  On this day we celebrate freedom, Dear Reader, there must be the understanding that I am responsible to keep it for everyone.

Freedom Never Cries – Five for Fighting

I took a flag to a pawnshop
For a broken guitar
I took a flag to a pawnshop
How much is that guitar
I took a flag to a pawnshop
I got me that guitar
What's a flag in a pawn shop to me?

I saw a man on the TV
In a mask with a gun
A man on the TV
He had a ten-year-old son
I saw a man on the TV
His son had a gun
And he says that he's coming for me

I never loved the soldier until there was a war
Or thought about tomorrow
'Til my baby hit the floor
I only talk to God when somebody's about to die
I never cherished freedom
Freedom never cries

I wrote a song for a dead man
To settle my soul
A song for a dead man
And now I'll never grow old
I wrote a song for a dead man
Now I'm out in the cold
What's a song to a dead man to me?

I never loved the soldier until there was a war
Or thought about tomorrow
'Til my baby hit the floor
I only talk to God when somebody's about to die
I never cherished freedom
Freedom never cries

You can cry for her
Die for her
Lay down your life for her
Kiss and wave goodbye to her
Anything at all

You can cry for her
Die for her
Make up your mind to her
Anything at all, oh

There's a baby on the doorstep
Wailing away
There's a baby on the doorstep
Longing for the day
There's a baby on the doorstep
Who'd give his life to take
A flag to a pawnshop
A flag to a pawnshop

May he forget why he is crying some day

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

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

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Your Brother’s Keeper ~ The Mean Season

Greetings Dear Reader,

They call hurricane season “the mean season” in parts of Florida.  In our era, we have days if not weeks of warning when there is going to be a hurricane.  We can track it, plot it, and mostly predict it.  When evacuations are called for, we see long lines of cars headed north using both sides of the interstate.  When I lived on the Atlantic coast in south Florida, I rode out a lesser hurricane.  I think it was then that a saw the difference between being self-centered and being my brother’s keeper.

We have a phrase that does not belong in a hurricane, and by extension, in our culture   Perhaps it is one of those phrases that never belongs in the heart and mind of a Christ-follower.  That phrase is, “every man for himself.”  What reveals this to me is the reports that come out of hurricanes of an individual going beyond the norm to help others in crisis.  If we are living as we should, those stories should not be extraordinary.  They should be common and expected.

When a storm comes in, it chews away everything in its path and reveals who we really are.  We see people mourning a lifetime of possessions.  Organizations try to provide aid and there are people who find ways to help.  What we do not see is what should be happening.  Everyone should be finding a way to help someone.  There should be no fear in those who lose all that they will not have food, shelter, and care.

When the Father comes in to sift all we have, he does it to remind us where our focus and value should be.  He does it to gain our attention.  When we see others crying out in pain over the devastation in their lives, it is not our place to judge, ridicule, or condemn.  It is our obligation to act out of love and compassion for those in need.  It is required that we be our brother and sister’s keeper.

I need the Father to come in like a hurricane and blow away all the things that distract me from loving him as I should.  It is in that devastation that I find the vision to love others as I must.  It is out of our broken lives that the Father builds a place that is his.  From this place, I have the will and the power to treat others with love and grace.  I can be free of the things that lead me away from following the Son. 

When others cry out because of the pain in their lives, we must respond to their hurt without judgment or condemnation.  I must journey with them through their hurt even if I am responsible for it.  The journey is about following Christ and bringing those in need with us by caring for their needs.  Lovingly being there for those in pain is the path home.  It is what lights our way.  When the darkness, winds, and rain ravage lives in any form, it is the light and love of Christ in me that must shine for everyone.  It is how we demonstrate that they matter, Dear Reader.

Hurricane – Jimmy Needham

I have built a city here
Half with pride and half with fear
Just wanted a safer place to hide
I don't want to be safe tonight

I need you like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I'm only yours now

I need you like a burning flame
A wildfire untamed
To burn these walls down
I'm only yours now
I'm only yours now

I am yours and you are mine
You know far better than I
And if destructions what I need
Then I'll receive it, Lord, from thee
Yes, I'll receive it, Lord, from thee

I need you like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I'm only yours now

I need you like a burning flame
A wildfire untamed
To burn these walls down
I'm only yours now
I'm only yours now

And it's your eye in the storm
Watching over me
And it's your eye in the storm
Wanting only good for me
And if you are the war
Let me be the casualty
Till I'm yours alone
I am only yours
I am yours alone Lord

I need you like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain

To tear my walls down

I need you like a hurricane
Thunder crashing wind and rain
To tear my walls down
I'm only yours now

I need you like a burning flame
A wildfire untamed
To burn these walls down
I'm only yours now
I'm only yours 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 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

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

Web Page:  www.aramisthorn.com

Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

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Your Brother’s Keeper ~ The Heart of the Matter

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of my dear friends messaged me yesterday about the meaning of a word.  She was referring to the song that is at the end of this post.  Her question and the ensuing conversation could not have been more salient to this series of posts.

Before you run off to listen to the song, let us reason together for a bit.  I was overwhelmed at the honesty and openness I see in my friend relative to how the Father asks us to consider our own hearts.  Caring for others, being my brother or sister’s keeper is something that must come from the heart.  That heart must be a heart that has been rent by Christ. 

The word that my friend was asking about, was "rend".  In Joel 2:12-14 (that is an Old Testament minor prophet), the Father insists that we need to rend our hearts in sorrow over the wrongs we have done.  It is rending the heart that is necessary to be my brother’s keeper.  I cannot simply give outward support to a cause or issue and think that I am putting my life into play.

Rend means to tear and shred here.  It means to destroy my heart in sorrow for my own failure to be a better brother or sister.  It requires that I use love and grace to set aside my greed and selfishness in order to make a real difference in the lives of others.  My heart cannot be whole if I see the depth of my sin and remember the love the Father shows me.

But wait, there is hope.  The Father wants to take my shredded heart and create a new one.  He wants to show others how redemption wins.  He turns the death of my heart through rending into the fighting chance for others to live.  It is not through violence, chants, and protests.  Neither is it through demands, laws, and self-righteousness. 

It is the individual private rending of my heart every single day that changes the world.  It is choosing that I will see my failures and count on the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus to use that useless heart to love others.  Those who do not believe as I do have a right to be outraged at us.  Until we all rend our hearts over sin, Dear Reader, we have nothing to offer for their pain and suffering.  The obligation to treat others with love can only flow from a rent heart.

I must live this. I must walk it no matter how I am received.  It is through this tattered heart that love can make me disappear and help others to see Christ.  Before I dare judge or mock anyone, I must look at my own heart to see if I have shred it asking the Father to reconstruct it with his love.  We can do this openly with each other, Dear Reader and so be encouraged in our journey.

Rend – Jimmy Needham

You've been tarnished
And you've been stained
And all the varnish you've used to cover up with is peeling away

Yet even now, return to me with nothing less
Than your wounded, broken heart
And cling to Me, your gracious King
Be shattered glass of empty jars and rend
Rend, rend, rend
Rend your hearts

You've been tarnished
And you've been stained
And all the varnish you've used to cover up with is peeling away

Yet even now, return to me with nothing less
Than your wounded, broken heart
And cling to Me, your gracious King
Be shattered glass of empty jars and rend
Rend, rend, rend
Rend your hearts

I don't need a grand display
Show me that your heart has changed
I don't need a show
Only just to know your own heart breaks

Yet even now, return to me with nothing less
Than your wounded, broken heart
And cling to Me, your gracious King
Be shattered glass of empty jars and rend
Rend, rend, rend
Rend your hearts

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

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

Web Page:  www.aramisthorn.com

Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

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Your Brother’s Keeper ~ Metered Responses

Greetings Dear Reader,

I witnessed an exchange between two adult brothers recently.  I will be a little vague but you will get the gist of the exchange.  The older brother did something that was not wrong but it bothered the younger one for valid reasons.  The younger, with more anger in his voice than intended launched verbally at the older one, “I need you to do this first,” he said.  “I wasn’t going to say anything the last two times but I need you to do it this way.”

The older brother listened and agreed to do as his younger brother required.  He did not argue or justify his position.  He listened quietly and I could see the hurt on his face that his brother would speak to him in that way.  He chose to meter his response with love instead of reacting to the hurt and disrespect.  He and I spoke about it later and he reminded me that listening to his brother is much more important than justifying his actions.  He said that it was a blessing to him that his first thought was compassion for his brother rather than defending himself.

It reminded me of the interaction that Jesus has when he is headed to Jerusalem:

Luke 9:51-56 (NASB)

 ⁵¹ When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; ⁵² and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. ⁵³ But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” ⁵⁵ But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; ⁵⁶ for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

When his followers want to use destruction on those who reject Jesus, he responds with a rebuke to them.  We cannot be sure about what is said in the brackets because our oldest writings do not contain it.  What we are sure of is that calling down fire on those rejecting Jesus was worthy of a rebuke from him.  It is surely not keeping one’s brother.  It definitely not loving an enemy.  Too often we believe enough to be willing to call down fire but not enough to love those who oppose us.

No matter which side of the current tensions we land on, we are obligated to love our opposition with more faith than it takes to destroy them.  Imagine if with each story that offends us that we asked the Father to rain down love from heaven on the offenders.  We can practice responding to the attacks, insults, and outrage by asking the Father how we can show the love of Jesus to our “enemies”.  You see, Dear Reader, those people who stand against us are our brothers and sisters.  We must love them because we cannot follow Christ without this.  The journey is about loving others as the Father commanded and we must meter all of our responses to reflect this.  Christ-followers do not have permission to hate anyone.

A Voice for Peace – Dan Fogelberg

You know that everybody has a voice
And how they use it is their own free choice
In your glory, I will not rejoice
If you choose the ways of war
If you choose the ways of war

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust
My country 'tis of thee, in God we trust
But how much longer will He shelter us
While we choose the ways of war
While the winds of war rage on

Let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Oh let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Oh let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Let it start here with me, Oh let mine be a voice for peace

The good book tells us thou shalt not kill
The truth came shining and it's shining still
But how much blood upon this earth must spill
Before we lay our weapons down
Let us lay our weapons down

Let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Oh let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Oh let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Let it start here with me, Oh let mine be a voice for peace

And in the face of the beast, oh let mine be a voice
Until the breaths in me cease, oh let mine be a voice for peace

Let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Oh let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Oh let mine "oh let my small voice" be a voice for peace
Let it start here with me, Oh let mine be a voice for peace

Raise your voice up, raise your voice up
Raise your voice up and sing for the promise

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

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

Web Page:  www.aramisthorn.com

Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

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Your Brother’s Keeper ~ Crossing Lines

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I watched the movie Changing Lanes again.  If you have not seen it, the story is of two men who collide on the freeway in New York City.  Their lives then collide as well.  Watching it in the current air of social unrest, I was reminded of the disparity that exists in so many areas of American life. 

Please understand, I do not think that everything we see on the media is true or that for one moment that they are telling us unbiased truth.  There is a problem.  It is not as intentional as others would have us believe.  It is also not as benign as some choose to think.  We do not treat all people with equality and respect. 

I am not going to dive into the discussion about who is right or wrong.  I am going to address the greater problem.  In a country so deeply divided, there are those who follow Christ on all sides of the issues with which we struggle.  More than anyone else, we should have the capability and willingness to cross the lines and listen with loving hearts to our opposition.  We are the ones who are supposed to live peaceably with all humans.

The lines that exist between us have been created by us.  When we make it a point to really listen, we can really hear.  When we put away our bias and obey the command to have compassion, we truly see the needs of others.  I do not care what issues we disagree on, if we claim Christ then we must cross the lines and deal in love and compassion.  There is no valid argument against this.

Obeying the command of Christ to compassionate love is not agreeing with any of the issues that we find outside of our faith.  Loving others and hearing their grievances is part of following Christ.  If my faith is real, then the things I find wrong will not harm it.  I should not expect those who disagree with my beliefs to live by them.  They have the right to expect me to live by them at any cost. 

No matter how much hatred, anger, or outrage someone throws at me, my response is to cross their line and show them compassion with honest listening.  My obligation is to hear and care.  My “thoughts and prayers” must be lived out in my provision and respect or they are useless in the eyes of those who do not believe. 

I need to refrain from judgment and demanding that others live like I do.  I have to train my brain to love first no matter what the line is.  My primary response must be to walk into any situation carrying a banner of love and peace.  My faith must mitigate my fear and prejudice.  I must be challenged to live that on every level of my life.  I must accept the challenge and challenge you to do the same, Dear Reader.  If I do not, my wagging head only swings my plank in a wider, more damaging arc.  I want to remove the plank from my eye so that it feels safe to journey next to me.  I desire for you to feel as welcome as you are.

Jesus Friend of Sinners – Casting Crowns

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double-minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours, yeah

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost 'cause and I was the outcast, yeah
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

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

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

Web Page:  www.aramisthorn.com

Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

Facebook       Twitter        

Medium         Instagram 

 BLOG Archive:  http://aramisthorn.blogspot.com/  

Your Brother’s Keeper ~ We are Wrong

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday, I related the story of my encounter with a young man who could laugh like a Kookaburra.  In the same store at a later date, I had another encounter.  I was wheeling my trolly through the soup aisle when an African American mom and her daughter were headed in the opposite direction. 

I only mention her race because it is important to the encounter.  The little girl was filled with energy and smiled at me as we were about to pass.  She was riding in the large part of the trolly.  She raised her left hand and blurted, “Give me a high-five mister.  It is a great day.”  Even before she got it all the way out her mum was trying to shoosh her. 

The mum looked at me, nervous, and said, “Don’t bother the man.  He doesn’t want to give you a high-five.”  She looked at me with eyes that were apologetic and sadly, fearful.  I instantly felt compassion for whatever has instilled this fear and sadness in her.

Looking at her, I said, “With your permission,” and held up my hand to her daughter.  The daughter giggled and smacked me the hardest high five she could muster.  The mum informed me that her daughter had been doing this all over the store and nobody responded until me.  When she said this, the daughter responded, “But I got somebody to do it, so I am done now.”

I was delighted with the girl.  The mum and I chatted for a moment and I could tell that she needed to move on. As they moved down the aisle, I heard the mum say, “You see sugar, nice people come in every color no matter what your uncle says.”

It was my turn to be sad.  I was sad that any child has to be taught to not fear others.  I was sad that the mum had been fearful of my response to her child.  Sadness over the depth to which we are all wrong about how we treat each other welled up in me.  No matter what anyone believes, we all fail to treat each other as we should.  This is not a platitude or weak mea culpa.  We need to accept our guilt for failing to treat everyone with dignity and respect out of love.

Almost all absolutes about humans are in error.  We still form weighted opinions based on race, religion, politics, and social alignments that play the percentages.  We find a tribe or clan to align with and fuel our status at the expense of other clans or tribes.  We choose foolishness and greed to neglect the needs of others.  We all hate for some reason.  Many justify their hate based on the actions of others.

The problem is that we are responsible for everyone.  We are required to love every human soul and meet the needs of that human if we can.  Racial, religious, and social division are our way of justifying our bloody deeds in the name of our creed or cause.  If I accept the requirement to love the Father by loving my neighbor, the stranger, and my enemy, then none of the other things matter accept in understanding their needs. 

We all fail to love others as we are required to do.  We all are our brother’s and sister’s keeper if we have any hope of following Christ.  I saw that mum and little girl again yesterday when I was grocery shopping.  I should say that the little girl saw me first.  Her voice radiated sunshine, “Hey mister, you got a high five for me today?” 

Of course, I did.  The beauty of the moment was that her mum was smiling too.  She greeted me and this time we exchanged names.  What I need to do; what we all need to do, Dear Reader, is to replicate moments of honest love and kindness with everyone.  We have to begin to be that constant source of loving respect in every situation.

Any statement that I am following Christ that does not include this determination is me following a false path.  As we journey together, I must become a living source of love and light to whoever falls into step with me.  Those small events will cascade into something beautiful if we determine to be this.  Until we do, we need to really listen and hear when others do not feel loved and respected.  We need to see their fear and anger and mitigate it through the love of Christ.  We need to give little kids a high five whenever they ask for 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 ͡°)

Every human story is part of the great story that leads to the Father getting everything back to Good.

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

#aramisthorn

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

Web Page:  www.aramisthorn.com

Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

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Your Brother’s Keeper ~ Answering the Right Questions

Greetings Dear Reader,

If we are honest, we must accept that we are our brother’s keeper.  Recently, I was at a large store in the early evening.  A four or five-year-old African American lad was in line in front of me with his mum.  Every thirty seconds or so the child would let out a loud call that sounded just like a Kookaburra. 

I looked at the child, fascinated by the sound.  My enjoyment was interrupted by the mother, challenging me.  “Do we have a problem here,” she angrily asked.  I was shocked by the timber of the voice of someone who had never met me being so filled with vitriol. 

I smiled my warmest responding, “No we do not.  I love the Kookaburra and have never heard his call done so well by a human.  If I have offended you by enjoying I will continue by apologizing, please forgive me.”

For a moment, she looked doubtful.  Most of her anger faded and the lad looked me in the eye, smiled, and let out another Kookaburra laugh.  She did not say anything else, turned to her trolly, and wheeled the lad away.  As I turned my focus to the cashier, I heard the Kookaburra one more time and smiled deeply.  The cashier informed me that the little guy has some kind of learning disability and he thinks that he is laughing.

I thought how hard it must be for that mum to encounter all kinds of impatient and judgmental responses in dealing with the needs of her child.  I wondered how often her challenge was met with misunderstanding, unkindness, and even hatred.  It must have been unsettling for her to see my scruffy-bearded self, staring at her son.  It may have been further worrying for me to know the sound the child made and to enjoy it.

What mattered most in that exchange is my understanding that I had to meet her challenge with love and kindness.  I had done nothing wrong and she was placing herself between a judging world and her child.  It cost me nothing to respond with gentleness and humility.  I am thankful that the Father provided me with the grace to answer the right questions.

You see, Dear Reader, if my focus is on my own pride and ego, then I respond differently in that moment.  I react to the challenged if my focus is on me.  I say something arrogant or unkind if I seek to be understood before trying to understand.  That lovely lady has traveled a hard road if she is that angry at strangers smiling at her son.  I must always answer the question of where my focus is.  It must always be on showing the love of Christ in every interaction.

I hinted at the second question we need to be answering.  If I seek to understand, rather than demanding to be understood, I can work for peace.  I can stand my ground without being offensive or escalating the situation.  My response was intended to show kindness to the woman and her child.  We did not have a problem as she inquired unless I chose to be prideful and unloving.  My mind considered that in the few seconds I took to respond.  Finding Christ in that moment, however, requires a soft answer, seeing another human in need, and responding with love no matter what her disposition.

The last question I consider at the moment is that concerning my rights to be un-assailed and treated with kindness.  It is true that just as I should be kind to everyone, everyone should be kind to me.  Since that will not be the case, I must be the voice for peace and kindness.  My anger and pride do not need a morsel of feeding in this situation.  Rather, I must view my “rights” in perspective to the Father’s sovereignty and commands.  The Father allowed this situation to unfold.  The occurrence does not nullify his requirement that I treat every human with love, kindness, deference, and respect. 

Compared to my own sin, this woman’s anger is nothing.  Perhaps she needed someone to enjoy her son so that she could have a moment of relative peace.  I do not even need to know that, Dear Reader.  I must trust that my obedience will be used by the Father in his effort to make all things good again.  I do not get to design what that journey looks like.

I think that when it comes to the hard issues we face currently, that we are not asking or answering the right questions.  We are not putting others in the light of needing kindness and love above all else.  We consider our own “rights” and wants over the needs of others.  We respond with hatred when what we must do is respond with the deep compassion that leads to love and peace.  Perhaps that child and get us all to pause and laugh for a bit.  It could yield a great deal of good is we do so.

Which Way are You Going – Jim Croce

Which way are you going, which side will you be on?

Will you stand and watch while all the seeds of hate are sown?

Will you stand with those who say, let his will be done?

One hand on the bible One hand on the gun

One hand on the bible One hand on the gun

Which way are you looking, is it hard to see?

Do you say what’s wrong for him, is not wrong for me?

You walk the streets of righteousness but you refuse to understand

You say you love the baby

Then you crucify the man

You say you love the baby

Then you crucify the man

Every day, things are changing, words once honored turned to lies

People wondering, can you blame them Its too far to run, and too late to hide

Now you turn your back on, all the things that you used to preach

Now its let him live in freedom if he lives like me

Well you light has changed, confusion rains, what have you become

All your olive branches turned to spears

When your flowers turned to guns

Your olive branches turned to spears

When your flowers turned to guns

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

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels: From My Publisher or on Amazon          

Web Page:  www.aramisthorn.com

Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com

Facebook       Twitter        

Medium         Instagram 

BLOG Archive:  http://aramisthorn.blogspot.com/