Tuesday, November 19, 2013

on being right

I have a friend who is going to be in the upcoming show, the importance of being earnest. He is playing Lady Bracknell ... which I'm sure will be excellent... and I can scarcely wait to see...

I digress. Or do I?

Being right... When I think about being right I actually think about being earnest...
Old English in origin: meaning sincere, genuine, kind with an ability to explode into rage if a loved one is threatened.
genuine. Ah, there it is, for the play.

exploding into rage, that's what we talk of today.

there was a quarrel yesterday, rapidly escalating, like a tennis match. the players in the scene were exploding, it was painful to observe. my role was to be the third voice.

i wasn't very confident in the proceedings until the results were in. as suspected, there were two losers... there was an element of absolute truth on both sides, and an element of profound error.

what struck me about this situation was how this was the best way. certainly not the battle, but the answer. of course there isn't a clear victor this side of things. of course we can't stand and defend with absolute authority things only God really knows. we see through a mirror dimly, and with our limited vision, we are still blind.  however, in the process of pursuing Christ, we must walk as he did...
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2)
What is of higher value? Being right, or having the same mine and the same love? Our own interests, or being a light?

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