Narrow Way Cafe

Orphangelical

“You meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.”

Kurt Vonnegut

“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future.”

Oscar Wilde

The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They fail to alter their views to fit the facts. Instead, they alter facts to fit their views.

Dr Who.

Connection

Dgg

The book says love your enemies.

What’s up with that?

Unrequited love… to be smitten over someone who can’t stand the site of you.

Reminds one of Junior High School. Can you remember what it was like to desire friendship? The breathless ache be in a “love” relationship? Having that desire directed toward people who disregarded or even loathed your existence? Out of the clique? It’s almost like the friendships kids most desire are the most unobtainable ones.

Some, admittedly didn’t endure such alienation. Their experience probably came later. In High School or College. But the pain and angst was never sharper than when we were children.

The friendships we must most desire are the ones most unobtainable.

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Mt. 18:3-5

What if I loved my enemies as fervently as God does. How would I respond?

Connection to them would be by the strings of ones heart. Always present. It would remain fresh and real – overpowering – just like the ache in a child’s heart for endearment with the others they desire to know.

I forgot what it was like to be a kid, an outsider to the cool crew – to those I most wanted to hang about. But it profoundly changes ones sense of desire to perceive what those rejecting God are missing.

Not knowing the love of God must bring quaking to our hearts.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, …For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?

It’s easy to be friends with friends. Love those who reciprocate. BUT! The friendships we must desire are the ones which are most unobtainable.

Love that enemy. Dang.

Can I see me as my enemies do? What about that makes them keep distant. Can empathy and understanding what they experience influence my appreciation for their circumstance? Can I love them for their faults, and goodness as God does?

Tall order.