Food For Thought: A Quote on Love

“Love is a temporary madness.

It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision.

You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Because this is what love is.

Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion.

That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.” 

This quote has been attributed to multiple people. I’m not sure who said it first, but it is definitely one of the most profound statements I’ve ever read on love.

 

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In My Own Image or After My Kind?

I was thinking this morning about how I am often torn between the essence of the first great commission and the essence of the first sin.

The first great commission was “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

The first sin was trying to be god.

God never said “Okay people, I want you to all go around and try to have dominion over each other. Crush others down with words, fists, actions, manipulation, whatever it takes.” Nope. The only thing we are supposed to subdue is the animals and the earth, not our fellow humans.

Most people spend their lives trying to make other people be like them. We prim and preen and worry, trying to make sure that we are someone who others will want to emulate.

That is why popularity has such a stranglehold on us.

But the truth of the matter is that He said to reproduce. (I’m not talkin’ about sex here, people. That’s another whole blog post.)

Humanity was created in the image of God, right? And we are supposed to reproduce, after our own kind, the kind that HE created. The concept behind reproduction is assisting in the bringing forth and raising up of others that are made in HIS image, not ours.

Paul said “follow me, as I follow Christ.” That really is the key in the struggle.

What are my motives, when I reach out in friendship or a mentoring relationship? Am I trying to help that person become like Christ, or am I trying to be their god? Do I want them to need me or do I want them to see their need for God? Do I want them to change, just so they conform to some image of perfection I hold in my own head?

-Just a thought-

 

God so near… by Toni L.A. Cross

God so near
so very close
can feel His breath
on the back of my neck
God so near
so very close

can hear His whisper
and the thunder of His heartbeat
God so near
so very close
can feel my inside melt
and my pride is shattering
God so near
so very close
can’t be the same
or forget Who He is

consummation, written by Toni L.A. Cross 1/27/10

intricate twining

of flesh and of spirit

divine binding

within and without

complex artistry

of angles and curves

vivid intensity

sharp edges of soft

magnificent alignment

of wishes and sighs

abandoned fulfillment

soaring to unified bliss

broken~separated~alone: cinquain Toni L.A. Cross 1/12/10

broken
completely fractured
violently ripped asunder
bitterly consumed with pain
broken

separated
goodbye forever
cut pulled torn
like marrow from bone
separated

alone
left without
watching dust settle
beautiful misery snuggles in
alone