A month or so ago, I saw a young woman walking into church. She evidently had some form of cerebral palsy, or some condition that caused her to need to use walking canes. The first thought that came to my mind was that she was beautiful. I’m sorry that I did not go to her and tell her this. Her beauty, to me, seems to have been from the “I’ve overcome my limitations, see me walk”, or “I am who I am”. It was something in the way she held herself. I thought that she was beautiful, and that I prayed that Ani would be capable of that kind of mobility some day. I saw her walk, not as some gangly stumbling movement, but a grace in motion that she was able to control her body.
In other ways, I’ve come to wonder what “beauty” means. I’ve seen beauty in people’s hearts, souls, and servitude. Beauty is not simply a physical characteristic. Beauty is in a serving heart, a caring heart. It’s in a mother’s hand held out to help a child who has stumbled. It’s in an action that brings joy to somebody else. Beauty is in the eyes of a child who has not yet learned to see the world through cynical eyes. Beauty is in the importance of a worn out teddy bear that a little boy carried everywhere. I miss that little bear. Beauty is in the stream-of-consciousness chatter of a 5 year old. Beauty is not hiding how you feel. Beauty can be in the order you find in chaos, or the chaos you find in order. Love is beauty.
Showing posts with label Observations on life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Observations on life. Show all posts
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Strength
Strength
What is it? Where does it come from? Is it purely a physical aspect to a person?
As I consider the things people have done for us, I find that the measure of strength is not an easy assessment.
I don’t think many would argue against the notion that the strongest person ever to walk this earth was Jesus. However, even with all of God’s might, he showed strength not in physical aspects like lifting animals or some brute-force act like that, but in strength of character, of love. He showed it in his ability to love those that were hard for others to love, to ultimately lay down his life for us, who are deeply flawed in many ways, undeserving of the gift of grace. He wasn’t afraid to allow himself to be made vulnerable, to ridicule, to torture, and even to death. But, for us, showing your honest emotions to others leaves you open and vulnerable also. Why is it really considered weak for males to show emotion? Shouldn’t that be what you expect from a “Daddy”? Shouldn’t it be strength that is observed in men that make themselves vulnerable by being honest in all that they do, whether in act or emotion? When you need to help somebody who is in need, a lot of times it’s not physical strength that is needed, it’s emotional strength. Loyalty is strength also, as is a commitment to one’s beliefs. However, what someone else believes is not necessarily a threat to your strength. Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan, who, though the man on the side of the road was a hated enemy, showed love and compassion and (gasp) spent money.
I think that too many of us (myself included at times in my life) confuse power, wealth, and even winning (in many ways, sports, even just getting in front of the next driver in traffic) with strength. While at times these goals may or may not be acceptable, don’t confuse them as strength. I have concluded that some of the most powerful “leaders” are truly weak, while many who serve each other in small ways are truly strong.
What is it? Where does it come from? Is it purely a physical aspect to a person?
As I consider the things people have done for us, I find that the measure of strength is not an easy assessment.
I don’t think many would argue against the notion that the strongest person ever to walk this earth was Jesus. However, even with all of God’s might, he showed strength not in physical aspects like lifting animals or some brute-force act like that, but in strength of character, of love. He showed it in his ability to love those that were hard for others to love, to ultimately lay down his life for us, who are deeply flawed in many ways, undeserving of the gift of grace. He wasn’t afraid to allow himself to be made vulnerable, to ridicule, to torture, and even to death. But, for us, showing your honest emotions to others leaves you open and vulnerable also. Why is it really considered weak for males to show emotion? Shouldn’t that be what you expect from a “Daddy”? Shouldn’t it be strength that is observed in men that make themselves vulnerable by being honest in all that they do, whether in act or emotion? When you need to help somebody who is in need, a lot of times it’s not physical strength that is needed, it’s emotional strength. Loyalty is strength also, as is a commitment to one’s beliefs. However, what someone else believes is not necessarily a threat to your strength. Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan, who, though the man on the side of the road was a hated enemy, showed love and compassion and (gasp) spent money.
I think that too many of us (myself included at times in my life) confuse power, wealth, and even winning (in many ways, sports, even just getting in front of the next driver in traffic) with strength. While at times these goals may or may not be acceptable, don’t confuse them as strength. I have concluded that some of the most powerful “leaders” are truly weak, while many who serve each other in small ways are truly strong.
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