A Summer Adventure.

Although summer feels like decades ago I thought I would do a blog about my summer adventure. My mum and I did some travelling around the French/Italian alpes, using a trainline to get from place to place - staying two nights in each place. It was certainly an adventure! We met some lovely people, saw breathtaking scenes and ate delicious food. I have fond memories filled with sunshine and joy - which I could probably write about for pages - but instead I decided to make a montage-map of our travels.

Enjoy.

The Good Samaritan - a challenge

So I was reading the Parable of the Good Samaritan the other day. I'm sure you've heard it before - but quick recap - man gets beaten up, then a Priest and a Levite (who you would expect to give some help) busy themselves with excuses and cross to the other side of the road. Then a Samaritan (a race who were enemies with the Jews) stops and helps him - bandaging his wounds and paying for his full recovery.

When reading this parable, I had a feeling of sick recognition of both the Priest and the Levite in me. So hears a challenge I wrote, for me and anyone who feels the same way!

What is it that turns us to the other side?

 

When we see pain and shrug our shoulders,

 

Or see an opportunity and march swiftly on.

 

Is it our pride?

 

Is it our business?

 

Self-obsession or fear?

 

Dellusion, commitments, self-importance, self-hatred?

 

 

 

You hear the voice, calling 'help him', 'give that', 'speak now'.

 

How about not turning to the other side?

 

What about obeying?

Love.

 

What is love?

I've been considering this for a while now - as different people I've been chatting with have different views - leaving me a little bit confuddled.

See some people think that love - real love - is an emotional state which results in actions due to the fact that you care so much about that individual.

Whilst others believe that emotions are too fickle and changing - and that real love is more to do with the actions themselves - so you can love people without the smallest bit of emotional feeling.

So what conclusion have I come to? Well I believe that God is love - so to find the answer I thought I would look to Jesus and see how he conducted his life of love. Now it appears to me that Jesus' love seems greater than both emotion and will but rather is a subservient attitude of the soul. However, we can see his love translated in both emotions and will:

Jesus often was moved through compassion:

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things Mark 6:36

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14.

However, in the cross Jesus demonstrates an absolute act of will putting it above his emotional state of fear:

 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:41-42.

Also in Luke 10:27 Jesus tells us to 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'

This suggests that when we are called to 'live a life of love' (Ephesians 5:2) it is something higher than just emotions (heart) or will (mind and strength) but both combined with your soul in obedience to God.

I also believe that the Holy Spirit can help us to love - as we are told it is a fruit of the Spirit. So, where loving someone is extremely difficult, it may at first be a complete act of will, however with the Spirits help in time it may be coupled with an emotional longing to love that person too.

But hey - these are just my opinions and reflections on what an attitude of love looks like - I would love to hear what you think!