last night we went to watch some procesions and then met up with a fellow i met in lisbon to go to a sangria bar. sangria, if you don´t know, is maybe one of the most amazing drinks invented on the face of the planet; it´s a mixture of red wine and and fruit juies (more or less). as they say here in spain, "it´s typical espanish." the bar was really great, with live piano music and everything. ANYwho...there were a number of quotes on the walls, and one imparticular stuck out to me: noy hay paraiso hasta que se lo ha perdido. which means, if i translate it correctly, there is no paradise until one has lost it. or in other words, he who tries to gain his life will lose it; but he who looses his life for Me will gain it.
i want to learn what that means more practically. i do desire paradise. everyone desires it in one way or another. to some paradise is a mansion with a three car garage; to others it is having a clean earth where no animals are ever harmed and we only eat raw vegetables. i think the longing beneath most of our ideals of paradise is peace. when i was talking with mona and navid (the baha´i followers i met in lisbon) they said that every religion strives to bring peace between the spirits of humankind and our maker. i agreed, to an extent. the difference i have to make is that i know that i can´t do anything at all to make steps toward that peace. i recognize the barrier that is between me and my maker, and i know that my efforts to overcome it are entirely fruitless. so i´m left to ponder. what can i do?
i have thought a lot since studying at multnomah about whether man is intrinsically good or bad. of course i want to believe that man is good, at his core. but my experience, and my theology have come to know quite firmly that it is the converse. i need not travel outside my own skin to realize the horror of the mind and actions of man. furthermore, to say man is good, makes it possible for him to take steps toward that paradise, towards life. but the Flesh Himself said that he who tries to gain his life will lose it.
but he who loses his life for me...
i dont know how it is done exactly, but i want the life the He promises me.
that´s my paradise.
1 comment:
You very eloquently wrote about mankinds struggle to find peace within himself. A more clear question is how can I die to live in Christ? You're writing about a lot of our hearts right now Caleb...thanks for putting yourself out there. A small group of us were talking about this the other day, and the only answer we could come up with is to answer God's questions with a resounding "Yes" no matter what the consequences might be. That's a hard place to put yourself. God promises it'll be worth it though, (Matthew 5:3-12).
I love you Caleb. Happy Easter lil' bro! I miss you.
Post a Comment