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Painter -
Well put.
posted by
sannhet
on April 4, 2005 at 8:22 AM
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Pappy -
I agree. And one can't share the load if one is self-absorbed.
posted by
sannhet
on April 4, 2005 at 8:21 AM
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if we equate it to the "cross"
we have to ask ourselves
what was Yeshua's attitude there.
it was willingness to undergo all this for the sake of others.
there are many who "bear their cross" in life. We've all met such.
sometimes that is doing for others; sometimes it is just self crucifixion that does nothing but gives the practicer more torture.
But the attitude here is one of being ready to "die" -- or to give up one's self for another -- or others. "peradventure for a righteous man, one might die, but Yeshua died for sinners."
the attitude extends to those we dislike most -- we should be the "good Samaritan" in that we extend mercy to those we hate and those who hate us -- because that person is our neighbor.
I would suppose the disciples constantly asked, as they did withthe young rich man, "Who, then, can be saved?"
This is stuff over and above the Ten Commandments. We have to dispose of those things of the self that we love most in order to serve others.
This is the law that we violate every hour of every day.
posted by
Xeno-x
on April 4, 2005 at 7:19 AM
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Hello sannhet
I try to focus more on the task of the carrying the cross than on death itself. Death is not the real burden of living, it is the culmination and release from bondage. Our burden is to find purpose, and then work to fulfill it. We are not all expected to die on the cross, but we must share its load.
posted by
pappy
on April 3, 2005 at 10:19 AM
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Don -
Thanks, and thanks for stopping by.
posted by
sannhet
on April 2, 2005 at 3:58 PM
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Darrke -
I like the statement: He preached the Truth instead of what was popular. And I think the Truth is found within each of us.
posted by
sannhet
on April 2, 2005 at 3:58 PM
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Very fine interpretation...
It's a rare person who is able to see that a metaphor is what's intended here.
posted by
donaldoji
on April 1, 2005 at 6:22 PM
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A blog I wrote earlier today (tech & business) was about fear. I think that it's fear of what people think (and maybe that is ego? I'm not sure.) But his death was because he didn't care what people thought and preached truth instead of what was popular. I think there is more to be seen in the method of death than in the result.
posted by
DarrkeThoughts
on April 1, 2005 at 3:36 PM
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Ariala -
I think that is exactly the self he is talking about. It's all about Ego - the selfish, arrogant, devious, self-serving part of us that keeps love away. The only way we can overcome the Ego is to try and do everything from a position of love.
posted by
sannhet
on April 1, 2005 at 3:08 PM
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Avant -
Thanks. And a good comment on your part!
posted by
sannhet
on April 1, 2005 at 3:06 PM
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Perhaps the self He's talking about is that self that gets in the way
of showing and living love. If we put God and others first, self is taken care of without having to put anything to death. In other words, by concentrating on doing good, we end up losing that selfishness that keeps us from demonstrating the true nature and character of God.
posted by
Ariala
on April 1, 2005 at 2:02 PM
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self-abnegation
i've read where words are the least effective method for communication, due to the fact that they are symbols of symbols. everyone interprets words according to their understanding. it's hard to believe that we are not our ego, when we are in the midst of being it. words like these are interpreted as the death of the body, of which the ego is afraid. when we look at the ego directly, though, it does die. and what lies beyond can only be experienced. great post, sannhet.
posted by
avant-garde
on April 1, 2005 at 1:57 PM
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