Life is hard and often frustrating. People are frustrating.
Life, though, is really worth living.
In one of my classes, we are spending a lot of time talking
about flourishing. I love it. I get it. I wish I could say I have mastered it.
Flourishing, specifically, Human Flourishing is what you
might call a life well lived. Flourishing is developing substantive relationships with nature, other people,
ourselves, and God.
There is inherent holiness in everything. The concept of
“secular” is a bad joke. Religious people often shy away from things secular.
Having a “holier than thou” attitude towards “secular” things will only lead to
discrimination and disrespect. The proper, flourishing attitude is to seek out
a redeeming relationship with the other, the “secular.”
People take the “us vs. them” perspective and fail to
understand flourishing because they have been given a shallow view of the
Gospel. They fail to see that true human flourishing means loving everyone and
seeing the holy evidences of God in every part of creation.
That’s right.
Every part of creation is holy.
“…miraculous is not extraordinary, but the common mode of
existence.” – Wendell Berry, in Christianity and the Survival of Creation.
Try looking at the other people of the world with that
perspective at heart. See if you are not able to work with people, accept
people, love people on a better, more comfortable level with that viewpoint.
I wish I could say that I am.
The goal of religious people is not to spread the word and
proselytize every “secular” person they encounter; people should focus on
creating a flourishing relationship with each person, recognizing the good in
each people.
Monsieur Madeline said in Les Misérables, “My friends,
remember this, that there are no bad herbs, and no bad men, there are only bad
cultivators.” (by Victor Hugo)
Spread your religious seed by showing unbiased love. Set a
good example that will cause people to question their own values. That is how
you spread the word.
I am not perfect. I do not think anyone is perfect.
I think about that a little too much sometimes. I am working
to look at others as I would like to be looked at, myself. I am focusing on
establishing solid, loving relationships with others. I like this life of
flourishing; it really is worth living.
True Human Flourishing––I think I’ll try it.
"I am working to look at others as I would like to be looked at, myself. I am focusing on establishing solid, loving relationships with others." This connect so much with the ideas that Jay and Heather were sharing this week. Getting away from this disconnection that they saw and I have felt so much here at Taylor is so important. Taking time to get to know people and having that desire to dig deep into their pain and hurt, be with them and grow through it, is something that I don't think we have enough of here. In pain, I have seen God at work in my life and he has helped me to grow through it. Jay and Heather said it themselves, "If we don;t understand our disconnect, we will never really understand how to flourish." Unbiased love, a love not of judgment but of kindness. it is so great to see you having these desires to flourish and grow with others, especially as a freshman, and its something I wish I saw more of. It can be uncomfortable at times but it's worth it! Let do it together! You've got me walking right along side of you!
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