O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures for ever; who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever; who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever; who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever; who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures for ever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures for ever; the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures for ever; (Psalm 136: 1-9)
Love is complex and can be a complicating. There is often an expectation of mutual love. A casual dinner partner once announced that she did not believe in unconditional love. For her love needs to be a balanced exchange of value. In her view the best way to ensure the health of any relationship is for all parties to be mindful of and take responsibility for fulfilling the needs of one another.
My dinner partner had been married to the same man for many years and was the wife of three grown children. She was involved in a caring profession and engaged in many creative endeavors. I do not know her well, but her philosophy of love had seemingly served her well. And certainly to be attentive and responsive to the needs of others is an important characteristic of love.
But it seems to me the deepest love is when I value another for who they are, not for what they do for me.
The psalmist writes of God's steadfast love. Elsewhere the translation is everlasting love. The Hebrew is chesed which can mean self-love. The same Hebrew word can also mean to be ashamed. This is to love others as we love ourselves. We almost always give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. Even when we are ashamed of ourselves, we can explain away our failure. Even when we are deeply disappointed in ourselves, we very seldom condemn our motives and can usually defend our intentions. Even when we hold ourselves accountable we do so with some confidence in our ability to more fully achieve our intentions next time. Sometimes all of this can be self-justifying and delusional. But often our intentions are good, even when our outcomes are bad.
Chesed might also be understood as deep-awareness. To love in this way is to be fully aware and accepting of another. I don't know how I might ever balance the exchange of value with God. Trying to do so would be an impediment to my relationship with God. I perceive that even when I am ashamed of myself, God is aware of a potential that transcends the shame. I perceive that I am encouraged to accept this love and extend this same love to others. I understand that I am also encouraged to an awareness and acceptance of God, even when God's intentions may be obscure and the outcome is painful.
Love is complex and can be a complicating. There is often an expectation of mutual love. A casual dinner partner once announced that she did not believe in unconditional love. For her love needs to be a balanced exchange of value. In her view the best way to ensure the health of any relationship is for all parties to be mindful of and take responsibility for fulfilling the needs of one another.
My dinner partner had been married to the same man for many years and was the wife of three grown children. She was involved in a caring profession and engaged in many creative endeavors. I do not know her well, but her philosophy of love had seemingly served her well. And certainly to be attentive and responsive to the needs of others is an important characteristic of love.
But it seems to me the deepest love is when I value another for who they are, not for what they do for me.
The psalmist writes of God's steadfast love. Elsewhere the translation is everlasting love. The Hebrew is chesed which can mean self-love. The same Hebrew word can also mean to be ashamed. This is to love others as we love ourselves. We almost always give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. Even when we are ashamed of ourselves, we can explain away our failure. Even when we are deeply disappointed in ourselves, we very seldom condemn our motives and can usually defend our intentions. Even when we hold ourselves accountable we do so with some confidence in our ability to more fully achieve our intentions next time. Sometimes all of this can be self-justifying and delusional. But often our intentions are good, even when our outcomes are bad.
Chesed might also be understood as deep-awareness. To love in this way is to be fully aware and accepting of another. I don't know how I might ever balance the exchange of value with God. Trying to do so would be an impediment to my relationship with God. I perceive that even when I am ashamed of myself, God is aware of a potential that transcends the shame. I perceive that I am encouraged to accept this love and extend this same love to others. I understand that I am also encouraged to an awareness and acceptance of God, even when God's intentions may be obscure and the outcome is painful.
posted by Didymus | 5:57 AM
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