Week 15: Day 1: Most people are aware that there was a group of authors who met frequently and critiqued each others work in England in the mid 1900s. These were famous men, such as Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Lewis is responsible for the quote below and Id like this concept to be the thought that guides our weekly reflection. In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles (Williams) is dead, I shall never again see Ronalds (Tolkiens) reaction to a specifically Charles joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him to myself now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald......In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious nearness by resemblance to heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God. For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiahs vision are crying Holy, Holy, Holy to one another (Isaiah 6:3). The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have. As quoted by Timothy Keller in The Prodigal God The poem, For Whom the Bell Tolls by John Donne is also quoted below. No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thine own Or of thine friends were. Each mans death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee. Do you bring out the best in others? This question should cause us to reflect. We should reflect upon the very nature of our relationships and our calling. Each one of us is connected - whether wed like to admit it or not. The closer we come to Jesus Christ, the closer we come to each other and there is no other way to accomplish the oneness that God has asked of us. Joseph Luff made the followings statement in 1906, for my fires shall consume and my floods shall overwhelm, and the men within and without my church shall yet learn that but one pattern hath been given by which ye shall build if I shall accept your labor; and but one life hath been given by which to measure; and whosoever shall not gauge himself thereby and crucify himself to the world, shall yet be gauged thereby and shall lose his all for whosoever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken, but whomsoever shall not gauge himself thereby and crucify himself to the world, shall yet be gauged thereby and shall lose his all for whosoever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken, but upon whomsoever it shall fall it shall grind him to powder, Every child that is abused, every man or woman sent off to war, every lie ever told and every marriage that dissolves - each and every act hurts us all. It rips at the fabric of our lives. When will see that our pride is destroying us? Pride vaults our will, our way and our name to the top of the list. In the process, we seek to protect our life at the expense of others. Other people, their opinions, their values cease to matter in the pursuit of our glory. Yet our glory is diminished as they diminish. As our brother is lifted up, so are we. Do you bring out the best in others?
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 04:15:30 +0000
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