FRIDAY FEBRUAY 26, 2021 - LOVE WINS!!!

 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 LOVE WINS!!

Have you ever screwed up - done something wrong?  

YES - I have.  (Sorry - no details).  No, I did not kill anybody, I didn’t cheat on my wife.  But, in the full sense of the word - I’m a sinner.

One liturgy that I am familiar with says “I have sinned through my thoughts, words, and deeds - both in what I have done - and what I haven’t done”.  Should I have been nicer to that person the other day (deed)?  Yes, I was thinking of “murder” for the jerk of a driver that almost forced me off the road (thoughts).  Did I say something I shouldn’t have (words)?

Were there things I should have done?  Yes, only a million!!  I have a friend and I should call her - but I don’t like to call people.  There are homeless people - I should have done something for them.  I should have visited OR when he had COVID.  I should have done more with my money and those that need financial help.

There have been those who thought they were above the law.  I’m looking at Psalm 51 today.  King David - the grown-up boy who used his slingshot and killed Goliath the giant.  He’s king - and sees a beautiful woman sunbathing on a neighboring roof.  (Aside, men are very visual - and seeing a woman (I’m not sure if she was naked or not) sunbathing would have excited most men).  

And, David got caught (at least in the Spirit).  In Psalm 51 he writes:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Socrates wrote, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”

We really need to take time to reflect on our lives.  

Here are a few more quotes on self-examination

Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me

*****

Yes, I screw up - and do stupid things - or I don’t do things that I should do!!!  We say something mean and don’t mean it.  We think of some nasty thoughts.  I’m learning NOT to judge - unless I’ve walked a mile in the other person’s shoes.  Neither the last President nor the new President, nor governors, etc. - because I really don’t know them to judge them - and even if I knew them, I have to forgive them.

Forgiving (to me at least), means forgiving myself for things I have done or failed to do - in thoughts words, or deeds.

I am to love my neighbor as myself - and, thus I have to forgive myself for my mistakes - as well as ask God as I view Him/Her/It/The Force for forgiveness.  

But, once I have forgiven myself, then I can work on forgiving and LOVING my neighbor(s).  

Love never fails, Love Never Ends!!  (And, I have to continue to learn that - daily!!!  (And, acknowledge that I can mess up!!!)

Yes, my friends - LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!

Karen