FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 LOVE WINS FRIDAY

 FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 LOVE WINS FRIDAY

On Fridays, I write about LOVE WINS!!

In some regards, LOVE WINS, is basically the Golden Rule - “Do unto others as you would have them to do to you”  If you want people to be nice to you, be nice to them first (and always).  I recently saw another way of expressing this.  “The best vitamin for friendship is B1” (to be a good friend is a good start and a necessary requirement for having great friends.)

So, off on a little tangent.  I have mentioned my recent surgery (two weeks ago today, and yes, it is still sensitive there!!!)

Let’s look at an “extreme” love - going the “extra mile.”

One definition says “The term “going the extra mile” is a very old expression. It describes individuals who provide great customer service whether it's over the phone, in person, or via email. It comes down to basically doing more than is expected, trying a little harder and going above the norm”.

Or “to do more than one is required to do’.  Matthew 5:41 says, “ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”

Seemingly, at that point in time in the Bible, the Roman Empire occupied the land known as Israel (or Palestine). Until their form of martial law (“Martial law is the temporary imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government”).  If a Roman soldier (or squad of soldiers) ordered you to do something, you did it upon pain of death.  

Scenario:  You are driving to work in the morning.  A cop motions for you to pull over and requires you to get a dozen donuts for the military force.  He levels his gun on you and says, “GO”.  The cop might put another police person in the car with you to make sure you go and get the donuts (please include an apple fritter for me).  That isn’t the extra mile - that is the requirements of martial (or military law).  If you fail to do the assignment, you may be imprisoned or even (in a radical version) shot!!!

Going the extra mile might mean that you look around, see about six cops, and figure two donuts each, then you also get coffee, including some creamer and sugar packets. (And, of course, don’t forgive the napkins!!!)  

Going ‘over-and-above - not just the required coffee, but the extras.  

Back to the Roman Law - if a soldier out in your face and demanded you carry his sword or shield, you did it.  They were probably heavy for a common citizen, and by law, they could only require you to go a mile (or whatever a similar distance was in Roman times - maybe 16 kilometers!!!)

But, you were being gracious, and said, “I am going to be nice to you and carry it a second mile.”.  Now, stop and think.  Wherever you were going originally, you are probably two miles in an opposite direction.  Then you would have to trek back the two miles and get back on your route.  I imagine the inhabitants of Israel were no less busy than we are.  

Scenario enhanced.  You are a K-12 teacher, and the cop is requiring you to get donuts.  So, not only you get the donuts - and coffee and condiments, you have lost a couple of hours of your time.  What do you say to your boss?  “I’m sorry but a cop forced me to get donuts for his squad.  And then I got them coffee too.”.  The principal might say “You fool, you were only liable to get the donuts - and then you got them coffee too?  You didn’t need to do that!!!”.  

Frequently going “above and beyond” is like going the extra mile.  I have a friend that after teaching, would console alcoholics.  Very few people knew of this work - he didn't brag, he just did it.  Yes, he had been an alcoholic and stopped cold turkey as a St. Patrick’s Day many years ago. He was very diligent, he rarely went to places where alcohol would be served. If he needed to, he would order a club soda.  This was his labor of love to those fighting alcohol.

*****

In the past three weeks, I have had many people go out of their way to help me.  AP, took four days off work (unpaid days) and took me to Houston. Yes, we did things together before my surgery - went to the zoo, even to church together.  AND she insisted on my paying her way.  Then at the end of my stay, KW came and spent four days with me and drove me home.  

I have asked myself would I do something similar?  If RP, JK or PK, needed somebody to load a truck and drive it to (say) a retirement house in Phoenix, would I do it?  Could I do it?  What if LMG texted me and said “Karen, could you <do something>”, would I drop everything to do it?  That is going over and above.  

John 15:13 says “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”.  If TF, LMG, PK needed a kidney, and if I was the right type of donor, would I give up a kidney for any of my friends?  

Many times I have used this “love one another as I have loved you”.  That is right before this verse: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Of course, before the situation (and in a blog), I would say “absolutely I will go the extra mile for a friend” - but when reality hits - would I really go that extra mile?  Would I give up my income for four days to drive a friend to get gender surgery?  Would I drop everything on my agenda to help somebody move?  

Kind of tough questions.  Going the extra mile, going above and beyond, doing when needed to be done, even if I really didn’t want to do it - but HAD TO BE DONE?  

What if doing this act of unconditional love, cost me, my job, my life, my income, and my future, would I do it?

(Stop reading here)

Recently we have seen politicians stop from certain actions as it might jeopardize their job, their income, and their dreams.  If I vote my deep down conscience on this matter, it will cost me almost anything.  Am I willing to die to myself and take up my cross and follow?

Readers, I have it easy - really.  I’m in the final years of my life, I’m not going to get fired, I’ve already lost my family, so, go ahead, take my life.  And, all because LOVE WINS!!!

I love you all!!!

Karen