Good reflections that mirror my own. I particularly like "It was a love that briefly recognised the fully independent, sacred, wondrous humanity of another person without anything that needed to be fixed. The janitor is no more lost or broken than I am... realising the inherent loveliness of each person, not as a project to fix or as a soul to save or as a new relationship to build, but simply as another precious human, an image-bearer of the divine spark, a fellow passenger on the boat, a bewildered traveller on the same road...' Very nice.
Reminds me of a story the character Zosima recounts in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov:
“My young brother asked forgiveness of the birds: it seems senseless, yet it is right, for all is like an ocean, all flows and connects; touch it in one place and it echoes at the other end of the world. [...] Let it be madness to ask forgiveness of the birds, still it would be easier for the birds, and for a child, and for any animal near you, if you yourself were more gracious than you are now, if only by a drop, still it would be easier.”
Do you ever experience that feeling you had for the stranger with life more generally (i.e., with stranger-ers)? Or, do you feel there’s something about your shared humanity with this stranger that strikes something different?
Hmm interesting. I'd forgotten that part of TBK... it's very mystical, almost Taoist.
I certainly feel a love and connection to all of creation and the living things within it. They are all created by God too. But there is something special about people, as we are the only ones made in God's image, with that divine spark and free will that makes us capable of so much good and so much evil.
I try (and often fail) to remind myself that the specialness could not be if not for the whole of creation; our dependence on plants for breath (and their dependence on our breath), on life and earth for nourishment. It doesn’t come as easily, but I get the sense that this effort prepares the ground from which deeper gratitudes grow.
Well said. I often fail at this too. I have had a few strange experiences where I have sensed the fact that (1) all of creation really does bind with us and bear us in our existence, and (2) that all of creation exists to praise and honour God. However it's hard to communicate this without sounding like a hippie.
But like you say, acknowledging the truth that we are so surrounded by life which we are dependent upon should humble us to a point of gratitude. Similar to recognising that we are only here because of an unbroken line of amcestors, and certain beliefs and traditions which have been passed down through the ages which have incredible value.
Haha, agreed. I’m glad you’ve had those experiences. They really are gifts. They’re hard to communicate—period, and our attempts at conveying them always seem to fall short.
What a wonderful reflection, A.A.! I’ve found for myself the ability to love strangers has increased with my time spent cross-culturally. Something about different rhythms and values maybe? Not sure - all the same, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Colin, I'm glad you enjoyed. Yes living among other cultures and realising that many of your assumptions are one-sided or misguided definitely humbles you, which then opens you up to loving.
Yeah! A general “I like you, Person.” A general disposition of detached goodwill toward a stranger, just for existing. I wish there was a Greek word for that kind of love to stick with the others. Could it be Philadelphia? Love of your fellow man?
This reminds me of something I’m currently reading. The Land of Lost Things by John Connelly.
The main character (Ceres) describes her late father as a dog lover, who never met a “bad dog.”
Here’s a quote: “You have to love not one dog, but all dogs,” he would explain to Ceres. “You only have them for a short time, you see…So you love each of them for what they are, because no two are ever the same. But you also love dogness, the fact of them in your life and the world, so they become individual chapters in a book that spans your days, and you name that book Dog.”
Good reflections that mirror my own. I particularly like "It was a love that briefly recognised the fully independent, sacred, wondrous humanity of another person without anything that needed to be fixed. The janitor is no more lost or broken than I am... realising the inherent loveliness of each person, not as a project to fix or as a soul to save or as a new relationship to build, but simply as another precious human, an image-bearer of the divine spark, a fellow passenger on the boat, a bewildered traveller on the same road...' Very nice.
Thanks Henry for reading and I'm glad you enjoyed. It is an important realisation to come to.
Reminds me of a story the character Zosima recounts in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov:
“My young brother asked forgiveness of the birds: it seems senseless, yet it is right, for all is like an ocean, all flows and connects; touch it in one place and it echoes at the other end of the world. [...] Let it be madness to ask forgiveness of the birds, still it would be easier for the birds, and for a child, and for any animal near you, if you yourself were more gracious than you are now, if only by a drop, still it would be easier.”
Do you ever experience that feeling you had for the stranger with life more generally (i.e., with stranger-ers)? Or, do you feel there’s something about your shared humanity with this stranger that strikes something different?
Hmm interesting. I'd forgotten that part of TBK... it's very mystical, almost Taoist.
I certainly feel a love and connection to all of creation and the living things within it. They are all created by God too. But there is something special about people, as we are the only ones made in God's image, with that divine spark and free will that makes us capable of so much good and so much evil.
What do you think?
I feel it's special, too.
I try (and often fail) to remind myself that the specialness could not be if not for the whole of creation; our dependence on plants for breath (and their dependence on our breath), on life and earth for nourishment. It doesn’t come as easily, but I get the sense that this effort prepares the ground from which deeper gratitudes grow.
Well said. I often fail at this too. I have had a few strange experiences where I have sensed the fact that (1) all of creation really does bind with us and bear us in our existence, and (2) that all of creation exists to praise and honour God. However it's hard to communicate this without sounding like a hippie.
But like you say, acknowledging the truth that we are so surrounded by life which we are dependent upon should humble us to a point of gratitude. Similar to recognising that we are only here because of an unbroken line of amcestors, and certain beliefs and traditions which have been passed down through the ages which have incredible value.
Haha, agreed. I’m glad you’ve had those experiences. They really are gifts. They’re hard to communicate—period, and our attempts at conveying them always seem to fall short.
What a wonderful reflection, A.A.! I’ve found for myself the ability to love strangers has increased with my time spent cross-culturally. Something about different rhythms and values maybe? Not sure - all the same, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Colin, I'm glad you enjoyed. Yes living among other cultures and realising that many of your assumptions are one-sided or misguided definitely humbles you, which then opens you up to loving.
Yeah! A general “I like you, Person.” A general disposition of detached goodwill toward a stranger, just for existing. I wish there was a Greek word for that kind of love to stick with the others. Could it be Philadelphia? Love of your fellow man?
This reminds me of something I’m currently reading. The Land of Lost Things by John Connelly.
The main character (Ceres) describes her late father as a dog lover, who never met a “bad dog.”
Here’s a quote: “You have to love not one dog, but all dogs,” he would explain to Ceres. “You only have them for a short time, you see…So you love each of them for what they are, because no two are ever the same. But you also love dogness, the fact of them in your life and the world, so they become individual chapters in a book that spans your days, and you name that book Dog.”
Ah fantastic! Yes that quote about dogs and dogness sums up how we should feel about human beings, even more so because of the value of humanity.
Philadelphia is a great word for it, or Philanthropy - alas words which already have other meanings attached. Philohomines? Philanthropos?
Isn't that the meaning of the Greek "Agape"? The kind of love that God has for humanity, and through Him, we may have the same love for all people?
Thanks for this piece, it's beautiful!
Loved the photos too!, I'm assuming they're yours?
Yes good point! I'm no theologian, but I think you're right.
Thanks, yes all my own photos from Vietnam