http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417 A Rare Bird, A Strange Duck, One Funky Blog Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:57:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15812 edey Fri, 04 Aug 2006 13:41:48 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15812 i think either analogy would work, but, given that St john is speaking to monks, a friendship analogy might work better. i see what you mean about old spouses, but old friends are a relationship to be fought for as well. the closer, longer, older friendships are things you will fight for rather than just let go when things get tough. it's not as if friends never fight. it's not as if close friendships are always easy. i think that's St john's point. that we will fight for our old friendships (and, as you said, old spouses would work as well). why will we do anything to restore friendships, to help a friend who is grieving, but not do the same for God? we should do the same for God. we should even do *more* for God.
i think that's St john's point. that we will fight for our old friendships (and, as you said, old spouses would work as well). why will we do anything to restore friendships, to help a friend who is grieving, but not do the same for God? we should do the same for God. we should even do *more* for God.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15729 Bryan Davis Fri, 04 Aug 2006 01:21:35 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15729 <blockquote>We should love the Lord as do our friends.</blockquote> I was thinking along these lines just the other day, and wondering how possible it is as a human? We love our friends because they are present and tangible in our lives, and not in a way we have to explain or justify. I don't want to get into the argument about how tangible God is in our lives, but is it possible to have the kind of reactionary clinginess with God that we have we people we see and hear, and whose emotions and approval or disapproval we can see in living color immediately on their face. I wondered if a better model wouldn't be to love God as a spouse of many years. Unlike friends, old spouses can't or shouldn't be tucked away when they grow distant or displeasing - we have to work to love them even when we don't by our natures feel like it. It seems it's that way with loving God. Loving friends is a spontaneous response. Loving God is a duty - a religio. We should love the Lord as do our friends.

I was thinking along these lines just the other day, and wondering how possible it is as a human? We love our friends because they are present and tangible in our lives, and not in a way we have to explain or justify. I don't want to get into the argument about how tangible God is in our lives, but is it possible to have the kind of reactionary clinginess with God that we have we people we see and hear, and whose emotions and approval or disapproval we can see in living color immediately on their face.

I wondered if a better model wouldn't be to love God as a spouse of many years. Unlike friends, old spouses can't or shouldn't be tucked away when they grow distant or displeasing - we have to work to love them even when we don't by our natures feel like it. It seems it's that way with loving God. Loving friends is a spontaneous response. Loving God is a duty - a religio.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15690 Funky Dung Thu, 03 Aug 2006 13:29:15 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15690 Citation added. Thanks for the reminder. :) ]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15667 Bryan Davis Thu, 03 Aug 2006 00:25:13 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2417#comment-15667 Whence the quotes?