The Way to Love

Maryclaire Micallef gave me the book, "The Way To Love" by Anthony De Mello, and it has become part of my devotional time each day. Claire warned me that this tiny 5 inches by 3 inch book was loaded with honesty and ideas about "grappling the question of love."

Man was she right. This book is so convicting that there have been days where I can't keep reading because I am still trying to grasp what was spoken to me the day prior.

Two days ago I read about going the extra mile, based off the bible verse:

"And if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let them have your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

Matthew 5:40-41

He talks about how our family, culture, religion, society, and past experiences program this computer inside of our heads telling us how we should be, what we should want, and how the world should be. This computer operates at every second of every day, demanding that certain standards follow the criteria of it's program. And when the criteria is not met, we experience anxiety, bitterness, anger, tension, etc. In the meantime, we try and change the world around us to meet the demands of our computer, and we are granted a temporary precarious peace. That is, until the next trifle thing happens in our life. (insert correct citation for paraphrasing here, pp.13-18)

So we live at the mercy of our computer, that we didn't even program ourselves...how unfair! And this whacked-up created program prevents us from going the extra mile. This program tells us, "It's all about me me me me" before it says, "Love others, love others."

BUT the cool part is that we can change it. It will take loads of time, lots of "stopping to think" and "thinking before we speak."

It will require me to look at each situation with the eyes of me heart (as God intends) instead of the eyes of my computer.

It's a work in progress :]

Happy gloomy Wednesday!