An Invitation to a DEEPER Virtue

AN INVITATION TO A DEEPER VIRTUE

Can you love an enemy? Can you not give back in kind? Can you move beyond your natural reactions and transform the energy that enters you from others, so as to not give back bitterness for bitterness, harsh words for harsh words, curse for curse, hatred for hatred, murder for murder?

Can you rise above your sense of being wronged? Can you renounce your need to be right? Can you move beyond the itch to always have what’s due you? Can you forgive, even when every feeling inside of you rebels at its unfairness? Can you take in bitterness, curses, hatred, and murder itself, and give back graciousness, blessing, love, understanding, and forgiveness?

That’s the root invitation inside of Christianity and it’s only when we do this that we move beyond “an eye for an eye”.

To do this willingly and without resentment is difficult. It’s not easy to do this and not grow resentful and manipulative. More commonly, we carry others’ crosses – but end up being bitter about it and sending them the bill. Growing resentful or manipulative while serving others is a perennial danger.

The invitation of Jesus to what’s higher, more sublime, more noble, remains; as does the gentle, understanding, faithful, non-threatening, non-coercive, non-guilt inducing, but persistent and uncompromising, presence of God.

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