So many debates seem to be about what we want from each other, or to do for or to or over each other.
But what does God want from us?
I think that perhaps he wants our hearts.
Not our wealth, not our leadership, not our wisdom, but our hearts given to helping and loving, with patience, each other.
Too often, I think, it is easy to think about what we want to control, how we wish to affect hierarchy or take a place in it.
At this season, perhaps, we can think about giving God our hearts.
Too often people act as if true religion and undefiled is to call others to repent — that what Christ wants from us is to dominate others by the force of our superior understanding.
Thank you for the post. I needed it today. Loved the song.
When we give our hearts, we give many things. Trust is close to the top of the list for me.
I’m trying to get women in Relief Society to stop saying “they” or “you” and substitute “I” because of the judgemental tone. Well, subtly trying.
I try to regard deities the same way that I would other people. I think most people have a need to be loved, but the question becomes one of what they do to earn that love.
I personally find it problematic sometimes the way that people ascribe the “trials” in their lives to the god that they worship. I remember a story I heard of someone saying in a Mormon testimony meeting how she’d been injured while skiing on Sunday, and her god had supposedly given her a scar to remember to obey him. I’m not sure how a god which did that could not be seen as abusive.
I feel that the goddess I worship (Inari) is grateful to be loved by me, just as I’m grateful to be loved by her. I want to continue receiving her love, and I know that she wants mine as well. I just don’t feel that she’d ever hurt me on purpose to try to get me to love her. She may not be omnipotent, but I don’t feel that she wants to “test” me or “punish” me. I think she feels that’d be abusive.
Stephen,
Thanks so much for sharing our video on this fine forum. We sincerely appreciate it and bid everyone here peace and happiness this season and in the coming year.
All the best,
Neil
Rathkeltair
This really puts things into perspective. Thank you!