All Apologies...
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
March 29, 2009 1:28am CST
Talk about getting whomped over the head by conscience, the Holy Ghost, God, scriptures and anything else that hit me tonight.
Have you ever heard or read over something countless times, taking it to mean something important; then read it over again and have a new meaning for the same words dawn on you?
How many times have I read the words in Matthew 25:40. I mean, it's not some verse hidden somewhere in Habbakuk, right?
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
I have always taken this passage to mean service. Something along the lines of;
"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:17.
I have made a life (and a pretty decent living) out of service to others. I have gone what most would consider "above and beyond" to the point that I lost my health and my ability to earn a living over it... without regrets.
But that isn't what went through my heart and mind when I read the words this time. What went through my heart and mind was my own words... much of them here at MyLot. When I have been unduly harsh or petty, I haven't just been harsh or petty to the person I'm replying to, or the people who read my words. I have also been harsh and petty to Jesus and our Heavenly Father.
To all of you who I threw these horrid words at, I ask your forgiveness. To all those who endured those words, I am truly sorry for polluting your eyes with such bitterness.
Of course, I still plan on making my opinions known here at mylot. I don't plan on holding back with my goals to help people learn the facts about the US Constitution, the Conservative viewpoint. I surely won't stop pointing out the places where our government officials are in violation of their oaths. I won't stop disagreeing with them; or agreeing with them for that matter.
I mean, I'm still ME, right? :~D
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
29 Mar 09
Ted-
Jesus was harsh with the hypocrites, those who used religion to cheat and manipulate people. But he was never harsh with the people who genuinely needed help or genuinely wanted to learn. Just look at the way he treated his diciples, not Peter, not Thomas, not even Judas did he yell at. He calmly and quietly handled them with love. That is what it is taken to being called "Christ like".
We all have our flaws though, because we aren't Jesus. We're human. What we can do, as Jesus taught, is to do just what you have apology, but mean it. Don't continue doing the same things one has apologized for because then the apology is not heart-felt, it's just going through the motions.
I grew up Catholic, and spent some time in the Baptist convention and I know that there is a difference between going to confession just to go, yet going back and doing the same thing, and making a true confession and doing your utmost best to change the behavior. It's difficult though, for all of us. There are things I struggle with daily, we all have our vices. It's in the recognition that we can start to change those behaviors. Now you've made a very public statement and you'll have friends and acquaintances that can help hold you accountable.
Many blessings and Namaste-Anora
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
29 Mar 09
Sooner-
I honestly do not know why you felt the need to interject yourself into my comments to Ted, who was apologizing for his behavior. Perhaps you need to re-read what I wrote.
Namaste-Anora
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
29 Mar 09
Post Script-
Sooner
I saw that you did not take the time to correct anyone else on their thoughts about Ted's apology. I am sorry that you disagree with him apologizing, I thought it was quite big of him to admit he was wrong for his harsh words and I accepted his apology.
Namaste-Anora
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
30 Mar 09
Sooner-
I felt singled out by you, to be honest. You simply said "I'm going to correct you", and yet you didn't reply to anyone else on anything they said. If you felt that Ted wasn't sincere, you should have simply said, but you have so it's out. Our interpretations of the text at hand are definately very different. The point I was making is that Jesus didn't run around yelling at everyone. He even commanded his disciples in the end that when they were spreading the word that if they met someone who didn't want to hear it, to simply leave. Why is it that many Christians do not get this point? They feel the need to beat people up, start wars, etc all in the name of coverting? It's something I will never understand.
Namaste-Anora
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I don't think you've ever done any of these things to me personally, but I've seen where you've done it to others. I don't see you as a bad person, but sometimes you do come across with a bit of a "holier than though" attitude.
I do think it's possible to disagree and even to education without demaning others. Hopefully you will me more sucessful at doing that in the future.
You seem to be extremely familiar with the Bible and you are able to quote it quite easily. I am not as familar with it, but I have had some religion in my life.
Enough to know that there are passages about forgiveness. Theres that statement about "he who has not sin should cast the first stone?" Sometimes I just don't understand why people who are son vehement about religion and the Bible forget these passages.
Although I don't think your apology was directed at me, I do appreciate a person who takes the time to acknowledge when he's made some mistakes and tries to correct them.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
29 Mar 09
I responded at the other place where this all started and I didn't want to copy and paste it here. But, after I posted it I realized that I should have added this, you're quoting the Bible here and it would have been better said over there if I would have left it at this- you don't walk up to a Muslim to convert them to Christanity and say "you're a demon spawn that will rot in hell because my God is better than your God"
