Monday, February 07, 2005

I See Dead People



No, not really. I just wanted to grab you so you'd read this.

And yet, this is about dead people.

Ponder this... Picture a dead man lying upon a table at a viewing with a flower in his hand.

If someone walks past him and criticizes the way he looks, he does not sit up and hotly defend his appearance.

If a relative stands beside him bringing up the sins from his past, he does not rise with indignation and remind her of her own mistakes.

If his boss slips a piece of paper to him with a long, long list of things to do, he does not become all stressed-out and frustrated and then leap off the table.

If a child pokes him repeatedly, he does not, in anger, bite the child's finger.

If his wife leans down to him to whisper a poignant good-bye, he does not meditate upon his favorite TV show and miss her heart-spoken words.

Dying to self is a bit like that.

But only dying-to-selfers will understand this ...


***
"When your good is spoken of as evil, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence---that is dying to self." ... copied

"There is a time to keep silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Only by dying to self can we recognize the correct time and then act accordingly."

"Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever will save his life will lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it." ... Matthew 16:24,25

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