Give Me Your Eyes

After removing himself from his position in the Unitarian Church, Ralph Waldo Emerson became one of the first of the Transcendentalists here in America.  Interestingly enough, he was invited to speak at Harvard Divinity School's graduation--even though his relationship with the Church was rather rocky.  In his speech, his primary goal was to inspire the school's graduates while simultaneously irritating the professors by incorporating some of his Transcendentalist views.  He actually did reference Christ, saying, "Jesus Christ belonged to the true race of prophets. He saw with open eye the mystery of the soul. Drawn by its severe harmony, ravished with its beauty, he lived in it, and had his being there. Alone in all history he estimated the greatness of man."


You know, I don't necessarily agree with Emerson--I'm not a Transcendentalist by any means.  That said, I think he's definitely onto something.  


Alone in all history [Christ] estimated the greatness of man.


Today I got to talk through life with Ashley.  Our car rides are some of the sweetest times ever--so much real talk...so much truth.  Our conversation got my thought wheels turning, and a little idea hit me:  maybe one of the most important things in being a Christian is loving others hard.  Yeah, being at a party and not drinking is important.  Not cussing is important, too.  But maybe it's even more important to make people feel differently than everyone else does.  I used to always say that as a Christian, your witness comes from "having something that other people don't have."  I thought the way you won hearts for the Lord was making people recognize that you had something special...something that they would want.  As I've grown up though, I don't necessarily think that's it.  I think it's less about what you do and more about how you make people feel.  Don't get me wrong--actions are important.  BUT, maybe people will notice a bigger difference if you're loving them in a way that makes them feel different from any other relationship they have.  I'm just saying that when you let God love through you, you're going to make an impact.  Bringing others to Christ isn't about putting on a Holiness Show and acting like an angel all the time.  Making others feel small and unimportant isn't the way to accomplish ANYTHING.  Bringing others to Christ happens when you love others like Christ did.  Like Christ does.  Christ loves us:  Through brokenness...through bad decisions...through unfavorable personalities.  


Christ alone estimated the greatness of man.
Lord, give me Your eyes.