Sunday, December 28, 2008

Relational Generosity

Sarah Bainbridge has written some very good pieces on relational generosity on the Living Generously web site. Beginning with Love Me, and continuing with Love Life, Loving Well and Forgiveness, she conveys deep and relevant insights. Check them out.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Love with Quotation Marks

If I write
I "love" you.
what am I saying?
It's not the same as saying
I love you.
Is it?

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Kierkegaard's Deep Hidden Spring of Love

Love’s hidden life is in the innermost being, unfathomable, and then in turn is in an unfathomable connectedness with all existence. Just as the quiet lake originates deep down in hidden springs no eye has seen, so also does a person’s love originate even more deeply in God’s love. If there were no gushing spring at the bottom, if God were not love, then there would be neither the little lake nor a human being’s love. Just as the quiet lake originates darkly in the deep spring, so a human being’s love originates mysteriously in God’s love.

Søren Kierkegaard, Works of Love, tr. Howard V. Hong and Edna H. Hong. pp 9, 10.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Traherne's True Love

True Love as it intendeth the greatest gifts intendeth also the greatest benefits. It contenteth not itself in showing great things unless it can make them greatly useful. For Love greatly delighteth in seeing its object continually seated in the highest happiness. Unless therefore I could advance you higher by the uses of what I give, my Love could not be satisfied in giving you the whole world. But because when you enjoy it you are advanced to the Throne of God and may see His Love; I rest well pleased in bestowing it. It will make you to see your own greatness, the truth of the Scriptures, the amiableness of Virtue, and the beauty of Religion. It will enable you to contemn the world, and to overflow with praises.
Thomas Traherne, Centuries of Meditations, Book I, Number 6.