Getting More Done

Some people amaze me with their capacity for work.  They get a lot done.  They are truly stars. The problem arises when they think they are the only ones who can do what needs to be done.  There are some things for which a certain individual is uniquely qualified to do.  Such things are not as common as we seem to think.  If we really want to get more things done we must let others shine as well.

I’ve learned the hard way the importance of getting out of the way. The first thing that needs to get out of the way is usually ego.  Even when I am convinced that no one else can do a certain deed as well as I can, I still need to set my ego aside and let others step in. 

Step up to do your role.  Step aside to let others do theirs.  Much more will be accomplished in the long run this way.

The surprising side effect of all this is that we learn that we are appreciated and loved quite aside from the work we do.  When that happens, turf wars die out.  We learn that we each have our own place and that is enough.

 

The Ideas behind the Words

I don’t think it is a coincidence that the root of the word for Zeus means “life” and the root of the word Jehovah means “life”.

Cupid shooting an arrow produces love in someone’s heart.  We associate it now with only romantic love. 

The word “torah”, translated usually “law”, has the idea of an arrow giving direction.  The target of the torah is summed up as love.  We associate that now with a more profound type of love, but still love.

Love in all its forms is a universal value for humanity. Transcendent or divine powers are life giving ones that target love in the human heart. 

We use different words than others and argue with them as if we are in total disagreement, only to discover that the meanings behind the words are the same.

Sigh… 

 

Listening to Experts

Warning:  There is quite a bit of personal venting in this blog.

A message to experts on what the Bible says:

Please do not tell me you know what the Bible says about marriage if you cannot tell me what the words for husband and wife are in Hebrew and Greek.  And while you are at it, explain what the lack of unique words for husband and wife says about the culture from which those languages came.

Please do not tell me that you know about sexuality in the Bible if you cannot tell me how the stories of the Levite’s concubine and King Saul’s suicide are linked.  While you are at it please justify Moses’ actions against the Midianites, or Jacob’s lack of action in defense of Dinah or King David’s lack of action in defense of Tamar.

Please do not tell me you know about the sin of Sodom if you cannot tell me how God can promise Abraham that he will not destroy the righteous with the wicked, then destroy the women and children of Sodom along with the entire city of Gomorrah. Then tell me why zakar and ishshah when paired together denote a different relationship than zakar and neqebah. 

Please do not quote a “desert father” who preferred to live in isolation rather than in human society as an expert in healthy human relationships.

If you want to take the words of the Bible literally, please make sure you know what the words of the Bible actually say.  You will find it gives us a much different message than is heard from many hate-filled and legalistic people who claim to be experts.

 

Whom Do You Hate

As a defense against an accusation of homophobia, someone was quoted as saying “We hate the sin.  We are all sinners.” 

I am quite sure this is a conflation of the longer, oft heard explanation “We do not hate homosexuals.  We hate the sin of homosexuality.  Hate the sin, love the sinner.  We are all sinners.” 

Those who are the object of this kind of discussion can tell you that “love the sinner” is not a reality from those who use this reasoning.  Personally, I don’t think “love the sinner” is applied to the one who uses this reasoning either. There will always be a core of self-hatred in one who says we are all sinners and we should hate sin. 

The good news is that we do not have to accept the hatred that is projected onto us from others.  We can love ourselves.  Only then can we learn to love others as we love ourselves.