In Christian circles I’ve heard a couple of reasons for “why we are here”.\u00a0 One of those reasons is “to glorify God”.\u00a0 I used to blindly accept this but I’m coming to the place where I’d say I disagree with that.\u00a0 I believe there’s a much better reason for “why we are here”.<\/p>\n
We are here to love each other.<\/p>\n
Simple, yet profound.\u00a0 In this world of so many broken and hurting people I believe our greatest purpose is to extend love and grace and acceptance and gentleness and forgiveness.\u00a0 It is the outworking of love that truly changes people’s lives.\u00a0 Love does not use coercion or fear to elicit a desired behaviour from someone.\u00a0 It does not stem from our own sense of shame.<\/p>\n
Love brings freedom.<\/p>\n
Freedom from fear, freedom from shame, freedom from obligation.\u00a0 Having experienced love I believe our natural response is to love in return.\u00a0 And I think the world would be a better place if we learned to do that.<\/p>\n
I’ve been volunteering once a week at my daughter’s class at school.\u00a0 It’s only been a couple of weeks but I’m coming to know and love the children there.\u00a0 I get the impression that some of these children do not come from the most loving of families.\u00a0 And I can’t help but think what some love and gentleness could do for them.\u00a0 I understand that life is not that simple, however I do believe that if people (whether they are children or adults) feel safe and loved in their environment they will do much better than if they don’t feel those things.\u00a0 Where often our responses are to address the behaviours (the symptoms), if love and understanding were applied to the roots, I think many behaviours would diminish or disappear.<\/p>\n
You may think me idealistic (and I probably am) but I still believe that love is a better way, a better approach, than anything else.\u00a0 And I would rather “be here” to be an agent of God’s love to the world than anything else.\u00a0 I believe we all need it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"