Monday, January 12, 2015

An overlooked danger in our living is not in choosing between opposites:  love and hate, freedom and slavery, happiness and despair, but in not knowing the difference between similarities.
Our lives are filled with choices between what’s simply “good enough” and what’s right. May we always have the wisdom to know and the courage to seek what’s right.

O God,
Help us to know the difference between giving and generosity
The difference between service and servant-hood
between a hand out and a hand up
The difference between a contribution and a commitment
The difference between information and knowledge
and the difference between knowledge and wisdom
The difference between winning and succeeding
between happiness and joy
between expressing concern and showing care
between apologies and reconciliation
between friendliness and friendship
between being hospitable and hospitality (welcoming). 
between power and strength
between pride and honor
between reputation and integrity
between making a living and being alive
The difference between a hug and an embrace
The difference between listening and hearing
Give us the wisdom to know the difference between
espousing doctrinal faith and living as witnesses of your grace
Amen

So many of these appear as the other, but there is a quantum leap between them.  May we be able to discern the difference and make that leap to the higher, more noble way.
Jesus always challenged people to live more authentically and he frees us to be less concerned for ourselves and more concerned for others.  

© Stephen Carl

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