There are all kinds of perceptions of the word love. To each it means something different. I don't intend to come up with any one definition, but rather explore all kinds of different angles.
Regardless of your faith, religion or spiritual belief, chances are you may have encountered some Christian scripture in the course of your life. One of the more common pieces talks about and attempts to define love. I thought it might be fun to dissect it - consider its components. I don't have any answers, only more questions! Let me know what you think...
1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way;it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
Wow, all kinds of adjectives and adverbs!
Is this a definition that would describe friendship love, family love or romantic love? What about love for humanity? (perhaps I will post separately on all four)
"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude."
I know lots of people whom I would describe as exhibiting these qualities. Is this describing love or defining it?
"It does not insist on its own way;"
So love must be flexible, open-minded?
"it is not irritable or resentful;"
Secure in its own being?
"it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth."
Strong enough to stand for what is right?
"It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Is this saying that love "is"?
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Friendship PART ONE
OK, love can wait a while. I have some thoughts spewing out of my mind and I'm the worst at keeping everything straight, focused or even remembered. So, the sooner I get this down, the better. Firstly, I want to thank Z for pointing out that this space is OK to use for healing therapy. I think perhaps that's part of the reason I'm here!
Have you ever put your foot in your mouth? I have several times, and the nature of doing so is such that you don't realize you've done or said anything wrong until it's pointed out to you. The neat thing about doing it though, is if you can look past the embarrassment factor, and as long as what you've said or done hasn't hurt anyone or done any real harm, it can be the greatest learning experience of all! Learning about ourselves is sometimes tough. Facing the music. Doing what is right VS what is easy and comfortable. Growing past your existing limits - be they beliefs, attitudes or aptitudes.
I had a conversation today which did a number of things to and for me. There's the obvious "oh crap, I did it again... extract foot..." but what might not be so obvious is that I did some growing today. What does this have to do with the title "Friendship"? Over and above my little bit of growing, I also reflected on what causes growth. One factor is discomfort. When we're not comfortable with the way things are, we're more likely to change than if things are "status quo". This led me to think of the times in my life where I've done considerable growing - emotionally, mentally, psychologically. They were the times when I might have rubbed my friends the wrong way and they were friends enough to say "Hey, heads up..." (although some of my friends would choose more colourful language). Have you ever done or said something that DID rub your friend the wrong way, and you no longer had a friend? Thankfully this hasn't happened to me since grade school, but it makes me truly appreciate the friends I have right now. I can - time and time again - say the wrong thing, do something stupid or expose a bit of myself that demonstrates that I DO have some learning and growing to do. What do they do? Some will point it out quietly. Others will make sure I'm embarrassed about it so it drives home the need to change. Still others will take the time to say "have you considered this approach?" - offering not only the "heads up" but a possible alternate way of conducting myself in or approaching that situation.
Friends will help you grow and support you in your darkest hour. They will also allow you the courtesy of returning the compliment. Be good to your friends. Remember them.
Have you ever put your foot in your mouth? I have several times, and the nature of doing so is such that you don't realize you've done or said anything wrong until it's pointed out to you. The neat thing about doing it though, is if you can look past the embarrassment factor, and as long as what you've said or done hasn't hurt anyone or done any real harm, it can be the greatest learning experience of all! Learning about ourselves is sometimes tough. Facing the music. Doing what is right VS what is easy and comfortable. Growing past your existing limits - be they beliefs, attitudes or aptitudes.
I had a conversation today which did a number of things to and for me. There's the obvious "oh crap, I did it again... extract foot..." but what might not be so obvious is that I did some growing today. What does this have to do with the title "Friendship"? Over and above my little bit of growing, I also reflected on what causes growth. One factor is discomfort. When we're not comfortable with the way things are, we're more likely to change than if things are "status quo". This led me to think of the times in my life where I've done considerable growing - emotionally, mentally, psychologically. They were the times when I might have rubbed my friends the wrong way and they were friends enough to say "Hey, heads up..." (although some of my friends would choose more colourful language). Have you ever done or said something that DID rub your friend the wrong way, and you no longer had a friend? Thankfully this hasn't happened to me since grade school, but it makes me truly appreciate the friends I have right now. I can - time and time again - say the wrong thing, do something stupid or expose a bit of myself that demonstrates that I DO have some learning and growing to do. What do they do? Some will point it out quietly. Others will make sure I'm embarrassed about it so it drives home the need to change. Still others will take the time to say "have you considered this approach?" - offering not only the "heads up" but a possible alternate way of conducting myself in or approaching that situation.
Friends will help you grow and support you in your darkest hour. They will also allow you the courtesy of returning the compliment. Be good to your friends. Remember them.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Enough about web sites, let's talk about love PART ONE of possibly many...
So... One could consider LOVE to be
(a) A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
OR
(b) A zero score in tennis.
Here, we'll talk about both.
People in relationships of all kinds - family, friends, partners and even "lovers" - use "love" to cover a number of bases OTHER than love. Love means different things to different people at different times. So if this word is oh so versatile, why do we get a case of the willies when it comes to using it openly, freely and sincerely? I think the point is that most of us DON'T, and THAT'S what scares us about the word "love". We've heard it used out of context, inappropriately and even in hurtful ways enough that we associate negative feelings with a truly positive word.
Imagine what someone might feel when they've heard "I love you" seemingly sincerely for the duration of their relationship only to find their partner engaged in a "physical indiscretion", (I borrow this from S only because it seems so... appropriate!) Or let's say someone wakes up one day to discover they're in an ABUSIVE, not LOVING relationship, yet their partner says "I love you"? How do you expect THAT would mess with someone's preception of "Love"?
Finally, what do you think it would be like to hear "love" in an encouraging way... regularly? I'm guessing pretty darn fine!
Perhaps we could make some RACQUETTE about our NET thoughts on LOVE?
(a) A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
OR
(b) A zero score in tennis.
Here, we'll talk about both.
People in relationships of all kinds - family, friends, partners and even "lovers" - use "love" to cover a number of bases OTHER than love. Love means different things to different people at different times. So if this word is oh so versatile, why do we get a case of the willies when it comes to using it openly, freely and sincerely? I think the point is that most of us DON'T, and THAT'S what scares us about the word "love". We've heard it used out of context, inappropriately and even in hurtful ways enough that we associate negative feelings with a truly positive word.
Imagine what someone might feel when they've heard "I love you" seemingly sincerely for the duration of their relationship only to find their partner engaged in a "physical indiscretion", (I borrow this from S only because it seems so... appropriate!) Or let's say someone wakes up one day to discover they're in an ABUSIVE, not LOVING relationship, yet their partner says "I love you"? How do you expect THAT would mess with someone's preception of "Love"?
Finally, what do you think it would be like to hear "love" in an encouraging way... regularly? I'm guessing pretty darn fine!
Perhaps we could make some RACQUETTE about our NET thoughts on LOVE?
Friday, November 25, 2005
The Almighty Website - a source of frustration
Indeed. As pointed out by my faithful reader (at least I have one!) multiple posts per day will wear a blog-surfer down to... well, let's consider for a moment blood-shot eyes and so forth...
The web site has proven to be a bit of a bear. I'm holding back the waters of discontent here in a BIG way for the sake of family viewing. To think I spent literally HOURS today fussing, mussing, fiddling and SCREWING with the formatting to come up with this: www.monarchmusic.net and all it is really is a shell with buttons that mostly lead nowhere! I think a break is in order - at least that's what S would recommend, so on good advice I decided to come here to vent. I never knew how absolutely satisfying this space could be for just that! You can vent to the web-iverse, blogosphere, whatever and only those who CHOOSE to read it need know your frustrations!
Deep breath.
OK, I have lots to do before this Turtle can climb back into his shell for a rest, and it's been one of those 4AM mornings, so off I go to do something NOT computer related!
Sweet dreams, all!
D
The web site has proven to be a bit of a bear. I'm holding back the waters of discontent here in a BIG way for the sake of family viewing. To think I spent literally HOURS today fussing, mussing, fiddling and SCREWING with the formatting to come up with this: www.monarchmusic.net and all it is really is a shell with buttons that mostly lead nowhere! I think a break is in order - at least that's what S would recommend, so on good advice I decided to come here to vent. I never knew how absolutely satisfying this space could be for just that! You can vent to the web-iverse, blogosphere, whatever and only those who CHOOSE to read it need know your frustrations!
Deep breath.
OK, I have lots to do before this Turtle can climb back into his shell for a rest, and it's been one of those 4AM mornings, so off I go to do something NOT computer related!
Sweet dreams, all!
D
Just what I needed!
Wow, that was great. I was sitting here at my desk working on my website - still rather flustered with Front Page - as elementary as it is - so that tells you where I'm at in the league of do-it-yourself web masters!! The phone rang. It was my friend Dave (no relation) asking if I had some time to work my arms. A bit of a strange question from anyone other than perhaps your personal trainer. Before committing, I of course asked "what did you have in mind?" Turned out, the scouts were receiving their first semi-truck of Christmas trees from BC. Dave, his son and another boy in the scout group were the only ones on site to haul off some 400 trees. As the church is only down the street from my office, also my home, I decided to take a trundle. Not without my travel mug though - hot chocolate first! On arrival, I discovered many more bodies to help! We spent probably half to three-quarters of an hour off-loading trees. Just the thing I needed to clear my head from the cyber webs! The fellow in charge was asking around to see if anyone knew of a place he could photocopy the delivery order... Dave immediately offered my office as a resource, so we buzzed up, ran a few pages through the copier and another good deed done for the day. I love good deeds. It's those things that just say "thank you" to the Universe for all the good stuff we get. ...reminds me of the line "anyone got some used money they'd like to trade for a fresh, warm glow?" Money I do not have, however my goblet of time and talent overfloweth. Knock and I shall answer, ask and ye shall receive. Just a little friendly advice to those of you who may be in a weird funk where the world isn't going just the way you'd like: give something back, give of yourself, your resources, your time - whatever. It will turn your funk around - guaranteed... or at least it will make you feel good if only for a little while. Blessings, all.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
stress? what stress?
I read an article today on how our mayor, Dave Bronconnier handles stress. Yes, even the Mayor has to do it! It would be nice if someone ELSE handled our stress, I'd be the first to sign up for THAT, but alas, stress is something that exists in everyone's life and we all have to deal with it one way or another. For Mayor Dave, physical exercise is the key. The writer of the article polled a number of people, and exercise is listed as the most common relief. What if I don't wanna? What if I believed there was a better way to beat stress (for me)? I think identifying the areas that cause the most stress and managing them is the key. The Calgary Health Region issues a magazine called APPLE. In this month's issue there's an article on how we've become sleep deprived as a nation. The average person is getting as much as 2 hours LESS SLEEP now than a century ago. Sounds like a lot of time, but let me assure you, times change, so do habits. Perhaps adopting a "less-stress" lifestyle is the key. I'm going to look in to this and post some more later.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Uneasy feeling
Dave's ArmchairSo here I am. A new blogger. Let's see if I can figure this out... according to Dictionary.com, "blogger" is defined as
Main Entry: blogger
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a person who keeps a Web log (blog) or publish an online diary
Of course, the source is listed as Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition. I expect if I were to have used "bloger" in my early days of creative writing, my Language Arts teacher would have immediately pulled out her red pen. "blogger" would have been corrected to read "jogger" or "goggle" or something that actually existed in the 70s. It's interesting to watch language evolve - not only evolve, but expand. I noted to a friend in an email the other day that I had caught myself inventing a word. I remember noting that I would probably not receive Webster status for the creation of "Upsetness". Just in case, I checked dictionary.com. Upsetness does not in fact appear in the online dictionary. I wonder if one can copyright an English word? If it is not yet a word, I'm sure it's possible. Then again, is there any need to copyright a word no one is likely to use? Say THAT to those people who snached up website addresses in the early years in order to sell them to those who would pay. Imagine landing "Pepsi.com" BEFORE the beverage company ever thought of having a web site! What would they pay for the rights to the site? Or would you be sued for something like unfair tactics?
What's going on today? I'm feeling a little rough around the edges having stayed up far past my bed time to work on a couple personal projects. I work in the sound industry and much of what I do is a spin off from a high school hobby. It's nice to "do what I love" for a living, but I often find myself searching for ways to turn it back into a hobby. Expanding my horizons is right up there too. Finding out what turns other people on is interesting. I know there are people who are just as passionate about what THEY do as I am about what I do. I think when it comes down to the pure passion, we all experience the same emotions - just about different things. I'd like to know about these different things to see if I may have some hidden passions lurking just under the surface.
Back to the bits and pieces of my day. Feel free to expand on anything here - I would love to hear from you!
Main Entry: blogger
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: a person who keeps a Web log (blog) or publish an online diary
Of course, the source is listed as Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition. I expect if I were to have used "bloger" in my early days of creative writing, my Language Arts teacher would have immediately pulled out her red pen. "blogger" would have been corrected to read "jogger" or "goggle" or something that actually existed in the 70s. It's interesting to watch language evolve - not only evolve, but expand. I noted to a friend in an email the other day that I had caught myself inventing a word. I remember noting that I would probably not receive Webster status for the creation of "Upsetness". Just in case, I checked dictionary.com. Upsetness does not in fact appear in the online dictionary. I wonder if one can copyright an English word? If it is not yet a word, I'm sure it's possible. Then again, is there any need to copyright a word no one is likely to use? Say THAT to those people who snached up website addresses in the early years in order to sell them to those who would pay. Imagine landing "Pepsi.com" BEFORE the beverage company ever thought of having a web site! What would they pay for the rights to the site? Or would you be sued for something like unfair tactics?
What's going on today? I'm feeling a little rough around the edges having stayed up far past my bed time to work on a couple personal projects. I work in the sound industry and much of what I do is a spin off from a high school hobby. It's nice to "do what I love" for a living, but I often find myself searching for ways to turn it back into a hobby. Expanding my horizons is right up there too. Finding out what turns other people on is interesting. I know there are people who are just as passionate about what THEY do as I am about what I do. I think when it comes down to the pure passion, we all experience the same emotions - just about different things. I'd like to know about these different things to see if I may have some hidden passions lurking just under the surface.
Back to the bits and pieces of my day. Feel free to expand on anything here - I would love to hear from you!
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Today is my first day!
Hello, Bloggers All!
Thought I might try this medium to throw out a few thoughts here and there. It feels like tomorrow will be a soulful day, so perhaps for now I will call it an accomplishment to simply have created this space. For what it is, welcome to it! Any words of wisdom to a new blogger?
TG
Thought I might try this medium to throw out a few thoughts here and there. It feels like tomorrow will be a soulful day, so perhaps for now I will call it an accomplishment to simply have created this space. For what it is, welcome to it! Any words of wisdom to a new blogger?
TG
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About Me
- Turtle Guy
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- English student, Pottery enthusiast, Yoga novice and lover of all people. I make friends over a warm handshake and a beverage. I discover, every day, someone willing to help me along my path.