So, since my previous posting, I've been focused a lot more on wondering "What would Jesus THINK?", as I go through my days and experiences, recognizing that what Jesus would DO proceeds directly from what he would THINK.
It's been a case of "Be careful what you ask for because you just may get it". I have been uncharacteristically critical, judgmental, and impatient with people and it disturbs me. I have encountered some very annoying and thoughtless people and I keep asking myself "what the heck is going on?" and then I realized......I have a lot more work to do with my thoughts, with acceptance, and with thinking with the mind of Christ. I have focused intently on thinking more like Jesus and the universe has been giving me ample opportunities to practice this. Recently, a friend stated that if you want to learn compassion and forgiveness, do one of two things: drive your car, or go to Walmart. We chuckled but then I realized that this world is my classroom and the only way to learn how to be more like Christ is by living in the everyday world, encountering every day people, and everyday annoyances and frustrations. It's easy to think like Jesus when all is quiet and happy and serene in my world, but anybody can do that.
My conscious intention, to think more like Jesus, has created numerous opportunities for me to learn to love people better, as I draw to myself the work, the challenges, of dealing with unreasonable and rude people. It's like God has said "ok...here we go....how are you going to run with this...."
When I figured that out, that what you ask for, you receive, then the exercise became easier for me. It's like God has placed in my path the people and situations that will best optimize my learning. hmmmm....
Here's what I have learned about thinking like Jesus.
It's all about compassion....
simple,real simple.
Not so easy to do.
I can think like ME or I can think like Jesus.
Jesus always looks through the lens of compassion.
I can think like ME or I can think like Jesus....
Jesus sees way beyond our physical presence, our body we present to the world. He looks way beyond our behaviors. He sees the hurts and pain. He sees far beyond all of this. Because when he looks through the lens of compassion, he sees our essence, our pure selves.
I can think like ME about rude people, or I can think like Jesus,
I can think like ME about cruelty, or I can think like Jesus.
I can think like ME about all the negativity I see, or I can think like Jesus.
It really is that simple.......but not so easy.
It is a CHOICE.
Do I want to keep seeing through my own lens and criticize, blame and judge, or do I want to see through the lens of compassion? If I want to do what Jesus would do, I have to think like Jesus would think and I have to see EVERYTHING through a lens of compassion.
I can see with MY eyes or I can see with GOD'S eyes.
Which view do you think feels better and better serves the world?
