Two more questions may answer the question:
What would I die for?
What do I live for?
“What am I living for? and What am I dying for? are the same question.” ~Margaret Atwood
“It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?” ~Henry David Thoreau
“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but with insight one draws them out.” ~Proverbs 20:5
“It is not true that everyone is special. It is true that everyone was once special and still possesses the ability to recover it.” ~Criss Jami
“Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t.” ~Lauren Bacall
Still chewing on it? Here’s a hack: What we would die for, what we live for, and even (perhaps especially) what we would kill for, are ultimately determined by what we love–really love, not pretend to love–more than anything else.
I discovered that I only love my children. That’s all.
Beautiful message Mitch. Thank you for the quotes and points to ponder.
I have taught English using the Bible as a text book to nearly 7000 Muslims in the Middle East. I have converts to Christianity (traitors to Islam) in hiding in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Indonesia. They fear for their lives every day. I do not tell them they will not be caught and killed. I tell them God will be with them and give them courage. A few years ago I had to ask myself, “Am I willing to do what I am expecting of them?”. I worked through it. It wasn’t easy. But, today out in front of my house or on a street or out in a desert, if someone told me, “Deny Jesus or I kill you,” I will tell them, “At last. Now I can go Home”. For decades I prayed for “a peaceful moment in which to die”. Now I pray, “May my death have meaning.”
Katheryn, thank you for sharing this profound and important part of your faith journey with us.
May I truly count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ…and be found faithful (Philippians 3.8-11)
Amen, Rose!
philippians 3:13 i can do all things
Reblogged this on Encouraging-Grace and commented:
Guest Post From Mitch Teemley
A very thought provoking post to help us really think about who we are and what we stand for.
Yes, it is thought-provoking. There is a lot of soul-searching represented by those questions.
I agree Liz! And I am wrestling to ass my response– not quick, easy , and expected…but honest– what would I do for real (not what I think is the right thing to say). What I would actually say gies me a line to grow from. Thank you for your comments
I wrestled with my thoughts as well. These are very difficult questions when we’re being completely honest with ourselves.
proverbs 45:05
view unto thee
& you will be saved
Great quotes! Lauren Bacall got right to the point, didn’t she? 😉
I’d love to hear your answers.
Love, light and glitter
Mitch..,heavy. I love Margaret Atwood.
The only answer I can give is Love.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –The Lord Jesus https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6:21&version=ESV
Esp loved that T.Acquinas Quote. Tough questions, it’s not any easy route. I once taught at a tiny street school for slum dwellers. The place was brought down by local mafia. I never realised what a thing it is – blurred identities, the insanity of that blur, the scars. Looking back I understand so much more of my own self now, with gratitude to the Lord who allows other people’s shadows to walk with mine. I’m a part of so many slices of humanity, its mind blowing. It’s the way God looks at us I guess: we are each others’ weave. The word ‘Love’ must be as wide in definition as the entire expanse, it hangs my jaw that God loves us all equally. It used to scare me, infuriate even. Today, I’m just a lil more stunned at the grace of God
“The Lord who allows other people’s shadows to walk with mine.” What a lovely and profound thought, Ray.
Glad you think so. That just flew off me as response to things Gods been doing with me and my fam, this past decade and esp the last ten months. Never thought the day would come when I’d thank the Lord for tough days, when one is publicly vulnerable. It affects others, though we may not even know. (Or may face flak for it). The older I get the more I know our entire mission is people outside our 4 precious walls
Yes!
Mitch, is there significance in the Greek φ at the end of this post? Thanks for the provoking thoughts!
Hi Luke, thanks! Nope, strictly decorative. I would have used an omega, but didn’t like the look of the one WordPress offers. Good to meet you.