Muddling Toward Maturity Blog

C.S. LEWIS - PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST ENHANCES ALL PLEASURES

Quote of the day -

When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. In so far as I learn to love my earthly dearest at the expense of God and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not love my earthly dearest at all. When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.  - from a 1952 letter

CHURCH COLSON - "AUTISM AND AGAPE"

- 9/20/10 - More from Colson on Emily, Max, and himself.  Read the original post below, then come back and click through to this additional word from Colson.  Both are well worth reading.

- Original post - I like Colson's reflections.  They ring true.  His daughter Emily has an autistic son, Max.  Colson claims to have learned much from her and his grandson.

. . . To be honest, I can be judgmental towards other people. A child crying on a plane for example, when I wanted to work, made me wonder what is wrong with the parents. The patience and generosity that enables us to understand the plight of others doesn’t come naturally to me—or to just about anyone else, for that matter.

To the extent that I have learned it, I have learned it from watching Emily and Max. Watching Emily, and other parents of children with special needs, has taught me what it means to love in the biblical sense of the word agape. 

LOVE ILLUMINES THE COUNTENANCE

Nearly 100 years ago, John Henry Jowett, then pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York City, penned the following timeless truth:

Love makes all things new!  It changes duty into delight, and statutes into songs.

What a magic difference love makes to a face.  It at once becomes a face illumined. Love makes the plainest face winsome and attractive.  It adds the light of heaven, and the earthly is transfigured.  No cosmetics are needed when love is in possession.  She will do her own beautifying work, and everybody will know her sign.

What a magic difference love makes in service!  The hireling goes about his work with heavy and reluctant feet: the lover sings and dances at his toil.  The hireling scamps his work: the lover is always adding another touch, and is never satisfied.  Just one more touch!  And just another!  And so on until the good God shall say that loving “patience has had her perfect work.”

 Love lights up everything, for she is the light of life. Let her dwell in the soul, and every room in the life shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”  - From My Daily Meditation, for April 21

Me:  Of course this is especially true of romantic love, but isn't our calling to be filled with God's love, and to show forth that love to everyone?  Would it make a difference in our countenance?  No doubt.   Lord, help us...