Saturday, May 28, 2016

Heather Jephcott writes


All For Love's Sake    

Choosing to go down 
rather than up
not attempting to grasp 
what is rightfully our own,
not clasping on to 
but gladly giving up
all 
for love's sake.

Putting self aside 
unconcerned about our rights
thinking about others 
becoming immersed in their lives
helping out, 
giving, not taking,
caring 
as deep-spirited friends
all 
for love's sake.

No pushing, rushing 
or sweet-talking
no trying to make a good impression 
not concerning self
with what others think 
no trying to get to the top
but rather 
willingly receiving
whatever 
comes from the Master's hand
all 
for love's sake.

Selflessly, with an open heart 
going to the end of the line
taking ourselves 
down to the bottom, the back
saying "no" to privileges, 
the advantages of caste and creed,
of rank and colour, 
of birth and status
putting all aside 
to become low
and remaining so... 
all
for love's sake.

Singly, together 
making ourselves
nothings 
working together
with hearts, hands, graciously extended 
going down deep,
deep, deep , down 
compassion reigning
as we work together 
united hearts becoming one
all 
for love's sake.

Seeing, recognizing 
the beauty of humility
as it reveals itself 
through a life purpose
and we remain at rest with each other 
living harmoniously together
becoming poor 
all
for love's sake.

The persuasive incentive of love.
 
 Up The Down Staircase -- MobaxWob

2 comments:

  1. Heather comments: "How I love this teaching (thinking through Philippians 2) but oh how difficult I find parts of it. My nature, my practice at times is so very different. But this is my, our aim....to become like the one we desire to serve, to love, with our whole hearts."

    Paul to the Philippians 2 (New International Version): "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

    In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
    Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
    rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
    And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
    even death on a cross!
    Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
    that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
    and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.
    Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.: Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

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  2. Give All to Love

    Give all to love;
    Obey thy heart;
    Friends, kindred, days,
    Estate, good-fame,
    Plans, credit and the Muse,—
    Nothing refuse.

    ’T is a brave master;
    Let it have scope:
    Follow it utterly,
    Hope beyond hope:
    High and more high
    It dives into noon,
    With wing unspent,
    Untold intent:
    But it is a god,
    Knows its own path
    And the outlets of the sky.

    It was never for the mean;
    It requireth courage stout.
    Souls above doubt,
    Valor unbending,
    It will reward,—
    They shall return
    More than they were,
    And ever ascending.

    Leave all for love;
    Yet, hear me, yet,
    One word more thy heart behoved,
    One pulse more of firm endeavor,—
    Keep thee to-day,
    To-morrow, forever,
    Free as an Arab
    Of thy beloved.

    Cling with life to the maid;
    But when the surprise,
    First vague shadow of surmise
    Flits across her bosom young,
    Of a joy apart from thee,
    Free be she, fancy-free;
    Nor thou detain her vesture’s hem,
    Nor the palest rose she flung
    From her summer diadem.

    Though thou loved her as thyself,
    As a self of purer clay,
    Though her parting dims the day,
    Stealing grace from all alive;
    Heartily know,
    When half-gods go,
    The gods arrive.

    -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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