stung
there once was a hindu holy man who saw a scorpion floundering around in the water. he decided to save it by stretching out his finger. but the scorpion stung him. the man still tried to get the scorpion out of the water, but the scorpion stung him again. a man nearby told him to stop saving the scorpion that kept stinging him. but the holy man said, "it is the nature of the scorpion to sting. it is my nature my love. why should i give up my nature to love just because it is the nature of the scorpion to sting?"
it should be our nature to love regardless of who we are, regardless of what has been done to us. its hard. i know. trust me. people are always going to sting you. they are going to rip into your character. they are going to be the ones in the platform telling you that your views are wrong. they are going to be in the pulpits pointing fingers in judgement. they are going to be the ones who hold your whole race responsible for the actions of one person's actions.
but that doesn't give you the right to despise; for hate for those who hate is still hate. in spite of those who may sting you remain in what you know to be your nature. love.
it should be our nature to love regardless of who we are, regardless of what has been done to us. its hard. i know. trust me. people are always going to sting you. they are going to rip into your character. they are going to be the ones in the platform telling you that your views are wrong. they are going to be in the pulpits pointing fingers in judgement. they are going to be the ones who hold your whole race responsible for the actions of one person's actions.
but that doesn't give you the right to despise; for hate for those who hate is still hate. in spite of those who may sting you remain in what you know to be your nature. love.
Comments
Thank you for this. It really came at the time I needed to hear it, since I have really been struggling with this more lately.
God bless.
this is exactly the thing that has been on my heart recently!
so many of my journal entries in the past couple of days have been on the exact topic of the constant struggle to love those who make it so hard for me to love.
i so terribly want to love the outcast and downtrodden.
but so many times they are that way on their own accord because they force people away.
that is quite possibly the biggest struggle in my life...just getting over my stupid selfish self and loving them regardless.
that was such an incredible story to keep me inspired and keep persisting in loving everyone...
even despite their "stinging" nature! thank you! :)
.love.
This tells me then that we have this original concept woven into our hearts, so to speak of our own "nature" would refer to the same thing. I tend to think that with every action, every encounter, we have 2 ways to react. It's like those choose-your-own-ending books from when we were kids. We can either bring the world a glimpse of Heaven, or we can choose to cast it further into the depths of Hell.
On one hand it's a good thing I have few enemies. On the other, it makes dealing with them all the more important to embrace and learn from. It makes me realize I have more pride than I ever would have assumed. I guess that in itself is prideful. Your post aligns pretty well with what I've been seeing in myself lately, things I need to address. It's like that old Supertones song, curses and blessing from the same mouth. I'm so far from who I want to be. I pray that love, hardcore, real love, bridges the gap between where I stand and where I'm going.
Thanks bro. :)
Stephanie.
i'm learning how to love, to trust, but i am still skittish, and so often i turn back to stinging.
Thanks, it's really encouraging to know. Your blogs are really thought provoking. It's good to read some honest thoughts about the world, and to share how we can change it. But really, thank you. It's a challenge that i'm goign to try to live out. :)
It also is a reminder to me to love a friend of mine who recently hurt me, and I thank you.
Forgiveness is a precious gift that allows the forgiver to continue to love.
Then there are the silent screams of those that can’t leave. I think of the children in the US and around the world that suffer stings that we may never feel, but we know they are there.
We must continue to love.
I keep thinking there are other ways to help without being "stung" why not get a stick and try and nudge the Scorpion out of the water. Why continue to get stung when you can use a other means of help while also sparing yourself some unnecessary pain.
Also on another point that sounds less selfish. Sometimes when we love people and we want to help we are blinded by what is best for them and our helping isn't really helping. Sometimes it's best to get someone else to help because they are better equip to deal with the stinging Scorpion. So by being stung- although appearing noble is actually not helping the situation at all-- in fact only prolonging the struggle. Again another reason to grab a stick to help along the goal of getting the Scorpion out of the water.
Just some thoughts ~ J
Also, you cannot give what you don't have - I think it's only possible to give so much love when you realize how much God loves us.
I DO NOT!! mean to claim that only christians can love, but I really wonder where non-believers would find the love and energy it takes to truly love unconditionally like you described. All I know is that whenever I "reach" that state (rarely...) it's absolutely not because of my good intentions, it's rather something external that makes me able to do it.
Love hurts. It tortures the soul. But Hate destroys it.
Very well put.
"people are always going to sting you. they are going to rip into your character. they are going to be the ones in the platform telling you that your views are wrong. they are going to be in the pulpits pointing fingers in judgement." especially concerning judging others. you just reminded me once again that it doesn't matter what someone does to you or to someone close to you, you should still love them. and i guess i needed something like this right now. thank you so much for this post, but also for all of your other ones. they inspire me so much.
You said, "Down with the church", with your fists up in the air,
all the rancor and the hate, yeah we saw your frigid stare.
You hate Christianity, but love your animosity,
it's the church who's getting rotten, yet it's Christ that you've forgotten.
Goodnight, goodbye, farewell to arms, it's time.
Goodnight, goodbye, farewell to arms, it's time.
Lay down your hate, (the burden and) the weight will disappear.
If you could separate your anger, from that still small voice you hear.
Clench your fists and grit your teeth, save forgiveness for the weak.
Let your bitterness consume, let the salt rub in your wounds.
You have saved up all your spite, stoked the flame that keeps the fight,
it's so hard to be objective, when your reason is defective.
Goodnight, goodbye, farewell to arms, it's time.
Goodnight, goodbye, farewell to arms, it's time.
Lay down your hate, (the burden and) the weight will disappear.
If you could separate your anger, from that still small voice you hear.
You say that you've aged, I think you're just enraged.
You say that you've aged, I think you're just enraged.
Goodnight, goodbye, farewell to arms, it's time.
Goodnight, goodbye, farewell to arms, it's time.
Who incited, what ignited, all this hatred, say farewell to arms.
(Goodnight, goodbye, farewell to arms, it's time.)
Broken hearted, dearly departed, maybe we should say farewell to arms.
And, Emily, THANK YOU for the FIF reference! I miss them so much!
The human soul can only take stings so many times. It's like "Sting me once, shame on you", "Sting me twice, shame on me."
I don't think God's idea for our lives is to get stung on a consistant basis.
A vacationing family drives along in their car, windows rolled down, enjoying the warm summer breeze of the sunny day.
All of a sudden a big black bee darts in the window and starts buzzing around inside the car. A little girl, highly allergic to bee stings, cringes in the back seat. If she is stung, she could die within an hour.
"Oh, Daddy," she squeals in terror. "It's a bee! It's going to sting me!"
The father pulls the car over to a stop, and reaches back to try to catch the bee. Buzzing around towards him, the bee bumps against the front windshield where the father traps it in his fist.
Holding it in his closed hand, the father waits for the inevitable sting. The bee stings the father's hand and in pain, the father lets go of the bee.
The bee is loose in the car again. The little girl again panics.
"Daddy, it's going to sting me!"
The father gently says, "No honey, he's not going to sting you now. Look at my hand."
She sees the bee's stinger in his hand.
Likewise, Jesus says to us, "Look at my hands."
He has Satan's sting, the sting of death, the sting of sin, the sting of deceit.
Jesus has all of those stingers in His hands.
When you see that nail-scarred hand, realize that, on your behalf, Jesus took all the pain that Satan could throw at Him.
He reduced Satan to a big black bee that's lost its stinger -- all Satan can do is buzz.
That's the victory that Jesus won for you!
--This story was told by Frank Peretti on the Focus on the Family Radio Program
I think of it as a form of reverse-cynicism.
but anyone who is choosing bad company and getting entangled in corruption or abuse or just bad friendships (with people who are NOT your friends)
may truly need to walk away--either permanantly or for a time.
its a good illustration, but have some distintion btwn what is healthy and loving and what is just dumb....
"bad company corrupts good character"
if you are moving toward health or good character, do what you need to do to do what is right for you.
you can walk away from those whose sting is meant to keep you down...
--
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
- Romans 12:9-21 (The Message)
what the world needs
- corey mann (commented before)
I know what you mean. I think we have to use our common sense, but not too much - because loving everyone around you enemies included is simply not a sensible task. "Love like you've never been hurt" that's what they say.. Loving is so much more difficult than simply not-hating.
but also, in a way i disagree.. as odd as it seems.
maybe not exactly 'disagreeing'... but i'm not sure how else to put it.
i think... what makes love so strong, is because people do hate, and people do despise. that does not justice it, but... true love to me, is a love that has struggled, that has been ripped and stabbed and hurt... a love that bleeds; not a love that sits up above struggle & conflict.
a love that knows and understands conflict, not a love that sees conflict.
i think that what makes love so beautiful is because, sometimes, it's not our nature to love.
honestly... i disagree that it should be people's nature to love.
for some reason, that to me... it... would make the world less beautiful... as if some light [ as if something ].. would be lost.
people will judge, people will be annoying, people will be hateful. it is not right, and it is a ugly thing. so many people have shaped by hurt... and pain spreads, infesting the soul and killing. but pain indirectly makes love what it is: beautiful, powerful, and healing.
without pain, without hate, love would be nothing.
and i think what makes the difference between living and being dead is seeing that.
[at least in my opinion...]
shining a candle in a the darkest corner will be brighter then shining a candle where there's already light.
[ twloha ]
my pain only allows me to love more; it only allows me to become more a l i v e.
...but in 'the' moment, you can't stop yourself.
Do you pray for love? Or peace?
In regards to my parents at least, I feel sometimes as if, even when I return their sarcasm with peace or surrender, they walk away just thinking they were completely without fault. Like they were never kids who had dreams that weren't bound and chained to a sad life.
How will things change then? I mean I agree with you 100% man. Love is the most excellent way. But on the real?
Sometimes it's just...Hard.
Read it again. And again. Again. One more time.
I'm going to.
While I agree with the general sentiments and purpose of this story (love others regardless of how they treat you), I must say I disagree that it is in our nature to love.
As a follower of Christ, I believe (and theology states) that we are all born into sin, with a sinful nature and are separated from God (a separation that can only be overcome by salvation in Jesus Christ). If, as the Bible states in 1 John 4:8, “God is love”...then love cannot be part of our human nature. Indeed, 1 John 4:7 says “love comes from God”.
I think that the reason loving other people (especially people who wrong us and do not love us) is so difficult is due to the fact that love is not in our nature.
When I first read this story about the holy man and the scorpion, it struck me as being a perfect representation of God’s love for me. I think that it is God’s nature to love and it is my nature to sting. And no matter what I do, how much I turn from Him, ignore Him, disobey His will and “sting” Him... He always forgives me and is right there, ready to lift me from the overwhelming trouble I find myself drowning in.
It is this love that we must strive to emulate towards those around us. But it’s tough and at times we will fail... because as members of an imperfect and fallen race it is not in our nature.
Just my thoughts and interpretation...thanks for the opportunity to share!
Kates
I loved that illistration. I know that for me, that is my ultimate goal, to love no matter what even when they hurt me or others. I will never copletely reach that goal but my new goal is to remember that actions speak louder than words. My actions have no always reflected what i say or believe. Thank you for posting this.
~Mirissa
even if it is our nature to love, it's not everybody's, and they will sting us. we have to protect ourselves, because sometimes in the end that's all we have.
“There was a turtle that was approaching a rain swollen stream and heard a voice call out. The Turtle turned it head and saw a scorpion. The scorpion said to the turtle; the stream is deep and swollen and if I try to cross I will surely drown. Would you please let me ride on your shell so that I can cross the stream? The turtle said, if I let you ride on my shell you will sting me and I will drown. The scorpion pleaded with the turtle and told him I will not sting you because if I sting you I will drown as well. The turtle reluctantly agreed and they set out across the stream. In the middle of the stream the scorpion stung the turtle. As the turtle started to go under he asked why the scorpion had stung him knowing that he would drown also? He said, I am a scorpion, it’s my nature to sting.”
Enter a Hindu Holy Man…
Thanks for everything!
book of james
that makes great sense
my thoughts are of this, too
it is in our nature to sting
we can be moved to receive a new nature that comes by Love
that is an amazing parable
book of james
i am going to be thinking about the two posts as a whole all night
God is love. There is one God. God is love.
~Mirissa
God bless the VT families and students, and may we take away from this horrible event a reminder of the importance of loving the less popular and hurting. We're here on this planet.
I've been thinking about this again, and aside from the facet of self-preservation Mr. Malcom mentioned, I don't think self-preservation is necessarily part of the equation.
Our love for other people is supposed to be sacrifical and selfless, and outside of preserving yourself to better help others, there is no point in self-preservation. We are to "lay our lives down".
This doesn't apply to situations such as that of an abusive spouse, because the abuser is not simply "stinging" they are committing a crime. Loving someone despite the wrongs they commit against you does not involve allowing them to trample you. There is a fundamental difference between emptying oneself, and making oneself a footstool.
I just saw that PluggedIn reviewed Cities in the 'mainstream' section of their magazine and had quite a list of "objectionable content" and an overall warning to parents.
It just shows how unfortunately over-the-top they can be about some of the content they review. Had they realized that Anberlin is sold in Christian bookstores they probably would have reviewed the disc quite differently and recognized figurative language when they heard it. Not to mention all the lyrics they took out of context.
Why do people have to further damage the reputation of the church like this and pit believers against each other?
Anyway, here is the "Objectional Content" bit from the review:
"The unclear line "Wish your drinking would hurry and kill you" is mean-spirited. Disillusionment and pain are joined by obscure references to needles, suicide and "guilty lovers" ("Godspeed"). Despite ending with "there's hope," "Hello Alone" majors in loneliness and despair ("Depression is the unholy ghost ... I've got the gun/all I need is 10 cents for the bullet/I feel helpless"). Amid talk of raging inner demons, "Reclusion" contains strange metaphors about killing others and strangling lovers.
Impressive artistry, but Anberlin's murky lyrics and pronounced dark side could send a dangerous message to teens on the edge. A smattering of pro-social sentiments aside, this former tourmate of Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance echoes the futility of those bands."
This is why context is so important. Pluggedin Magazine is a product of "Focus on the Family". An overtly evangelical Christian based ministry of James C. Dobson. As far as the organization goes they seem to be interested in looking out for and protecting the less developed and experienced in our society (children).
Unfortunately they do not post their current magazine music review content until it is a month old. So those that do not subscribe will have to wait to protect their Children. ;-)
www.pluggedinonline.com
The following recent cover article from CCM magazine should shed some light not only on the band but on Christian’s positions.
http://www.ccmcom.com/news/stories/11538205/page1/
I personally find the CCM article to be enlightening and helpful in understanding the philosophical and psychological positions and perspectives in Christian’s blog. It helps me to see things from a perspective that I would not normally be exposed to. For that I am grateful.
If there is one thing that we all should understand, there is a huge difference between Character and Reputation. As Horace Mann put it:
“Character is what God and the angels know of us;
reputation is what men and women think of us.”
Felling Stung?
Regardless of whether you are a follower of Christ or not, everything I have ever wanted to say about love seems to be contained in 1 Corinthians Chapter 13.
Cheers
"in the absence of love, there is nothing worth fighting for"-elijah wood
I am terribly sorry if this is the wrong avenue or if I am out of line posting this on your blog, feel free to delete it and ignore me, whatever you like. I just dont know where else to ask, where I'll actually get an answer..
Anberlin/Copeland show, June 6, The Studio in Auckland, NZ. Why was it cancelled? A lot of us were planning to go, and it was meant to be my substitute 18th. I was really looking forward to it and hoping to be able to talk to you, as a real person, not the anberlin frontman, at the show..
Again, extremely sorry for posting on your personal blog, but I cant seem to get an answer any other way. Thanks in advance, God bless, Ashleigh
(Oh yeah, Stephen, do you know Neil Gaiman? You should check him out. He has a blog too, he kind of reminds me of you when you write.)
http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/
-Clarissa
(yes, I'm the one who sent you that very LONG email. and you didn't reply! but that's okay ^^)
Godbless you.
wow i can't believe plugged in gave that review for anberlin's music! that's so shallow! I'm disapointed. i read their reviews for movies and i find those to be pretty accurate.
you are very inspiring... please keep up the great writing.
as a person with a physical disability I can see myself as both the man and the scorpion.. keen to help others, regardless, on some days. but on other days wanting to hurt people because of their lack of acceptance to those obviously "different."
this post touched a few nerves, and whilst it felt uncomfortable, is something I need to keep practicing daily.
thank you :)
There are people that it's so difficult to love, especially after what they have put you and your loved ones through, but God will give the grace we need.
wow, this was so helpful. Here I am a year and a half later, writing a blog on forgiving and this just hit the spot. Thanks for posting on this