Comments | banzai: Believing the best

banzai

Believing the best

May 11, 2011 08:20

My wife, barlow_girl, is a wise woman. One fantastic rule of thumb she's taught me is that "love believes the best." Scripture teaches us this, explicitly and implicitly, over and over again, and we see this truth reflected in varying degrees of distortion all around us. But wow, is it ever challenging ( Read more... )

love, amy, relationships, struggle, grace, scripture

Comments 7

journeyto May 11 2011, 19:50:46 UTC

This is going in my memories.

banzai May 12 2011, 05:26:46 UTC

Aw.

We should talk soon. I am taking on some fun new stuff that is not yet ready for LJ broadcast.

journeyto May 12 2011, 07:12:58 UTC

Ooh!

cool ext_551345 May 11 2011, 21:58:40 UTC

Lee,
really like these thoughts. I've been impacted a lot recently about the love that we've been given and how that takes the risk out of loving anyone.

I'm not entirely sure what you're saying about the trust. For me the beauty of the gospel is that we know our biography and the biography of others. And that is that we are depraved and broken. BUT that is not the end. We know that in the midst of that state Jesus loves.

So for me the power is not in assuming or trusting that others are good but knowing that we are al bad but loved. That has helped me love others. thanks for sharing.

Re: cool banzai May 12 2011, 05:20:42 UTC

Glad to share; it's all been brewing for a while and I finally had time to jot out some notes (which is one of the only ways I can ever figure out what I'm actually saying).

What I was trying to communicate toward the end about trust: believing the best leaves me vulnerable, and if that risk goes bust, I'm ultimately trusting Jesus to protect and defend me. Not believing the best is often because I'd rather protect and defend myself. When I think of it that way, the latter course seems silly, but if I get honest, I do it all the time.

True christianlady May 12 2011, 02:49:35 UTC

Love does believe the best. Sometimes, in certain circumstances, it is wise to be discerning or cautious even if you do believe and hope the best. Especially as a parent, it is important to both beleive and trust...and watch and see. Not trying to contradict, just trying to suppliment.

detroitfather May 12 2011, 15:57:59 UTC

I try to act as if I believe the best, even when the likeliest actuality based on limited evidence is something less than the best.

Yes, it does leave one vulnerable.