It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart.
Philippians 1:7a
When we carry others in our hearts, we actually feel differently about them, respond differently to them, hope for different things from them. Carrying others in our hearts, however, can be a daunting task. It is not terribly difficult to feel tenderness toward others, or enjoy their company, or desire their best. In fact, we can readily do these things, hardly without thinking about them. It is quite another thing entirely to carry others in our heart.
The word ‘carry’ actually comes from the word ‘chariot’ – which is a small car. To carry someone in your heart is to be in the ‘chariot’ with them, to ride the road of life with them, to be confined in a small space with them, to view the edges and expanses of life with them, to share the dangers of travel with them, to both speak and be silent with them. To be in a chariot with others cures us of our self-absorption because we are consistently reminded that we are not alone in the space. The boundaries are much more porous between them and us. It becomes much more difficult to maintain our own autonomous ideas, plans, and prejudices because our justifications for such ideas, plans and prejudices are open to discussion and even confrontation. While it is a risk to carry others in our hearts, because we are disallowed from being so self-absorbed, curiously it is when we are in the chariot with others that we have the chance to find our true self.
O God, give me the courage to climb into the chariot with others for the ride of my life.
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I once read a quote where the person described the questions we have about life and its purpose as the chariot by which we are carried to new truths. Questions sometimes can be seen as doubt, second guessing, or even regret sometimes. We must be careful I think not to miss the possibility that the deep questions we have, those we sometimes are afraid to acknowledge or speak out loud, may be the very chariot awaiting to carry us to new places of being. -VRAP--Very Rev. A R Pompa...get it...V.R.A.P.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for a wonderful presentation, Renee. Wonderful to be talking about what we carry spiritually while you and your truck driving partner are hauling goods across America!
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