Love is a discipline. Thurman backs me up on this when he wrote, "There cannot be too great insistence on the point that we are here dealing with a discipline, a method, a technique, as over against some form of wishful thinking or simple desiring." It is an everyday battle to love beyond those who are not similar to you. It take a great amount of humility and work. This is a lesson I have been learning of late, and it has awakened in me more love than I thought possible.
Thurman points out that there are three levels of love. Each one is harder than the last and requires one to love their distant enemy. Often I have not thought about loving the politicians I disagree with or the Korean neighbor down the street. They just seem so far removed from my personal experience, but Jesus was able to love those directly around him, those he had contact with, and those far removed from his life in Israel. Jesus loved the disinherited because he put himself in their camp. He loved by breaking down the walls of race, gender, and background.
Thurman points out that there are three levels of love. Each one is harder than the last and requires one to love their distant enemy. Often I have not thought about loving the politicians I disagree with or the Korean neighbor down the street. They just seem so far removed from my personal experience, but Jesus was able to love those directly around him, those he had contact with, and those far removed from his life in Israel. Jesus loved the disinherited because he put himself in their camp. He loved by breaking down the walls of race, gender, and background.
I really enjoyed this last chapter. Thurman ended on a great topic, but one of the most difficult things to put into practice. I am in complete agreement with all that you have said. I have never thought of loving those I never come in close contact with, such as politicians, but I never thought I hated them either. I think that category is definitely the hardest to love because it takes so much extra discipline and a very active type of love that I had never really thought about.
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