Serving Two Masters?
I actually think it is much easier to find completeness in at least one of them, if you are only serving one of them. What I mean is this, most people view marriage as something that isn't tangible, and they serve marriage like they try to serve God, trying to appease it. They view "Marriage" as something they are trying to attain to, rather than something they are actively a part of or more importantly, a living and constant blending of themselves with another person...
Serving two masters is tremendously difficult.
My soul searching, God hunt, quest for peace, desire for completeness, hope for harmony... Whatever you want to label it... is incomplete. As I have constantly been striving to find more God, in both my relationship with God and in my marriage... I find that serving God and allowing myself to do more than merely exist in my marriage, is helping me find clarity in each...
Completeness in either still seems to be fleeting at times.
But, I still yearn...!
Some parting thoughts:
Does God seek to control us? Control every aspect of our lives? Rob us of our individuality?
Or does God desire to Protect us, desire for us to ask of His counsel in our decisions, desire to be part of our lives, or give us liberty and still desire that we become more Christ like?
Do we show the same kindness to a wolf in sheep's clothing and act as if those we love are not in danger? Or do we step in between the wolf and the ones we love and do what is necessary to protect those we love at the cost of being told we are trying to control them?
I seriously want your input.
5 comments:
Sorry for sounding like an atheist here, but does it really matter as long as we are the only ones who face everything?
Anyway, thanks for your comment on my post at STB. See you on my blog sometime.
Shubhodeep:
I will be sure to visit you again...
It's the perplexity of facing both simultaneously that seems to catch people in a catch 22. Sure, if you don't care about God, then you have one less option to concern yourself with. But to your question... No, it doesn't really matter, as long as your facing "it".. whatever "it" may be. Didn't sound atheistic to me at all.
Thank you for traveling over to this corridor.. hope to hear from you again.
Does God seek to control us? Control every aspect of our lives? Rob us of our individuality?
I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT VIEWS ON RELIGION, BUT I CANT SEE A REASON WHY GOD WOULD WANT TO ROB ANYONE OF THEIR INDIVIDUALITY... OR WANT TO CONTROL. I WOULD HOPE THAT HE WANTS TO GUIDE AND TEACH... MOTIVATE... GAINING ACCESS TO ALL AREAS OF PEOPLES LIFE.
Or does God desire to Protect us, desire for us to ask of His counsel in our decisions, desire to be part of our lives, or give us liberty and still desire that we become more Christ like?
YIP! THATS MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
Do we show the same kindness to a wolf in sheep's clothing and act as if those we love are not in danger? Or do we step in between the wolf and the ones we love and do what is necessary to protect those we love at the cost of being told we are trying to control them?
I DIDNT REALLY UNDERSTAND THIS SERIES OF QUESTIONS KEVIN. I THINK THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU NEED TO GO INTO PROTECTION MODE, BUT OTHER TIMES YOU MAY THINK YOU KNOW WHATS RIGHT OR WHAT MAY BE HARMFUL WHEN IN FACT ITS NOT YOUR DECISION TO MAKE. (BUT I AM NOT REALLY SURE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SO...)
SHOULDNT RELIGION HELP YOU WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS? THATS MY UNDERSTANDING AT LEAST. I AM NOT SURE WHY THEY NEED TO BE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER. EVEN IF THE PEOPLE IN THE RELATIONSHIP PRACTICE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS...
IT DID JUST OCCUR TO ME THAT I AM TALKING ABOUT RELIGION AND YOU WERE REFERRING TO GOD... HUMMM... PERHAPS A BIG DIFFERENCE.
IT ALSO OCCURRED TO ME THAT I AM RAMBLING SO I AM GOING TO GO! LOL
Kate,
Yes, I wasn't asking about religion per se, I was asking about personal opinions on what are God's desires regarding those questions?
Yes, they were partially facetious, I don't think God is harsh to those who believe in Him (whatever capacity that may be).
I guess one of the reasons I asked these questions, is I have seen some people take their marriage for granted (I know I certainly did... expecting that just because I married someone I could expect that they would always be "in" the marriage or that I would always be "in" the marriage) and be serving God with their entire lives only to have their marriage dissolve because of choices they or their spouse made.
yes, I suppose "religion" is suppose to help us in marriage... but ultimately, I think, marriage is a choice, serving God is a choice, and neither is infallible... We are, of course, only human.
So, my post was regarding, if you couldn't see it yet, BALANCE.
Balancing God, marriage, life, happiness, wholeness, completeness, desire, anger, children, work, etc.. was on my ind when I was focusing on God and Marriage. Another blogger had stated their feelings regarding their marriage and their serving God.
The "wolf in sheep's clothing" was more focused on whether or not we blindly serve God and blindly serve marriage... thus Serving two masters.
I guess I had the ingredients on the counter and put them in the mixing bowl without giving instructions about what I was making LOL
Thanks Kate,
I always enjoy your feedback and insight... more than welcomed.
Kevin
In my mind, God is the constant. He wont divorce you if you arent 'in' the marriage... or even if one of you does something wrong. He is there so long as you want him there (and then some probably.).
I think that religion is what sometimes gets people confused and feeling guilty about not doing enough... believing enough... giving enough... I say all of this but then I also am not a big fan of organized religion. This may sound really bad... (but of course I am going to say it anyway) I think that we often neglect God because he doesnt complain about it. The squeeky wheel gets the oil.
As for serving 2 masters... and balance... I liken it to the ole pecking order of life. I dont think that 2 people/responsibilities can assume the same rank... so you have to assign them their order of importance. Kids, self, spouse, god, friends, work, volunteering... each has to be ranked. Then you take 100% of your time/effort and divide it among the participants... It changes daily, monthly, yearly depending on how things are going (ie if you arent working then work may be last and get no time... when you have a big project or are traveling for business then it might be in the top tier)
I have a friend who literally charts her interaction time with clients, friends, church and her family (she once had a fight with her spouse about not spending enough time at home so she is sure that she does by tracking it...) I wonder if its easier for women in some ways though as we are natural multitaskers. idk
Ok so what did you conclude? The statement,"Completeness in either still seems to be fleeting at times" struck me. I do wonder if one can have complete satisfaction... be completely happy. There always seems to be someone doing it better, a greener pasture... more to offer elsewhere or even from ourselves... Happiness comes from within but even when things are good I feel like I second guess myself. Perhaps happiness is in a persons nature... like drive and ambition... curiosity and risk taking.
Ohhh rambling again... lol I would like to write a post about all of this now, but I am too hormonal and mushy... I think I will post a picture or write something simple.
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