Loving the Good
I’m currently reading a book called “Provocative Grace: The Challenge in Jesus’ Words” by Robert Corin Morris. The book doesn’t exactly hit any thing ground-breaking. However, it does serve as a great reminder to live out grace…in our interactions with all of God’s creation. The author calls us to love the good in all things.
For some of us, it’s easy to love the good in certain things or people. For some, it’s easy to love the good in nature, art, literature. For some, it’s easy to love the good in certain groups of people. But, it seems like in terms of Jesus’ call, we’re to love the good in all things.
As Christians, we’re known for loving the good in some things. We love people…unless, of course, they happen to be gay, pro-choice, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc. We love nature…unless, of course, it stands in the way of making lots of money (through industrialized developments). We love music…unless, of course, it was performed by people that don’t believe what we believe. We love art…unless, of course, it doesn’t have some sort of obvious religious theme. The list could go on and on.
But, we’re called to love the good…period.
Morris writes, “God dwells at the heart of everything in the world. It became clear for the first time that I could love God as beauty through all that is beautiful. Putting God’s priorities first means loving the good in everyone we meet and everything we see and handle…” He then tells the story of Helen…a real tree-hugger: “Helen is part of a growing company of witnesses who provoke us to think harder about the right use of land as we heedlessly ‘develop’ the earth in destructive ways ruled by our immediate cravings for convenience and comfort rather than the good of whole regions and biospheres. She owes allegience to something and Someone greater than the marketplace of the government. For her, the trees of the forest are more than raw fodder for human purposes. They are creatures of God, vital parts of the well-being of her region, neighbors to be treated with respect.”
Are we able to recognize the beauty, the good, in all things? If we are unable to recognize the beauty and good in all things will we truly be able to join in praise with all of creation?
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the skies. Praise him high above the earth. Praise him, all you angels. Praise him, all you armies of heaven. Praise him, sun and moon. Praise him, al you shining stars. Praise him, highest heavens and you waters above the sky. Let them praise the Lord, because they were created by his command. He put them in place forever and ever; he made a law that will never change. Praise the Lord from the earth, you large sea animals and all the oceans, lightning and hail, snow and mist, and stormy winds that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, crawling animals and birds, kings of the earth and all nations, princes and all rulers of the earth, young men and women, old people and children.” (Psalm 148:1-12)
is he at all related to you? seems a little nepotistic
Comment by david — September 20, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
While both my grandfather and my father are in fact named Robert Morris, this Robert Morris is of no relation. The name Robert Morris is quite common and has some strong early American roots…”The” Robert Morris was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Known as a financier, he served a good amount of time in debtors prison. You’ll appreciate the fact that “the” Robert Morris had roots in the Anglican church (he became an Episcopalian at some point). Oh, and there are two institutions of higher education that bear his name…Robert Morris College in Chicago and Robert Morris University in Pittsburg. Probably too much information here. But, it does explain the common use of the name Robert Morris. I suppose a simple “no” would have worked too!
Comment by jasonmorris — September 21, 2007 @ 2:51 am