Yes, we can regulate external behaviour, but what about the heart – what goes on inside man’s mind and soul. Powerful deterrents help society to function effectively, but what does one do with the proclivity to find refuge in the dark instead of the light?
There are times when you need to make a choice and stick to it – no grabbing elements in equal proportions. No, it is a black-or-white choice; it is one or the other, not a little of both. It is not cutting back a little here or doing more there. It is not tweaking a mind-set, rather it is a wholesale rejection of an idea, ideology, or whatever you have in mind. You are either in or out, not in and out.
Have you ever had the misfortune of running into someone who was not at all what they seemed to be at first? Initially, they came across as virtuous but it soon dawned on you that the individual displayed serpentine traits, often while others were unable to see through the façade. What does one do if such a situation arises? What has it to do with balance, boundaries and discernment and why is deceitfulness so dangerous? Well, Danielle’s predicament can provide some insight.
Crossroads, forks in the road, stop signs, glaring lights; whatever it may be, it sure has a way of telling us to alter our course. Something that seemed so simple has been thrown off-centre and one finds oneself still trying to pick up the pieces. In just such a way, calamity knocked on Chloe’s door one day… And she needs a miracle, redemption and resurrection of sorts. What does the Bible say about resurrection and redemption? How does a miracle involving Jesus, Lazarus, Mary and Martha shed light on this?
In her effort to gain instant gratification, Maxie ended up paying a hefty price for it and we benefit from her pain by paying attention to her story. It mirrors someone else’s as graphically depicted in only three chapters of the Bible, yet this biblical story has reverberated through the ages and affected each of our lives, whether we like it or not. Who is she?
Everyone gets betrayed sometimes. Often by someone you trust or who is close to you for some reason or other. It was the same for Amore! Jesus, too could relate to humans on this score – betrayed with a kiss. Listen to how their stories intersect and let me know your thoughts.
What drove her though? What was in her heart to convince her that she deserved only the best, so much so that she would walk over others in her pursuit of it with scant regard for their well-being? As long as she was able to maintain her image, be seen in all the right places and snapped in the right circles, she could not care less. What drove her to such lengths, why was she so conniving? Hard and unflinching? Did it mask a huge sense of insecurity?
You sensed something was wrong but you dared not speak up. You dared not be honest. You found yourself in a situation where you enabled others by accepting their consequences.
When it comes to things of the #heart and mind, where boundaries, limits and #balance are by nature not easily discernible, a minefield in this area is to be expected. Sometimes, people step into your space, be it in your private or professional life because of jealousy and a feeling of #displacement. Often the person…
I have realised that many people have a nemesis with some of the characteristics I have just described. Someone who is out to undermine, belittle and seemingly make one look bad in front of others and often, for reasons unbeknownst to the person in the firing line.