A while ago I was wondering about the nature of caring. http://stellabasium.blogspot.com/2007/09/why.html
It was hard for me to think about what it means to "care" and how emotions play into it. (Is "care" dependent upon how I feel, or upon what I choose?)
Feelings are important. They're kinda like a window into a person's soul that reveals what is really there. In order to be a good human, it is probably good to pay attention to whats going on in the emotional realm, acting on them if they point to something that is true and valuable, and if not, dealing with them appropriately.
However, while being very real, emotions are temporary and not always true. In fact, they are often very deceptive.
To care is to make a choice about what is going to be important.
I'm super happy that God exists. I'm happy that even though I often feel lost and think that the world is much too big of a place for me, God has given me everything I need. He's told me what kinds of things are worth caring about and how to do it.
I had a teacher sum it up nicely. One dramatic day my freshman year, when our teen-age emotional tension was at an all-time high, Mr. Falkowski simplified the essence of valuable priorities by saying, "Things don't matter. People do." "Things" in this situation didn't just refer to tangible items that people idolize. They were the ideas we had about the way things should be, arguments that we didn't want to move on from, and the self-centered priorities that kept us from caring for one another...
"Things don't matter. People do."
"I suppose there are two views about everything," said Mark. "Eh? Two views? There are a dozen views about everything until you know the answer. Then there's never more than one. But it's no affair of mine. Good night."-That Hideous Strength
He has injured us...
..now he will bandage our wounds. -Hosea 6
2 Corinthians 12:9
"Each time he said, "my grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."
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- "We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have the power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing." -Louisa May Alcott
3 comments:
I say choice comes before emotion. Impulses, feelings, instinct and such are common to all animals. Humans have choice on how to act on those things.
That said, you can physically care for someone and still not have it in you to care about them. I suppose you could make the choice to care and start the process of changing your heart. I believe we can chenge what's in our hearts.
You're right- emotions are temporary and deceptive-- that is why we are not to act on them.
Gary Smalley wrote a book called "Love is a Decision". I always remind myself of that phrase when I am not in the mood to love my husband, children, friends, or enemies.
I love reading your thoughts Caitlin-- you are a very wise young woman.
i love the quote at the end
"things dont matter. people do"
but you forgot to say who said that..
and um id like to take credit.
i told you that!
hahahaahh
im so sillly.
i want a jolly rancher.
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