Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a rare achievement.
~~~~~~~~~~~ Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes
I really hope that Bill is mistaken about the rarity of our ability to create a life that reflects to others our values, and at the same time satisfies our "souls," whatever and wherever they may be. Few questions in the history of mankind have generated as much discussion as have the questions about our souls. We seem generally convinced that we have one, but we cannot define it or provide the coordinates of its location.
Going back to early maritime days, in the first century AD or even earlier, ship captains spoke of the number of "souls on board." This reference was later adopted unofficially by the airline industry, and in times of distress, pilots reported two essential pieces of information: souls on board, and fuel supply. The word "souls" referred to living beings, including babies born along the way, but anyone who had died was not counted. This helped rescuers prepare, by knowing the number of souls they'd be expected to save.
Solomon, ever the wise one, said that "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel." And Jesus had this warning for His disciples: "What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?" Or put another way, what would you pay to get your soul back? (Matthew 16: 26).
It would seem that there is a basic theme of kindness running through all this. A generosity of spirit, of heartfelt compassion. Our souls look back with favor on those days when we practiced kindness, when we offered a smile instead of a scowl. I need to practice.
God bless you all on this Monday. Have a great week!
NT
Matthew 10:28
~~~~~~~~~~~ Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes
I really hope that Bill is mistaken about the rarity of our ability to create a life that reflects to others our values, and at the same time satisfies our "souls," whatever and wherever they may be. Few questions in the history of mankind have generated as much discussion as have the questions about our souls. We seem generally convinced that we have one, but we cannot define it or provide the coordinates of its location.
Going back to early maritime days, in the first century AD or even earlier, ship captains spoke of the number of "souls on board." This reference was later adopted unofficially by the airline industry, and in times of distress, pilots reported two essential pieces of information: souls on board, and fuel supply. The word "souls" referred to living beings, including babies born along the way, but anyone who had died was not counted. This helped rescuers prepare, by knowing the number of souls they'd be expected to save.
Solomon, ever the wise one, said that "Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel." And Jesus had this warning for His disciples: "What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?" Or put another way, what would you pay to get your soul back? (Matthew 16: 26).
It would seem that there is a basic theme of kindness running through all this. A generosity of spirit, of heartfelt compassion. Our souls look back with favor on those days when we practiced kindness, when we offered a smile instead of a scowl. I need to practice.
God bless you all on this Monday. Have a great week!
NT
Matthew 10:28
