End Result

There is a song that I have included in many playlists that is called More Than Words.  I am sure you have probably hear it.  It is a classic.  However, the point of the song is that actions is more important than words.  It has a romantic context, but I want to immediately take it out of that context.  My point of this post is simply to say that the impact or effect of an action is very important.  That is not to say that the intent of an action is unimportant.  I think it is VERY important to realize that the intent of an action is reflective of the heart, and the heart is very important to determining judgment or lack thereof.  It is also very important to interpretation of how to take an action.  Yet, the end result of an action should be important to not only the recipient but the target of an action.  

There is a book about love languages that says that everyone speaks the same message in different ways and those that do not understand that language may miss the meaning of the communication, if they do not share the love language.  Again, this is a romantic point, but I think it is VERY important to see it in a non romantic way, as well.  There are so many people in politics and media that are saying things that are VERY contrary to the actual impact of those things in the lives of others.  Food stamps or SNAP benefits were cut off for millions of people this week.  There are a lot of people that are saying they are doing it for the benefit of people.  I tend to think that those that are not eating will disagree.

However, there are many other examples in society that we can see.  People saying that they are doing something out of love, while their actions are meant to condemn people for being themselves or to harm them.  Those are not the actions of someone acting in love.  

If you are saying that you support the poor, ask yourself.. are you literally supporting anyone poor?  If you say that you are for diversity, are you limiting what that support is by whether someone fits your approval?  If you are saying that you are for freedom, are you limiting?  If you are saying you are for helping others, are you harming them?  Indeed, if you say that you are for a person, are you even interested in what that person wants?

It is worth asking yourself in this time of judgement and control... are you giving others the same things you desire for yourself.. or to put it in the words of Jesus, do you love others, as you wish to be loved.  If you are not... that's where you should begin.. with the Man in the Mirror, as the Michael Jackson song says... and me referencing him will automatically accomplish exactly what I wish it to do.

LOVE... or don't expect love.  That is all.