Years ago when Mike was in college he had a professor he loved named Dr. Lill. Almost every time he had this class Mike would teach me some great new truth about life. One particular day Mike came home with a great nugget that has changed our thinking. This is the quote from Dr. Lill:The world is not a finite pie, no one's going to get your piece.
Mike proceeded to tell me that what Dr. Lill explained was that there are two kinds of people in the world, people that think there is a finite pie and people that think there is an infinite pie. People who think there is a finite pie have a difficult time being happy for others when good things come to someone else. They think "if you get something good, that's one less thing good for me to have." But an infinite thinker realizes that the good you receive has nothing to do with what's in store for me. I remember when Mike explained this to me how freeing it felt. It gave me permission to truly be able to rejoice with others and to also be able to share in others' sufferings too.
I had a conversation with someone recently that reminded me of this truth and I felt the Holy Spirit bring this scripture to mind:
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Romans 12:15-16
How freeing it is to remember that my God is big enough to bless us both! It is not an either/or situation for you and I.
Jesus, please continue to free our minds from our own selfishness and pride. You are good and have the best in mind for each of us! Help us to be free in Your infinite love!
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1 comment:
That is a great quote, Rachel. We live in a world of competition and scarcity, but Jesus offers us a life of abundance (not in a health-and-wealth-y, God bless ME sense, but in community there's-room-at-the-table-for-all sense.
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