"Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable."
-Finley Peter Dunne
Oh, its so easy to get outside ourselves, and point to all those who are "comfortable", and who need serious "afflicting." Your list is probably pretty long, if you're anything like me. Hypocrites, narcissists, materialists, nihilists, self-centered....wow, the labels are flowing wonderfully!
Here's the point...while we're getting after these folks who need a nudge toward goodness and consciousness (and this is not a bad thing...do it!), let's not forget ourselves in this process. "How am I too comfortable?" "How do I cut corners?" "How do I turn a blind eye, and let things slide in my own life."
And as we hunt down those who need afflicting, are we spending at least as much time finding folks who need comforting?
Lent is coming. But regardless, this is the best way to live....never separating truth and love, practicing humility and moral courage, and actually caring for those who hurt all around us.
This will change the world....one comfortable person at a time!
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Changing Lives, Strengthening Families, Shaping Culture
Stillpoint Family Resources's Fan Box
Stillpoint Family Resources on Facebook
About Me
- Ross Porter
- Dr. Ross Porter received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his Master of Divinity (Theology) and Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology) degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he first became interested in the integration of psychology and spirituality. He is a teacher, author, counselor, and consultant, specializing in integrative psychology, virtue ethics and family systems. He has taught at the high school, college, and graduate school levels. Ross is also the Founder and Executive Director of Stillpoint Family Resources, a non-profit organization that offers counseling services to individuals, couples, and families in crisis, with nine different office locations throughout Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange Counties (specific office locations can be found at www.stillpointfamilyresources.org). In 2009, Dr. Porter was named an “Outstanding Angeleno” by the Los Angeles Daily News. Ross and his wife Jennifer have been married for 21 years, and have four beautiful children. John Michael, their son who has Down Syndrome is their first born.
Posts
