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IPS Features
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In
something I read the writer spoke of "a beauty that broke open
my heart." That idea moved me. I have no doubt that any permanent
change we experience in our lives is the impact of beauty upon our
heart. We sing a lot
about amazing grace but it is really amazing fear that most religions
call upon to gain adherents. Anyone who can be scared into the kingdom would
quickly find themselves a fearful, cringing creature in a land of love
and peace. They will be miserable. I remember a
minister saying the meanest person in the world would be in hell if they
were placed in heaven. A bad person loves to live out their badness. In
a place of love they would be like a worm on a hot griddle. Growing up in a
church that had a staple diet of fear with evangelists regularly coming
to scream you into hell, I learned first-hand the temporary nature of
human change due to fear. One preacher even flipped off the lights
and rattled chains as he screamed how the devil would chain you in the
pits. He could get people down to the altar but the next day they found
that a life of fear is as miserable as a life of sin. When the fear wore
off, so did their religion. Either that or they just spent the rest
of their second-rate life living in fear that every little sin would
re-consign them to the depths of hell. Whenever I am
tempted to try to influence anyone to change through the technique of
threat and fear, even if its something as simple as quitting smoking, I
remind myself "it's the beauty, stupid." If someone quits
smoking due to nothing but the fear of dying, they will not stay with
it. If they quit to experience the beauty of breathing deeply without
wheezing, the beauty of lovely pink lungs, the beauty of being able to
smell and taste again, and the beauty of feeling they are in control of
their lives rather than being controlled by a tiny white stick, there is
a much better chance they will stay with it. It is the beauty
of the spirit and words of Jesus that drew me to his way of life. He
said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men." There was an
evangelist I loved even when I was a small child. His name was Uncle Bud
Robinson. He was tongue-tied but lovely truths bubbled out of his
inner being like a deepweater spring. In my young mind I remember
thinking, "It would be wonderful to find the kind of joy this sweet
man has found." Yes indeed, it is
the beauty that breaks open the heart. Dalton's website
is www.daltonroberts.com
and his writings are gathered at www.ipsfeatures.com.
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