3:1-2 Spirituality is a journey. Bit by bit we build our spiritual perspective and faith. The intricate process of building one's spirituality requires patience, observation and introspection. Each person exists somewhere on this spectrum of faith and therefore in their understanding of the world. No matter where a person is on their journey, they are validated simply for being on it.
Paul teaches us that what is true for one person might not necessarily be true (yet) for another. In the infancy of faith, it's important not to overload a person. There are vast complexities in humanity, on the earth and around the universe but in order to contemplate those ideas, a person must first understand life and God in their specific, individual lives. Once a person is familiar with the foundation, the concepts they apply to their lives can then be applied to broader scopes.
3:3 It's imperative that we understand the simple logic of spirituality because until we defeat the weaknesses in our minds and actions, we will always be defeated by them. Without patience and perspective we cannot advance in our spiritual journey (and neither can we advance in our lives). Paul encourages us to confront our... less admirable attributes because until we can quell and control them, they aggravate and control us. After all, how can one contemplate the existence of the universe when they have not yet learned to focus, to mentally retreat in observation and patience?
3:4 Paul highlights only one example but truly separation is rampant among humankind. In a symbiotic world, humans have ironically become determined to cut and neglect connections. It is a distraction to think in such a way. All around us, nature makes connections, strings climates and flora and fauna together. This is productive, selfless compassion at work. Rather than focus on difference, marvel at similarity.
3:5-6 Throughout the world are people who are working to bring compassion into the lives of others. They do this through religion, spirituality, art, friendship, through many avenues. Paul wants us to understand that life, light, love, inspiration all come from the same source. Different people dip their different buckets and then travel with them through different modes of transportation... but the buckets are filled with the same waters. The same creator has sent them forth. Moreover, despite all outward differences, we are the same inside. We express and emote the same, for the same reasons.
3:7 Our lives are uniquely, intricately tethered with out spirituality. Through and with it, we live our lives as planters. Our thoughts, actions, and interactions are the seeds we plant while we are on earth. We individually decide what we wish to grow while we are here. If we do not make focused, conscious decisions, our impact on the world is chaotic and possibly regressive.
3:8 Any effort toward comapassion should be considering a joint-effort, even if it is different in nature than how you might have expressed it. We have the opportunity to work during our lives, real work: compassion. We do not work alone. We have fellow workers and we are fellow workers with God.
3:9 For we are instruments through which God's love, kindness, light and creation comes through into the earth and throughout humanity. God is not an authoritarian, He is a worker and our lives are most meaningful when we become workers with Him.
How we interact with people, from the temperament we walk into a room with to the words we audibly express, we are impacting the people around us, their lives and then the lives they encounter. What we do truly does reverberate around the world. God wants us to realize our ability to change and shape and inspire the world.
3:10 We are responsible for what we do and what we do not do. The ideas and relationships we build while we are here are ours. We work together but we cannot rest while others build; the bricks we place matter.
3:11 We build on an already-established foundation. God, divinity, creation has determined life and its value and therefore our work (our lives) either align with it or work against it. Purpose and intention have been already been defined, creation and compassion are the journey and the destination.
3:12-15 God's observation of our work here is like fire in that it can only eliminate that which is brittle. The strong, strong of faith, strong of heart, are not challenged by fire but are warmed and perfected by it. What is brittle? Greed, impatience, envy...unkindness is weak.
3:16-17 Your value cannot be measured. Through your faith and the life inside of you, God exists within you. With your permission, He will defend and protect, guide and comfort you. He curated your soul with purpose, devotion and love and He maintains it in the same manner.
I love the way Paul poses this question: in a way, he pleads with us to remember how much we are loved. Maybe we have forgotten, maybe we have not realized but love has encircled us since even before we came here.
3:18 Pride and arrogance destroy our character and poison our souls. Nature is humbly brilliant. Likewise a wise person is humble in their observations of humanity and earth, understanding and respecting both the limits and abilities of being human. Thriving between them.
3:19-20 Our humility protects us against many internal monsters: greed for power, wealth and desire. God has determined that the cleverly greedy and powerful are foolish and life experience has given us evidence that He is right.
3:21-23 It is important to God that we determine what is valuable to us, and He hopes that we will make the right decisions. For the treasures of love and comfort and guidance are eternally, abundantly provided to and by us. Look around, it is yours. Even that which is beyond your perception has been given to you.
