"A great country is like low-lying land
into which many streams flow.
It draws powerful energies to it as a
receptive woman draws an eager man.
The feminine can always conquer the masculine
by yielding and taking the lower position.
In this way she becomes as low-lying land:
in time, everything comes her way.
Therefore a great country can win over a
small country by practicing humility.
A small country can also win over a great
country by practicing humility.
One wins by willingly taking the lower position.
The other wins by willingly acknowledging
its lower position.
The great country wants to embrace and
nourish more people.
The small country wants to ably serve
its benefactor.
Both accomplish their ends by yielding."
When I was in college, I went to hear the Catholic apologist Tim Staples speak about marriage. As I recall, the main subject of his talk was how often Ephesians 5 is misused in order to subjugate and abuse women.
Truly what it's about, he said, is each member of the couple having the other's best interest at heart. "When you argue with your spouse," he said, "you're speaking to the person God gave you to love. So it should sound something like this [on both sides]: 'Your will be done, dear.' 'No, honey, your will be done.' 'No, yours.' 'No, yours,' and so on."
His point was not that it should go on and on, world without end, amen; but that when you care so much about another person's well-being, you will do whatever it takes for that person to be healthy, happy, and loved.
It's been frightening for me to be asked to care so very much, though all I've ever wanted to do is give that kind of care. It's been frightening for me to leave myself open for that kind of care, when all my life I've had zero confidence in receiving it.
One human to another, it's hard to know what "best interest" there truly is. It's our challenge to find out together: With humility, with grace, with love and trust.
into which many streams flow.
It draws powerful energies to it as a
receptive woman draws an eager man.
The feminine can always conquer the masculine
by yielding and taking the lower position.
In this way she becomes as low-lying land:
in time, everything comes her way.
Therefore a great country can win over a
small country by practicing humility.
A small country can also win over a great
country by practicing humility.
One wins by willingly taking the lower position.
The other wins by willingly acknowledging
its lower position.
The great country wants to embrace and
nourish more people.
The small country wants to ably serve
its benefactor.
Both accomplish their ends by yielding."
When I was in college, I went to hear the Catholic apologist Tim Staples speak about marriage. As I recall, the main subject of his talk was how often Ephesians 5 is misused in order to subjugate and abuse women.
Truly what it's about, he said, is each member of the couple having the other's best interest at heart. "When you argue with your spouse," he said, "you're speaking to the person God gave you to love. So it should sound something like this [on both sides]: 'Your will be done, dear.' 'No, honey, your will be done.' 'No, yours.' 'No, yours,' and so on."
His point was not that it should go on and on, world without end, amen; but that when you care so much about another person's well-being, you will do whatever it takes for that person to be healthy, happy, and loved.
It's been frightening for me to be asked to care so very much, though all I've ever wanted to do is give that kind of care. It's been frightening for me to leave myself open for that kind of care, when all my life I've had zero confidence in receiving it.
One human to another, it's hard to know what "best interest" there truly is. It's our challenge to find out together: With humility, with grace, with love and trust.
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