I think I owe it to explain why I had 'rebuked' this thread. I used the strong word only to try to match the words in the letter. I have been looking for ways to encourage people to hear and judge themselves, and to hear and judge others more freely per the Gospel. That requires having open ears, a loose but honest tongue, and ample forgiveness. Maybe people here disagree with that, but I believe that flames, or judgemental words between people are just as important as words of encouragement. I think there is something for someone to learn about themselves in any interaction, including a flame. I find that people do learn about others or about themselves... because I have. So if I say anything offending, then please rebuke me but then forgive it. I think I tend to see things differently than most, so to try and share objetively what I saw, let me imagine that it is an important person in one of my relationships and to rewrite it with my words:
Dear sirs, no more words have you for me
Save a last condemnation spoken with a withered, frosty finger
And a heart even colder?
He placed me in darkness.
I judge that he judges me, and his last words were mean.
I judge that he is mean and lifeless.
As well you lock your heavy doors
Through which you say no transgression may pass,
Thereby closing up the altar to which I would most readily run
To set them down.
And so you would have Heaven shut.
I judge that he is not listening and is unforgiving.
I judge that he is preventing me from forgiving him, or for repenting and seeking his forgiveness.
I judge he is keeping me from heaven.
You stain the windows with stories you have chosen,
And it is you alone who may explain them.
It cannot be left to one such as I,
For certainly I will twist them up with confused logic
And inappropriate sentiment.
Surely I will make circles out of lines
And angels of demons,
For I am not to be trusted with secret and sacred knowledge—
All my fruits appear bruised and spoiled.
I judge that it is his fault he tells stories that I don't understand.
… as if I can't be confided in.
… as if I can't be logical enough.
… as if I can't read feelings.
… as if I would warp his words.
… as if I will not hear his rebuke.
For I can't be confided in to keep his secret or sacred knowledge,
I judge that he thinks my ears produce spoiled fruit.
And so you leave me to my kind—
Pray tell, Sirs, but who?
Who will embrace me now, since I carry your name?
I cannot bear to lose it,
But what is my choice
If I have been blotted out of your book?
But it is he that judged me and dumped me.
Who will take me now that I have labelled by him?
I did not ask for this,
So is it my fault since he shut me out first?
Perhaps there are still a few who will have me now,
And our wayward paths will meet and we will walk together;
I pray we find ourselves at a well-constructed gate--
I remember it as ancient wood, but it may be of stone;
And in passing through it, may we find our burdens welcome
And our names carved upon it.
Perhaps there are still some who will LOVE by my standard.
I still hope he will make it to the gate in heaven with me,
Where I hope we see how our burdens get accepted.
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Does that look different? I used my words and emphasized, but that is what I read. What did I think was backwards? To me any relationship requires: Love, Faith, and Truth (honest communication). I submit that for me to have or be Love, to be forgiving, it is always my choice and it is unconditional. It is not him who prevents me from going to heaven, but I who may fall short. To be a faithful servant, I must have ears open and be asking for his words to serve him. Whereas in the letter I did not even ask what he wants. To place faith in him, I need to honestly express what it is that I wish him to do. So, for example if I wanted him to speak to me in a certain way then I need to express to him what that is... to request it. The heavy door in a relationship is really the ear... not the tongue. It is to his door this letter knocks on. If the ear were gone then the tongue is a loose cannon. I personally think it is good to judge and to provide that judgement... to communicate; however, in this letter I am already rebuking his tongue for not speaking to me on my terms. I do not disclose what that is or why I felt that I have been so far dealt mean words. I am mostly expressing that my ear is unhappy and that I have restrictions, which I can not forgive. That does not exactly aid the relationship. The letter reads to me like it is an incremental round of a flame... and not a love letter. However, communication is important, and on the reception side I would certainly value it over nothing.
I hope that provides some better insight.
).
