Posted by giveawayboy on October 17, 2004 at 04:11:40:
In Reply to: Things I love about PS posted by j on October 16, 2004 at 11:52:24:
True, Steve's insights into many things, not just Biblical and theological ones, but really, any of those little nuggets he has, which delve into the wonderful mystery of what it means to be human and the mystery of the world in general -- these insights I still carry around w me, recollecting them in my thinking all these years later. One thing I love about Steve is that he always insisted on a strong teaching of laying down our lives yet at the same time, he always upheld a Christian understanding of the intrinsic worth of souls and even things by virtue of their relationship to a Creator. Steve's insights are both tough and tender, slicing like a sword and also gently, tenderly caring and healing like a balm. One nugget that I'll always recall is the idea that often we tend to create little vehicles, sort of like little pull toys or something, where we might arrange the things we know about God, into some sort of cute construct to pull around. This is not God, he warns us, yet we continue to create new generations of pull-toys better than last year's models. Another thing I learned from Steve which constantly is with me, now not only in the hearing, but in the experience of it, is the concept that we impact others in the same way that we have been/are being impacted. This has really helped me as a disciple of Christ, as a student of religious studies, as an artist and as someone who engages with others and tries to get to know them. The last special gem that I'll mention here is one that I love more than any, that is the power we have through identification w Christ to OWN the wounds of those who hurt us. This truly is redemptive suffering, the golden nugget of being able to not only forgive but to accept those little or big sufferings that come our way, unite them to Christ and to actively, redemptively love the person IN THE MIDST of the suffering they bring to us. Truly Christ demonstrates this kind of love. Steve just gave us a way to picture our participation in it. However, Steve can only SHOW ME what Steve himself HAS SEEN. And I believe he was given a glimpse of something profound in bearing the wounds of a friend. In the sharing and imparting of knowledge over the years, Steve is always with me. I do not fear losing his love or insights, as they are alive in me each day. I don't forget those gems.