Forge Ahead with the Love of God

by Letters Editor · April 10, 2018

Tom Drake, Gauteng – It’s all about the attitude, the power of being positive. You can see, or perhaps experience it, in sport: you don’t score runs at cricket if you play defensively; you can’t win at rugby or soccer if you spend all your time defending your own line. It’s very difficult to win at tennis if you concentrate only on returning your opponent’s shots.

One has to be positive, even aggressive in trying to hit boundaries, score goals, hit winners.

And the same philosophy is applicable to everyday life — in work, relationships, marriage. All the goals we desire need to be pursued with determination, with passion, if we are to stand a chance of achieving them. And most of us know this in our hearts.

Practice Your Faith Positively

Why then do we not follow the same formula in our practice of our religion? Why do we concentrate more on avoiding the forbidden things, complying with rules, instead of being positive, giving our attention to our God, accepting the love he has shown us and making the effort to return that love?

Jesus has given us two commandments: love of God and love of neighbour, and we know who our neighbour is.

Were we to practise these, we would not need to give any attention to any of the other commandments or rules — we would not be capable of breaking them!

What is the goal in our lives, the negative one of the avoidance of eternal punishment, or the positive desire for the attainment of heaven? And which do we consider is the right choice in the eyes of our Lord?

Walk on the pavement instead of trying to avoid the puddles in the road. It’s easier!