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An artist, philosopher, and investor ‐ I am alive and involved.
everyday living – or possibly even in
death.
Devalued Love James, in a seemingly simple
statement, seems to find this exact
topic pertinent – necessary even. “This
is what love looks like….” But we will
get back to that in a moment, don’t
worry it won’t be long.
We have devalued love. Our
maker and our leader told us that the Before we get to the true
most important thing we do in this life definition of love, let’s take a look at our
is to love our neighbor and to love our current working definition of love. And
God. Yet, what does this really mean? note, when I saw working I am not
What would this look like, and not only speaking of theory. I am, instead,
in hypothetical terms, but in current speaking of theory that becomes action
and applicable definition. – for this is the only definition that
matters, even if the action is ultimately
If we were to do the single most internal.
important thing in the world, what
would that action look like? Even more, What is the point of defining a
what would the world begin to look thing if the definition takes no weight in
like? one’s very existence!
It wouldn’t make sense for us to If I was to look at us today,
listen to the suggestions of one man myself included, I would have to say
and interpret his suggestion based on that love has become synonymous with
another’s definition. kindness. And while kindness is a
beautiful trait of love, it is far from love.
So now, let’s begin by defining
what love might look like –true love, Kindness, gentleness, patience,
that is. To do this, we must scour our kindness – these are all ways that love
records, and thumb our history books in reveals itself to us in action. And while
an effort to find exactly what he meant. this can be a working definition, it
doesn’t seem to be the whole thing
This, in a rather easy and light unless we assume that these actions are
delve, we find James. He was the true, unless they are pure.
brother of the previously quoted man. If
this is the single thing we must do with But the attitude I find lying
our life, then the man who told us so behind these emotions of obligation
should have actively been doing it as and obedience, rather than an
well. We will look to his brother, a man inevitable and uncontrollable
who was constantly close to him, to see expression – one that can’t be stopped.
how he might have defined this in Instead, it is something that, today,
must be forced!
PAPERTHINPHILOSOPHY.COM
FOURTH DRAFT JONATHAN PHILIP‐DAVIS WILSON
PAPER THIN PHILOSOPHY 2
An artist, philosopher, and investor ‐ I am alive and involved.
Action out of obligation alone is This is love, that you would lay
not an actual engagement of the will. It down your own life. That you might let
is possible for us to do pure acts that we go of all the self that is within you. Love
are also obligated to do, however it is is running away from all personal
not possible to do pure acts merely out motives in an effort to make your
of obligation! A rant I know, and maybe neighbor the most whole he can
one for another time…for now this is possibly be.
beautifully sufficient.
Our current definition of fake
So our working definition of love kindness and forced gentleness, of an
today is a forcing of certain character imposter’s patience, and a livid man’s
traits that are associated with truly long suffering is merely a devaluation of
loving people. In the same way that the real thing.
angry individuals can force themselves
to be nice for a moment, unchanged How could this possibly compare
individuals can force themselves to act to that which Christ showed?
as if they are truly loving when in all We have devalued love. We have
reality they are merely imposters. They taken the only currency that could
are getting in their own way. possibly take us home and deflated it by
And back to James, who said involving ourselves. When in all reality,
“This is what love looks like –that you home is a lack of self and an embracing
lay down your life for your neighbor.” of that which is whole.
Did you hear that? That love, in I am no longer satisfied with our
it’s true definition is not forcing a lack of current working definition of love. If we
selfishness or an heir gentleness. Rather are going to embrace the
it is a dying to ones self. commandment that Christ told us was
the most important, we must embrace
If we are to accept this incredible it according to his definitions.
commandment from the man who said
it, we must also apply the definition And his definition, as
that he provided with his life – no extravagant as it is, is the only
matter how juxtaposed it may lie in definition of pure and right love – and
regards to our current situation. out of that love will spring a new sort of
kindness, and a new sort of beautiful
Christ’s definition is this. His character. A character, a nature even,
entire life, even that outside of his that is not fake, tarnished and torn, but
ministry when he was a carpenter, was rather is unstoppable, irreverently
merely a means to an end. That end inclusive, and completely unselfish.
was physical death. He wholly invested
his being in the betterment of those Die to yourself, and give yourself
around him. away to those around you. Make the
goal of your very being their
betterment, and their betterment will
PAPERTHINPHILOSOPHY.COM
FOURTH DRAFT JONATHAN PHILIP‐DAVIS WILSON
PAPER THIN PHILOSOPHY 3
An artist, philosopher, and investor ‐ I am alive and involved.
not only be your fulfillment – it will be
our healing.
Everything you yourself could
possibly seek on this earth is limited
and ultimately unfulfilling. We are
chasing pain and do not know it, we lie
to ourselves and think that pleasure is in
the process.
But no, true pleasure is found in
denying the chase of the incomplete
and, in it’s place, embracing the reality
of the whole.
PAPERTHINPHILOSOPHY.COM
FOURTH DRAFT JONATHAN PHILIP‐DAVIS WILSON