Thursday, December 3, 2009

It is easier to love a stranger than it is to love someone you know...

I'm a Twitter fiend. I'm on the website most days because the people I interact with bring up great topics and since I am somewhat of a "people watcher" (not in a creepy sense, lol), Twitter is the place for me. I like to listen to the views of others, especially those that challenge me to really think about my own views. That said, last week one of my "tweeps", @twendsetter54, asked a good question. That question was: "How can you really love somebody you don't know?" I had to think about this for a moment, because my first thought was "As a Christian, I am supposed to love everyone, which of course includes strangers." But I do not think that is the complete truth, there has to be more to it than that.

It is easier to love a stranger because they are just that, a stranger. You do not know their flaws, their little idiosyncrasies, the things that really make, or break, all relationships. Ignorance of who a person really is blinds you and makes it easy to profess your love of said person. This is not necessarily a bad thing (this started to sound negative), but it is a superficial love. The real work happens when you've seen the smudges, the stains and love a person in spite of the blemishes. It can be difficult because many of us want perfection immediately and that is unrealistic.

So now I ask you, how can you love someone you don't know?

4 comments:

  1. Hey where you been? You haven't posted in over a month!

    There is much truth to what you have said here. Conversely, I think it is also easier to hate someone you have loved than it is to hate a stranger. I tend not to hold grudges or hate anybody, but the times when I have felt something akin to hate has been directed toward something whom I had loved who betrayed me in a really bad way.
    But love someone I don't know? Like you said, only superficially, in an idealistic manner of speaking.

    I was surprised to see Mitrice Richardson's picture on your page. I was writing about her back in Sept and Oct. I have not been lately because there have been no real new updates. Hers was a strange and sad story. Hope she turns up safe eventually.

    Lee
    http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

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  2. Hi Lee,

    Sorry for the hiatus, lol, the holidays and life have made their presence known = )

    That said, I agree that when a loved one hurts you, the hate that one feels for that person can be really strong. But I also think that some may find it harder to hate someone they love, even after betrayal. With a deep love, it can be hard to turn that off...or at least, that's what I hear. I don't have a problem turning off that emotion, but that is a whole other blog post, lol...

    The Mitrice Richardson situation is definitely a sad one and I pray for her and that family. I just do not understand why she has not been found...smh...my God be with her.

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  3. I Twittered for a week ... I found it was way too much work.

    Happy blogoversary :)

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  4. Hi Teena in Toronto,

    Twitter can be quite fun, it just depends on how you use it, lol!

    Thank you so much for wishing me a happy blogoversary! I hadn't paid attention to the date, lol! I'm still a baby in the blog-world, but I'm growing = )

    Thanks for leaving feedback and be sure to visit again!

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