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1) List all the one word descriptions you received in your Me Meme. Include duplicates, because if 8 out of 16 people tell you you are passionate, you have a theme. It's up to you whether you include the joking response...if you cannot fit in the jokes, don't sweat it).
Friendly
restless
spiritual
poetic
kind
helpful
Beloved
loving
loving
stand-up woman
strong
rounded
2) Paint us your portrait in words, based only on the impressions given by those one word descriptions (don't include your own truth, yet—just paint a word picture that tells us what your Me Meme results tell you about how people see you).
I'm seeing someone who, from the security of being well-regarded, is warm and welcoming, someone generally non-judgemental, but not willing to accept crap. Perhaps also tugging a bit against the maternal role. Someone given to internal dialog as much as discourse, and given to the practical application of experience rather than being content to theorize.
3) Now you get to add your own two cents. Tell us where/how this picture accurately represents you, and where it veers from the real you.
I understand where loving would come from, and I'm not sure it's true, but it's something I work on. I find the kind, helpful and friendly possibly more perceptive, as I tend to be a Martha, to express love and concern in practical ways. Someone keyed in on the restless, yes, that's a definite part of me. The strong and stand-up is gratifying because it's hard-earned--I still often think of myself as small, weak, ineffectual. I'm hoping that spiritual and poetic, especially since each was mentioned only once, don't come across as wilting-lily ("bulge in't"), and recently I find myself snorting occasionally in annoyance at these facets of my persona, although they're definitely there. I'm choosing to accept "rounded" as positively describing my perceived persona, rather than the more literal physical descriptor. *G*
Friendly
restless
spiritual
poetic
kind
helpful
Beloved
loving
loving
stand-up woman
strong
rounded
2) Paint us your portrait in words, based only on the impressions given by those one word descriptions (don't include your own truth, yet—just paint a word picture that tells us what your Me Meme results tell you about how people see you).
I'm seeing someone who, from the security of being well-regarded, is warm and welcoming, someone generally non-judgemental, but not willing to accept crap. Perhaps also tugging a bit against the maternal role. Someone given to internal dialog as much as discourse, and given to the practical application of experience rather than being content to theorize.
3) Now you get to add your own two cents. Tell us where/how this picture accurately represents you, and where it veers from the real you.
I understand where loving would come from, and I'm not sure it's true, but it's something I work on. I find the kind, helpful and friendly possibly more perceptive, as I tend to be a Martha, to express love and concern in practical ways. Someone keyed in on the restless, yes, that's a definite part of me. The strong and stand-up is gratifying because it's hard-earned--I still often think of myself as small, weak, ineffectual. I'm hoping that spiritual and poetic, especially since each was mentioned only once, don't come across as wilting-lily ("bulge in't"), and recently I find myself snorting occasionally in annoyance at these facets of my persona, although they're definitely there. I'm choosing to accept "rounded" as positively describing my perceived persona, rather than the more literal physical descriptor. *G*
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To Cain: Vegetables? What are you, nuts? I HATE vegetables!
To Martha: Yeah, nice eats and the bed is comfortable. But this girl right here, gazing up at me in adoration--she makes me feel like a star!
Okay. That's just my cynicism talking.
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re CAIN: I used to feel that way regarding Cain, because hello? The man's a farmer and it's what he eats. How was he to know you only wanted meat. Then it was explained to me thusly...
First (for reference) the text, Genesis 4:2(b)-10
The difference, for me, is in what isn't said. The problem isn't that Cain brought vegetation instead of meat. He brought "some" fruits. Abel brought the pick of his crop. Cain's offering wasn't any sort of sacrifice for him. Abel looked at all he had, and took the best to give to God. Now granted, my perception of this is one of a believer, but I do believe that's why we were created, and how we were intended to live--to give our best to God (sometimes—no—often-to-always through the best we give to other people, and to the world).
Now, I know the text is sparse. It surprised me that it all took place in seven and a half verses, when I found the cite. But I think that interpretation makes the most sense within the chapter as a whole. We see the Lord trying to teach Cain with the reminder that if he does what is right, his offering will also be accepted. And in the portions following what I've quoted above, we can see the Lord marking Cain, so that he will not be harmed.
But Martha? Martha was being liberated, not punished. Martha was the living breathing proof of Paul's much later statement (yeah, that Paul, who understandably raises a lot of hackles, but I think he's misunderstood) that in Christ there is not Jew nor Greek, nor is there male and female. Jesus was freeing her, not chastising her. He only spoke to her once she pulled the, "Hey, my sister's not helping and I'm telling Jeeeeesus" thing. Now, I bet both of you would tell me it is more important to be in the moment with my kids (or husband, or friends), and worry about the dustbunnies, later. That's all Jesus was telling Martha. "You get to be here with me. You don't have to go back to your kitchen worries because you're a girl."
Still, I got your Martha reference too (and my mother and I both have Martha leanings, as well). FWIW, Martha Stewart didn't even cross my mind.
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That actually was the interpretation I learned in Sunday School (of what God said to Cain), and it still seems a little shirty to me. I'd figure a second chance, he'd know to bring the best of his crops, and would be glad of the opportunity to do so. But--I guess it was growing up with a parent whom I could never please, no matter how well I performed or what I did. I just heard "No. I like him better."
I've always been uneasy about not earning attention or affection. I find it difficult to just sit and bask, or whatever. Allyson in that way. So I scurry, and I tweak and I refill. Secure in the knowledge that whatever else, I've earned the right to be there. Don't try to take that away from me, it makes me nuts.
So very much not scripture-oriented, but there you have it. Very personalized.
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A little clarification, please? I'm not sure what you mean here, because it seems to me in the text that Cain is offered the second chance. He doesn't take it. Instead, he let's his anger grab hold of him, and kills his brother.
Well, some of the most important loving is doing, not just feeling, so I don't think your approach is anything I would try to take away. I just don't think it was the point of the lesson, is all. I think it's a point we (and very much "we" not just "you and Jesse"—as I said, my mother and I both have Martha leanings, ourselves) frequently take away, but it doesn't jibe with the rest of scripture or the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus really taught the same lesson back in Matthew, (right after Matthew is called as a disciple). Disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why they fasted, and why the Pharisees fasted, but Jesus's disciples didn't. His answer was to ask them how the guests of the bridegroom could mourn while the bridegroom was with them, and that his disciples' time for fasting and sorrow would come later.
It harkens back to the OT Ecclesiastes passage, To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven
turn...turn...turn... *g*
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I think I'm one of the ones who offered loving. There are lots of reasons I offered it. Some have to do with things we've discussed privately with regard to family life; some have to do with things you have discussed in your journal, primarily also having to do with family life and StE and dil in particular. Some of the reasons are very tied in to how you've always been toward me, and how I see you act on b.org. Each of your words seems to be crafted with the intent of leaving a thing (or person, or situation, or discussion) better than you found it.
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There is so much pain in the world. We inflict it on each other, sometimes in tiny ways that aren't so very much, but it all adds up. And inflicting it on others doesn't make our own load any lighter. Ever. It takes so little effort not to growl, to make a pleasant comment, to pick the damned sweater up off the department store floor and put it back on the hanger, to put water out for the stray dog, to hold the door for someone, to lighten a stormy moment with a joke. Every worry line eased, even for a moment, smooths my own. Every atom of pain I can ease for the world at large, or in particular, makes room for another atom of peace.
It's what I strive for. I just..never thought I was obvious about it.
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Now I'ma have a theology talk with you and Ms. Jesse :)
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