There Is No Greater Love Than This

he thought that may come to mind when you hear "There is not greater love than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends," is that of a heroic act resulting in a physical death. Rightfully so; over time, many courageous acts have occurred in battle where one member of the armed forces goes beyond themself to sacrifice their life in order to protect their fellow comrade. However, are these courageous acts what this saying is conveying? Are we supposed to wait in anticipation for the opportunity to arise so that we can act accordingly? Do we even know how we would react in a situation as intense as combat or when our life is on the line? Or is there a way that we can live sacrificially while still being alive?

Human Trust: Can We Truly Rely on Each Other

From "The Will to Believe," William James states that a social organism only exists because each member proceeds to his own duty, trusting that others will simultaneously do theirs. He goes on to say that without that mutual trust, any group, whether a government or an athletic team, couldn’t achieve anything and wouldn’t even attempt anything. Mr. James continues by giving an illustration of a train robbery, and describes a heist performed by a small group of men amongst a large population of onlookers and victims. This begs the question: how could a group small in number have so much control over the masses? In this situation, as Mr. James put it, it is simply due to the lack of trust and fear that an individual has about not be supported, should they decide to take action. This holds especially true in an age with constant bombardment of divisive rhetoric spewing from every angle, and the experiences of skepticism and doubt building with each passing year.

Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to. Little sacrifices. Big sacrifices. A mother works so her son can go to school. A daughter moves home to take care of her sick father. [Mitch Albom]

A Life of Sacrifice and Purpose

There is a path forward and there is a way to lay down your life for another even while you still breathe. Trust can only begin to rebuild by action; sitting back and being an armchair warrior will not get the job done.

In our everyday lives, there are many opportunities to live sacrificially. It can be as simple as giving up our time to help a friend or a neighbor in need, volunteering at a local charity or community organization, or choosing to forgive someone who has wronged us. It can also mean choosing to speak up for someone who is being mistreated or marginalized, even if it means risking our own reputation or safety.

Challenge:

Commit to doing one deed every day for a week that will build trust and community. See the Objective(s) for ideas.

Post your epic stories in The Old Gate - Discord Channel - 🏆︱reach-the-milestone

Let us not stand idly by while our neighbor bleeds, and we shall not either. Only together will we find true purpose.

Objective(s):

• Tune out of any shows, online videos, or movies that are meant to create division.
• Help someone that you don't know.
• Do something nice for someone that you regularly disagree with.
• Encourage your friends, family, and followers to join in on the challenge and make a difference in their own communities.
• Sacrifice time to go serve a local charity, organization, or ministry.
• Smile at everyone that you pass throughout your week.
• Give a positive review to local businesses that you frequent.