I have often pondered the depths and dimensions of this life and the journey that is unfolding. I come back to what is my deepest desire – the one at the very core or foundation of who I really am. I guess that is another way of saying what I stand for.
My first priority is to cultivate a deep and personal relationship with God. It burns at my core. I actively seek that relationship each day so I can discern and enact God’s will in my life.
The Spirit (Ruach) is in me and shows up as each and every breath I take – that gentle cycle of inhale and exhale.
I have discerned His will is for me to pursue mastery. To be masterful as a father, son, friend, organizational leader and servant, woodworker, colleague, and citizen, in my devotional practice and as a disciple of Christ.
I have also discerned living in deep relationship with God also means living in deep relationship with his creation – this beautiful earth (erets).
I stand for kindness: To myself, to others, to the earth and everything that lives on it.
I stand for justice: The recognition that we have had generations of injustice and deep, compounding harms that mean some people start out in a hole dug by official policies and actions and face a steeper climb than others. (For a graphic that illustrates equality, equity, and justice: https://x.com/BarbChamberlain/status/1436015637814398976?s=20)
I stand for mother love: For my daughters. my stepchildren, and for former stepchildren I’m still connected to, and for encouraging them to grow into themselves, not some version tied to what I think they should or shouldn’t be or become.
I stand for love: My love for my husband, and every human being’s right to love who and how they love.
I stand for friendship: For being someone who is there for hard times, not just fun times, and someone who nurtures friendships with time and attention.
I stand for engagement and connection: In my neighborhood and community, in policy and politics, in philanthropy and volunteering, in the everyday connections I can foster by connecting people to other people, resources, and ideas.
I stand for freedom: For the right to control our own bodies, for the right to be who we are in the world without fear.
Fundamentally I stand for making the world a healthier and more equitable place for all: Both close to home and far away, I support with words, actions, and cash the people and organizations making a difference.
Ideally, I stand for kindness, for justice,
and for fairness.
Maybe I stand for sitting down and
contemplating, pushing myself towards
change, being the first to apologize,
the first to reach out.
The reality is, that on a day to day basis,
I stand for doing the best I can.
I stand for fairness for animals…animals should be treated wuth kindness, love and respect….oh and yes aren’t we also animals? All living things should be treated with kindness. We as a species do not have the right to inflict harm or pain on another living entity.
It’s National Play Outside Day (first Saturday of every month) and National Fritters Day. I want to figure out how to put these two together! Maybe a bike ride to a donut shop.
I stand for compassion but hesitance. I completely get a sense of happiness when I can help someone. However, I am usually hesitant of being hurt because of my open heart. Compassion and hesitance exist together set my mind being more complicated. I want to nurture my compassion but let go of hesitance so that my mind can truly enjoy my kindness.
Today’s question (What do I stand for?) sent me on a trip down memory lane. I was reminded of all of dogma I was fed and told was truth. It was when I stopped fighting life and started letting life teach me that my concept of truth began to change. What I know for sure is that my job is willingness and that vulnerability is not weakness. I have found that this makes me teachable and nurtures my compassion for myself and others.
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Kindness, compassion and forgiveness but also peace The first three are pillars that were actually mentioned at the Advent event I went to today.
Kindness to all sentient beings.
What a wonderful question!
I have often pondered the depths and dimensions of this life and the journey that is unfolding. I come back to what is my deepest desire – the one at the very core or foundation of who I really am. I guess that is another way of saying what I stand for.
My first priority is to cultivate a deep and personal relationship with God. It burns at my core. I actively seek that relationship each day so I can discern and enact God’s will in my life.
The Spirit (Ruach) is in me and shows up as each and every breath I take – that gentle cycle of inhale and exhale.
I have discerned His will is for me to pursue mastery. To be masterful as a father, son, friend, organizational leader and servant, woodworker, colleague, and citizen, in my devotional practice and as a disciple of Christ.
I have also discerned living in deep relationship with God also means living in deep relationship with his creation – this beautiful earth (erets).
Your comments hit my core. Thanks for expressing!
What an amazing answer to this question. Thank you, Don for sharing your thoughts and your life. God Bless You.
Such a powerful question!
I stand for kindness: To myself, to others, to the earth and everything that lives on it.
I stand for justice: The recognition that we have had generations of injustice and deep, compounding harms that mean some people start out in a hole dug by official policies and actions and face a steeper climb than others. (For a graphic that illustrates equality, equity, and justice: https://x.com/BarbChamberlain/status/1436015637814398976?s=20)
I stand for accountability: For recognition of my own privilege that I didn’t understand until I started unlearning and relearning, and for what I do with that privilege to make a difference. (A couple of my blog posts on privilege and bicycling: http://bikestylespokane.com/2023/06/19/riding-thoughts-privilege-is-a-tailwind/ and http://bikestylespokane.com/2016/11/19/personal-privilege-and-biking-it-takes-more-than-a-bike-lane-to-start-riding-2016-update/)
I stand for mother love: For my daughters. my stepchildren, and for former stepchildren I’m still connected to, and for encouraging them to grow into themselves, not some version tied to what I think they should or shouldn’t be or become.
I stand for love: My love for my husband, and every human being’s right to love who and how they love.
I stand for friendship: For being someone who is there for hard times, not just fun times, and someone who nurtures friendships with time and attention.
I stand for engagement and connection: In my neighborhood and community, in policy and politics, in philanthropy and volunteering, in the everyday connections I can foster by connecting people to other people, resources, and ideas.
I stand for freedom: For the right to control our own bodies, for the right to be who we are in the world without fear.
Fundamentally I stand for making the world a healthier and more equitable place for all: Both close to home and far away, I support with words, actions, and cash the people and organizations making a difference.
Years ago I wrote a post about the 4-H pledge that relates to this question (https://biketoworkbarb.blogspot.com/2011/02/head-heart-hands-and-health.html).
A six-word summary: Always doing work I believe in.
I expect to keep pondering the question and may come back to edit or add in comments.
How beautiful sharing! I enjoy reading and grateful for your post.
I stand for praising our Savior!
Connectedness.
Ideally, I stand for kindness, for justice,
and for fairness.
Maybe I stand for sitting down and
contemplating, pushing myself towards
change, being the first to apologize,
the first to reach out.
The reality is, that on a day to day basis,
I stand for doing the best I can.
Very refreshing Charlie T. Thank you.
I stand for fairness for animals…animals should be treated wuth kindness, love and respect….oh and yes aren’t we also animals? All living things should be treated with kindness. We as a species do not have the right to inflict harm or pain on another living entity.
Peace, love, kindness, and HUMOR 🙂
yes we all need Humor- love it!!
It’s National Play Outside Day (first Saturday of every month) and National Fritters Day. I want to figure out how to put these two together! Maybe a bike ride to a donut shop.
sounds like a perfect way to combine them 🙂
I stand for kindness, for listening well, for peace and for patience.
I stand for compassion but hesitance. I completely get a sense of happiness when I can help someone. However, I am usually hesitant of being hurt because of my open heart. Compassion and hesitance exist together set my mind being more complicated. I want to nurture my compassion but let go of hesitance so that my mind can truly enjoy my kindness.
Today’s question (What do I stand for?) sent me on a trip down memory lane. I was reminded of all of dogma I was fed and told was truth. It was when I stopped fighting life and started letting life teach me that my concept of truth began to change. What I know for sure is that my job is willingness and that vulnerability is not weakness. I have found that this makes me teachable and nurtures my compassion for myself and others.
Kindness. Equality. Love. Compassion. Along with a bit of humor.
ahhh, LOL, great minds think alike! I always answer the question first then go back and read others 🙂
Laughter is the best medicine I have heard!
Truth, peace and love.
Kindness, fairness and equality are three of the principles I live by.