“Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place.” – Amish Proverb

+++

Listen to my song “Radically Okay” on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Support my ministry by purchasing my songs and books below. Thanks!

+++

Mark 2:23-24

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

+++

Many today are awakening to the concept of “both-and”.

However, probably most are still stuck in a knee-jerk “either-or” response to stimuli.

Our brains seem to be wired for a binary response.

It’s either this or that.

It’s either in or out.

It’s either good or bad.

I’m either on this side or that side.

A number of years ago, I was debating a topic with someone who said to me, “You really ought to consider “both-and.”

My mind kind of went into a conniption.

I remember thinking, “What kind of nonsense is that?”

However, a “both-and” view slowly became a revolutionary concept that changed my life for the better.

Jesus was demonstrating this to the religious rules-enforcers of his day in today’s scripture.

For the Pharisees, Jesus’ disciples were breaking the law against working on the sabbath when they were picking the heads of grain.

It was black and white to them.

Jesus could see the gray area in between.

For Jesus in this instance, his disciples’ hunger took precedence over the law.

For him, the rules always needed to be tempered by love.

He could both follow the law and make exceptions when compassion demanded it.

Love was the top priority.

As the Dalai Lama stated in his book The Art of Happiness: “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”

+++

Listen to the song of the day “Radically Okay” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase my songs on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my new book “Listen to Your Heart: A Daily Devotional of Calling, Purpose and New Life” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!