The Pharisee & The Publican

What becomes of our love in one another in the process of our experience? I speak of love in it’s verb-tense. Not to be confused with the pride we take in embracing blackness. But where is our actual love essence in the midst of our circumstance? I see it conditionally, under certain standards of acceptance. Whereby if these standards are not met, love is of a limitation, and afar off.

This brings me in mind of Pharisee & the publican praying in the temple at the thought of these things. A parable of two men, with two different manners of prayer, and as a result, two different outcomes whereby we find in spirit. The Pharisee is said to have stood praying in thanks of not being as other men are. Considering his own way to be of a higher standard than those like the Publican for example. Whereas the Publican stood afar, praying in bond of affliction & in need of mercy. Yet he was said to’ve went down to his house justified rather than the other.

We’re all by chance beings of our own circumstance. & the reality is that sometimes few of us may have more pleasurable life experiences than others of us. Yet we all experience hardship at some point. & then sometimes, we find also that our circumstances will often leave space for growth into a higher calling. Even at times when we may not understand the reason behind our struggles in the Divine scheme of things. For me, this is reflecting of what it means to be an African-American. Not that we’re of anymore of a “higher standard” than anybody else here, but rather that we have an experience unique & special to contribute to the world though many of us have yet to realize it. However, when we choose to overlook this, the opportunity of “higher calling” & focus too much rather on finding a “higher standard” our own perception shifts our experience toward another duty of work. & though that experience is not as the higher calling, she is effective in her own cause.