Do you live in a loud world? A prophet wanted to hear my voice. There followed a series of natural calamities but I was not in them. But after them I spoke to him in a still small voice. You may face an even greater challenge than the prophet. Even without the natural calamities, are you surrounded by loud voices looking for dominance, even those without insight or wisdom that try to establish themselves with volume and persistence? Natural disasters have a fixed duration, but will these ever shut up?

You describe your faith as a relationship with me, and you are right. I portrayed this in my teaching on earth in many ways, in the story of the Good Samaritan, and in my acceptance of the Centurion, the woman at the well, and the Syro-Phoenician woman, among others. I showed favor to those outside of the conventional practice of faith, and criticized those at the top of the religious dominance hierarchy. I commended relationship but conducted my ministry as an outsider to the religious establishment.

I teach you to love your enemies. How do you go about this? Do you find it is easier to do in the abstract than in the concrete? Do you understand that the commandment to heap coals of fire on their heads is to be taken figuratively rather than literally? Do your enemies know that you love them? They should if you do this in real tangible ways rather than just as mental assent. Does this require you to donate money and support for people and organizations you do not agree with?

Are you familiar with the story of the wheat and the tares? They were allowed to grow together side by side until the time of the harvest when they were separated. This story is presented on a large scale with the separation taking place at the time of harvest, or at the end of the age. Could it be applied on a smaller scale as well? Can you distinguish between beneficial things in your own life that you should nurture and care for, and tares that consume time and resources, energy and attention and produce no value?