Jack’s Winning Words 7/7/16
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”  (Emily Bronte)  The idea of a soulmate goes back to Plato who says that humans used to have 4 arms, 4 legs and 2 faces, but an angry Zeus split them apart with a thunderbolt, and, ever since, humans have spent their lives seeking the other half that makes them whole.  An early Church father wrote:  “Our souls are restless, O Lord, until they rest in thee.”  Maybe that’s where the search should begin.    ;-)  Jack

FROM JFREEDSTER:  Bet I'm the first one to read your WW today!====JACK:  5:04 AM!  You get the prize.

FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  Actually, Bronte's quote and the early Church Father's sort of come together in my mind because it seems like I get the most peace when I am able to believe that my soulmate and myself are both turned towards the One God. It's not that my soulmate and myself are alike but that we alike turn towards something and, when I have trouble believing that is actually a reality, then is when faith in the One God's actions in this world kicks in to "work on both of us" so that eventually we get to the place of peace again where we both are turned in the right direction. It's been like this for 49 years now and seems to be an effective way to live but with so many differences in people maybe wouldn't be to a lot of people's liking. It has been sort of a narrow path. I happen to believe the same scenario could certainly apply also to folks of different sexual orientations, in getting to know them anyway. What's always amazing is that initial attraction that starts the whole life journey off on this kind of footing.  Enjoyed your WW today.====JACK:  You're one of a kind...at least in my experience.  How did you happen to find the matching part?  Somewhat related...Have you ever read The Hound of Heaven?====SHARON:  Met my husband when I was a sophomore at a small Iowa high school, my family had just moved into town, and we both were attending the Bible study of about six teenagers, before worship, it was a Church of Christ. Somehow we both explored a lot of churches, sort of in tandem, until landing in the ELCA. I'll check out the book you named to see how it relates.====JACK:  I was born in Iowa, but I discovered my other half in Wisconsin.
 FROM HONEST JOHN:  It most certainly is where it must end.====JACK:  "I am (the great I AM) the beginning...and the end...the Alpha and the Omega."

FROM HY YO SILVER:  Plato gets this concept from a literal interpretation of Genesis' Creation Story.  Ish = Man   Isha = Woman (literally, "Of Man")   Woman is literally carved out of Man.  But a close reading of the plain language suggests that "Man" was actually androgynous and the "First Individual" had both complete sets of genders.  One day, you and I should sit down in-person and study some Pentateuch!====JACK:  One of the lessons I learned in seminary...By our studies, we will never completely understand God.  A faith concept is that there is a creator (God).  Another aspect of faith is that that we are to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Having learned this, we can move to the details, like...What does it mean to love God, to love our neighbor, to love ourselves?

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  How interesting. I hadn't known that Plato idea ! I think St. Augustine's original quote expressed "Our HEARTS are restless until they rest in Thee". But same idea for sure, and maybe you are quoting another person ! :-)  One is indeed fortunate if they find their soul mate for life! Especially on the "first try"! ( HA.)  My Lutheran pastor-niece from Texas just visited for a few days, and we had some discussions about how wonderful it is to "live in the Faith" and know the promises of God. Or "Source" as some refer to the Almighty  Creator.  Some day we will "know, even as we are fully known". Live Love !====JACK:  The Church Father I referred to was St Augustine of Hippo, a convert to Christianity.  I was curious if  Augsburg, Germany was named after him.  Nope.  August was a name from the Latin, meaning, great.  Augsburg was named after one of the Caesars.  Augustana College got its name from the Augsburg Confession, (Confessio Augustana).  Referring to the Latin origin of its name, Augie is a great college.