"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
Romans 12:9-10
The idea that love should be without dissimulation is a powerful one. Dissimulation is basically when we hide who we are... our thoughts or feelings or something else important about ourselves. It means that love shouldn't be an act, or a show. It requires authenticity, honesty, trust, and self-revelation. I think sometimes we understand this in romantic love, or occasionally in "best friend" type love, but less so with other kinds. We have a hard time being honest with ourselves and with others... and because of those internal mental and emotional walls, sometimes we don't even talk about certain parts of ourselves even with God, who already knows. :)
Today, let's think about those internal walls and see if we can start tearing some of them down... or at least stop building them higher. :) Being internally partitioned like that harms us, especially when we're trying to hide things from ourselves just as much as anyone else. We might fear self hatred, and the consequences of other people knowing the truth as well... but one thing God asks us is to "speak one with another concerning the welfare of [our] souls" (Moroni 6:5). We can't do that very well if we have to hide from ourselves. And how can we grow and learn and improve unless we get to the point where we can face and be honest about who we are right now? ... It's okay, no matter what. Whoever we are, whatever we desire, whatever we're done, or been, or thought. ... If we face it, and own it... that is the first step to being able to love ourselves, and others, and to helping each other to change and grow and become who we want to be rather than who we are now.
Today, even if we can't be open with everyone, let's start with being open with God. He already knows it, and he loves us anyway. Let's start there, and talk about it. And as we learn and change and develop more trust, maybe we'll get to the point where our love is without any dissimulation. I imagine being able to be completely honest and authentic with everyone around us would be a lot less exhausting than trying to play our parts. :) Let's make that a goal... mixed with kindness, of course. :)
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
Romans 12:9-10
The idea that love should be without dissimulation is a powerful one. Dissimulation is basically when we hide who we are... our thoughts or feelings or something else important about ourselves. It means that love shouldn't be an act, or a show. It requires authenticity, honesty, trust, and self-revelation. I think sometimes we understand this in romantic love, or occasionally in "best friend" type love, but less so with other kinds. We have a hard time being honest with ourselves and with others... and because of those internal mental and emotional walls, sometimes we don't even talk about certain parts of ourselves even with God, who already knows. :)
Today, let's think about those internal walls and see if we can start tearing some of them down... or at least stop building them higher. :) Being internally partitioned like that harms us, especially when we're trying to hide things from ourselves just as much as anyone else. We might fear self hatred, and the consequences of other people knowing the truth as well... but one thing God asks us is to "speak one with another concerning the welfare of [our] souls" (Moroni 6:5). We can't do that very well if we have to hide from ourselves. And how can we grow and learn and improve unless we get to the point where we can face and be honest about who we are right now? ... It's okay, no matter what. Whoever we are, whatever we desire, whatever we're done, or been, or thought. ... If we face it, and own it... that is the first step to being able to love ourselves, and others, and to helping each other to change and grow and become who we want to be rather than who we are now.
Today, even if we can't be open with everyone, let's start with being open with God. He already knows it, and he loves us anyway. Let's start there, and talk about it. And as we learn and change and develop more trust, maybe we'll get to the point where our love is without any dissimulation. I imagine being able to be completely honest and authentic with everyone around us would be a lot less exhausting than trying to play our parts. :) Let's make that a goal... mixed with kindness, of course. :)
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