Christ as Gentle Companion

How gentle His Voice
Inspires me now,
How gentle His Touch
Bringing Life to me here,
How gentle His Way,
Encouraging me so,
How gentle His Breath,
As He speaks in my soul.

The Gentle 'No'

We discuss repeatedly what it means to the individual to be able to say 'no' when refusing something away from themselves. This is an interesting subject because there are several ways we can do this, with several differing outcomes.

If for example I am struck by another person with a blow intentionally aimed at me, I have the right per se to hit back, even perhaps using more force than was given to me. Once that first hit has been initiated, then I may answer it in rebuttal. Equally so I may choose not to react at all. I am not obliged to hit back, even though I can. By being able to hit back, but not doing so, I am actually deciding to be gentle.

Little children are far from gentle. Their 'no's are also as strong as the hit of a naturally won rebuttal. In the story of Courtesy, Propriety and Decorum we have strong imagery of that individual who cannot operate outside of their limited scope. Like a child who really does not comprehend what they are dealing with, there is a destructive outcome if mere practice is all that there is as a model of behavior.

The stronger the 'I Am' is developed within the individual, the more gentle their 'no' is pronounced. It is however very definite nonetheless and completely valid for them to say and act upon.

'No' is a given within the free-will of Man - its manner of delivery is a chosen.

Love is Gentle

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

- Psalms 18:35

Love is gentle, and Gentle is Love.

The Parting of the Waters Gently

When we appeal to Nature we are caused to be gentle. There is nothing in nature we can actually force or turn. Gentleness is an asking of a kind, for a consent within the interaction. Our imaginative processes are indeed gentle also. Meditation and contemplation, imaging and prayerfulness, these attitudes of being require gentleness before entering into their gifts and properties on offer to
us. 

By this we can now know what it feels like in the experience of parting even the great waters before us. You can go to the gentle aspect you know in the quiet of prayer and take this to other tasks equally well. The doors to the mysteries require a gentle applicant, it is not enough to have just a methodical or ritual appearance of gentility (Courtesy, Propriety and Decorum) but that we have an inner disposition of Gentleness, founded on true Love and Knowledge, rather than appearance and practice alone.