There is a place for the public and for the private, the common and the sacred throughout our lives – aspects we freely give, while others remain highly exclusive.
For instance, loving everyone doesn’t mean we love everyone in the same way.
The love we might extend to a stranger in need is different than the love we express to our wife and children. And even here, our wife holds and honored place different than our children.
Without diminishing our love for others, we hold a sacred duty to our family that’s not for everyone.
We see this play out in our expressions of physical affection as well. Typically, we’ll shake hands with anyone. But we’re increasingly selective in who we decide to hug, kiss, and have sex with.
Our physical expressions of love are not for everyone. Certain aspects remain sacred and set apart for exclusive use.
And we see these distinctions made throughout scripture as well.
The Temple, for example, had portions only the priests and high priest were permitted to enter respectively. And we ourselves are called to be holy, set apart as salt and light in the world.
Making these distinctions brings needed purpose and meaning to our lives.
Something is missing when there’s no difference in how we love our family and friends and the stranger on the street.
And our effectiveness in the world is lost when we’re just as bland as everyone else – no distinction of being salt and light.
In the end, there’s a place for the special. Everything is not for everyone and some things are rightly set apart and sacred.
We miss glimpses into God’s holiness when we treat everything as common.
Discover and protect the sacred throughout your life. This gives your strength the depth, focus, and freedom needed to bless everyone.
