{"id":2648,"date":"2014-07-03T09:09:01","date_gmt":"2014-07-03T13:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/?p=2648"},"modified":"2016-10-19T09:14:18","modified_gmt":"2016-10-19T13:14:18","slug":"coexistence-happens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayspirituality\/2014\/07\/coexistence-happens.html","title":{"rendered":"Keeping the primary goal, primary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Traveling on a plane from the east coast to the west, we riders sat shoulder to shoulder, like eggs in a box. We faced, and overcame challenges so as to co-exist.<\/p>\n

The strength of our co-existence came about due to a shared goal\u2014to get to the west coast.<\/p>\n

Determined to get west, we applied deodorant, sat still, and turned off cell-phones. We denied our foibles and kept our chatter to a minimum. We didn\u2019t whine about the food, the stinky bathroom, or the guy next to us snoring.<\/p>\n

You bet, the longer the plane ride, the harder it gets to deny our human ego\u2014<\/a>wanting more space, raring to prove itself right, indulge itself, or go to war.<\/p>\n

But on our trip, no one lost sight of the goal to reach the west coast. No one cracked.<\/p>\n

Our primary goal to reach the west was bolstered by individual goals: visit a loved one, help a loved one, see a grandchild, be a grandchild, or tour a grand place. It was proof that we can co-exist.<\/p>\n

Co-existence\u2014whether on a plane, in a marriage, or in religion\u2014is bolstered by individual goals<\/a>. However, if the primary goal gets replaced by any particular individual goal, the co-existing falters.<\/p>\n

The primary goal of loving our spouse can\u2019t be replaced by self-love.<\/p>\n

The primary goal of loving our children can\u2019t be replaced by giving them things rather than our time and honest attention.<\/p>\n

The primary goal of loving God can\u2019t be replaced with love for an ideology or material object.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philippians 3:14 <\/strong>(ESV)<\/p>\n

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Traveling on a plane from the east coast to the west, we riders sat shoulder to shoulder, like eggs in a box. We faced, and overcame challenges so as to co-exist. The strength of our co-existence came about due to a shared goal\u2014to get to the west coast. 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