Warm Greetings, TSJ Friends!
Before you get anxious to read about wool be sure to click on the green header on your phones for easier reading. It is worth the few seconds takes to reload.
So today I am thinking about wool. Solomon is smiling. And the sheep here in the picture have a lot of wool. Okay. Seriously, I am thinking about more than wool. So here is this week’s story in my personal and spiritual journey.
I read something the other day that has struck a chord in me and caused me to pause and reflect – even daydream a time or two – about Solomon, me and TSJ. I will share that with you shortly.
Please note, I struggle at times to connect my dreams (about things to write and do) with my action. I am not proud of this in myself. I experience resistance that seems to stem from a desire to avoid failure and criticism. So, I may even catch myself doing some woolgathering more often than I like to admit. That is not what I want to do.
And I searched the internet for the origin of “woolgathering” and what it means. Here is what I learned. There is a difference ( I think) between creative daydreaming and woolgathering. One establishes a vision of what is possible. The other is unproductive, it can bring a temporary rest for the mind.
The word woolgathering has amused me so much I decided to look on the internet about its origin.You may find it interesting to click here and read about what the internet says. Basically it started in the sixteenth century as a real thing – a less than prosperous way to make some money by people rather aimlessly gathering tufts of wool here and there that is left behind on bushes etc.
Gradually it evolved into a figurative speech meaning “indulgence in idle dreaming,“ but I think I am going through a spell of creative daydreaming and vision work, not woolgathering.
Have you ever read a sentence in a book – any book or article – that struck a chord in your heart, even if it is taken out of context? Maybe it made you stop and stare out the window wondering why your heart feels a sudden jolt of a “yes!” energy? That is exactly what happened to me.
First, I started out by reading Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus and decided to confer with my book,The Complete Guide to the Bible by Stephen Miller, about the history of this letter to the Ephesians. What happened next was an unexpected surprise. In this practical guide through the Bible, Miller makes facts very accessible and interesting for the busy, everyday reader. That is his heart’s desire and intention for this book and us. And it works. Anyhow, one paragraph inspired me personally.to think deeply about my longings and vision for TSJ.
I am referring to a sentence where Miller states Paul’s purpose in writing to the church at Ephesus. It seemed to resonate clearly withf my own purpose for writing blog letters for our TSJ community. Here is what Miller said, “He [Paul] nudges their attitude toward godliness, knowing that the appropriate behavior will follow.” (page 415) We all want to do better but the how is tough.
Miller first explained that “when most of us try to change things, we generally jump right to the end of the process, telling people how to behave.” We want solutions and we want results. Teachers, coaches, parents and executive leaders all tend to look for solutions and expect results by following strategies and techniques. Our challenges, however, are often attitudinally based.
My reflections on this became more like a wool shearing time for me.
Wool shearing is life saving for sheep. It helps regulate their body temperature in the summer and rids them of pests and excrements that cling to their wool. Experienced shepherds know how to do this. And Solomon says – spiritually speaking – our Shepherd does it for us.
Wool shearing does not have to be painful for the sheep A skillful shepherd with the right tools makes it quick and pain free if the sheep does not resist it.
The sheep does best to surrender to it. Figuratively, so do we.
So, a feeling of certainty and excitement surged through my heart as I resonated with the simple truth that our thoughts generate our attitudes and attitudes influence our behaviors.
I realized that my hope for Wednesday Wisdom is to be a weekly nudge to explore godly attitudes as well as discover nuggets of truths that are universal to all walks of life and faith.
Scriptures tell us there is no law against love, joy, peace and kindness.
These attitudes help open our minds and hearts and mute our fears and anxieties. A fearful mind cannot learn. Kindness and love toward ourselves and our world make for creative solutions and godly attitudes. We must ask ourselves, what is the kindest and wisest attitude I must have in this challenge.
Godly attitudes can strip away layers of attractions and addictions that keep us immobilized and enslaved by old patterns of thinking.
And like wool on sheep, unchecked thoughts and negative attitudes will keep growing and growing. They threaten and compromise our spiritual, emotional and physical well being.
Like clay in a potter’s hands, our thinking patterns and therefore our attitudes and behavior can be remolded with encouragement and vision.
As a life coach, I am inspired once again to surrender myself to the Shepherd’s skillful wool shearing because I believe together we can shed the burdens we carry and run more freely down the path of our dreams.
I found the following inspiration in one of my own journals from 2009 this morning:
” It is not the philosopher’s job to make simple things difficult, but difficult things simple. So here is the simple truth.
The greatest challenge in our life is daring to be who we are.”
“The greatest opportunity in our life is daring to be who we might yet become.
And on that journey, inspiration’s role is to serve us as both a night-light and a guiding light.” Noah benShea
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Finally —- it IS a shared journey! . Noah benShea also said,
“We all infect each other with the best of us and worst of us . . . everyone of us is contagious.””
