Hello TSJ Wisdom Seekers,
Have I told you how much I appreciate you taking some time – when you can – to read our Wednesday 
Wisdom blog?
Thank you so very much for your emails and texts this week. They are appreciated and never taken for granted.
How we must encourage one another!
Time is precious to all of us these days. So I am deeply grateful for the time you call or write emails and share your stories.
I pray each week for you to find a nugget of wisdom or a bit of hope.
Today’s Story:
A few days ago I awoke after a night of what seemed to be realistic dreams in which I was trying to solve some big problem. Then I woke up feeling tired and generally discouraged. It must have triggered some unconscious battles because I couldn’t shake off the feelings. And was all this mental struggle a waste of time? No.
It presented a challenge for my soul that I was ready to face. By “soul” I mean our inner God Space. The place of Spirit. The Essence of who we are as expressions of God in the world – made in His image.
Perhaps you remember that I wrote about habits last week, In keeping with my new resolve to make a “tiny change” and start a habit of writing at least two sentences a day, I went into our TSJ office, picked up my pen and journal and scribbled down a few superficial lines.
Then suddenly in the momentum of that small exercise, I faced the naked truth of what I was feeling – a sense of despair. I wrote, “Dear God, I am desperately facing my inefficiencies. I so wish I could feel accomplished at something.” And yes, I “heard” myself.
Where did that critical voice that come from? My mind of course… yes, the brain… the battleground where private skirmishes and wars take place between God and the other one… you know… the liar, the deceiver and the tempter. The voice of discouragement and despair. You see, I had awakened ticked off at myself about all the things I say I want to do and how few of them I actually do. And to add insult to injury, I began thinking about others who manage to be extremely successful and accomplished. This is a deadly trap. The cheese that I cannot resist.
I entered Silence and sought Wisdom where it resides in all of us – our soul. I “heard” an inner voice say, “Despair won’t get you there.” Wow.
Then I remembered also that the first two questions God asked us early humans (Adam and Eve),
Question One: “Where are you…?” (Answer? Hiding because of shame.)
Question Two: “Who told you that .. you were naked?” Clearly suggesting that some voice other than His had led Adam and Eve astray from the peace and love and innocence God created for us.
Hmmm. Who told me that in order to be “successful” I need to have accomplished what others accomplish? Who told me that this is a sign of inferiority? Inadequacy? Imperfection? Like Adam and Eve of old hid their nakedness, we hide our thoughts and actions from others. Mostly from ourselves.
As I age, I “hear” scripture stories with different ears. Kinder ears. Less punitive. I will write more about that as time goes on. So those questions no longer sound like an angry God voice but now impress me as a compassionate Voice of understanding.
Then to put the “amen” on my soul search for a way to move through despair to hope, I had an impulse to pick up a mediation book by Sarah Young (whose style is to speak as though it is direct from the Lord) and opened to a message that struck like a bolt of lightning:
“A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me; even if many things remain undone at the end of each day…The various means of worldly ‘success’ pull on you constantly, leaving you in a fragmented, unfocused condition… To avoid confusion, you need a rule of thumb…seek to please me. .. The Light of my presence illuminates the path before you.“ (From Jesus Lives – excerpts from a section called Pleasing Him).
So, remember if you have dreams and things you want to accomplish … despair won’t get you there!
But being Still and listening to your inner source of wisdom just may bring the light that reveals the dustballs in your mind. And you can hear the thoughtful questions Who told you that?
- God already knew where Adam and Eve were when He came to speak with them in the garden but they did what we do with all of our inner secrets – those thoughts and actions we would prefer no one know about; They hid. So God asked “Where are you?” so they could admit where they were. They admitted why they were hiding.
- Then God gently asks us …. “Who told you that….?” Notice again, when they had shame about their nakedness it was not Him that put that on them. The deceiver had contaminated their thinking. And ours.
What a gift of grace we have in the inner sanctuary of our souls. May we listen to the thoughtful questions of “Where are you!” and “Who told you that?” Our answers, if honest, will set our soul’s GPS toward hope and wisdom, light and guidance.
Happy Shepherding,
Margie and Solomon
