Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Is there a distinction between heart, will, spirit? Maybe philosophers can separate them, but in my experience, I think they are all words that refer to one and the same thing. Heart, will, spirit are all words that seek to express what is fundamental, the core components of all of us.
It is from our core (heart, will, spirit) that love for God arises and living in such a way that expresses our love for God takes shape. It is the formation of the core that will totally transform from the inside how I live and worship. So how do we open the door to our heart, to the core of our being, to the most fundamental aspect of who I am?
Maybe it just begins with a prayer of invitation -- welcoming the God of the universe to come in and form us. We are in desperate need.
For centuries spiritual people have known that we need to pay attention to our heart. It is who we are and leads us to what we will give our lives to pursue.
We tend to think that our heart is what it is. We tend to think that we have no control over it. But if it is our heart that leads us, then I need to pay attention to what my heart is feeling. I need to run to its assistance if it's becoming weary or I'm beginning to doubt. If I'm lacking the energy to initiate, create, pursue what I want, something is wrong. I shouldn't just press on and ignore my inner life. If a waste basket was on fire, I wouldn't shove it into the closet and go about my business. I'd drop everything to take care of that waste basket. It should be the same with my heart. If I'm growing cold, distracted, grumpy, I need to pay attention. Run to my heart's assistance. Talk to somebody. Reflect in my journal about what's going on.
Often, under all of the excuses and resistance, is a disappointment with God.
>
4 comments:
You're absolutely right. Good thoughts.
Also, I have been checking the wrong blog so now I can keep up with you. : )
I posted a comment here but it did not show up. Hmmm... how is this set up?
Oh, I see. My comment has been saved and will be visible after blog owner approval. OK. whatever, as long as you see it. : )
I set this blog up so that I could screen the comments before they were posted. We've gotten some spam that looked like advertising that I didn't want. But that stopped so I'll open it up again and see how it goes. Thanks for your comments.
Post a Comment