Perceptive Repair

If you see what needs to be repaired and how to repair it, then you have found a piece of the world that G-d has left for you to complete. But if you only see what is wrong and how ugly it is, then it is yourself that needs repair.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe
-words and condensation by Tzvi FreemanSivan 13, 5767

The Rhythm of Life

The rhythm of life for a kingdom dweller puts chronos in service of kairos, the cyclical in service of the directional, the calendar in service of the kingdom. ... As we submit our anarchy to a rhythm, in a sort of earthy, mystical way, all of life is lived lucidly, intentionally, and to the glory of God. Every washing becomes a baptism; every eating a Communion. Every sleeping becomes a dying; every rising a resurrection.

- Kenneth Gottman from "Ministry and Mission"

Faith

I think the word faith has been misused for centuries. I've heard it used to justify and encourage ignorance, magical thinking, avoidance and many other distortions of what Christ taught about faith. Jesus demonstrated that faith is not just a philosophical idea we strive towards. Rather, faith is a gift God gives to those whose motivation for surrendering to His will is a true desire for intimate love relationship with Him. Faith is a natural result of unconditional Love.

Faith is truly a spiritual change of heart. Until this year, I thought faith was a transient state of mind I had to intentionally hold on to to keep. I never knew if I had enough faith and I was afraid I might lose what little faith I had. Finally, I threw what I thought was my faith in the face of God when I rejected Him. Now I know faith lives in our heart through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Love/Faith is not taught in books or preached from pulpits, it is passed like a flame from true Believers (Lovers and Livers of the Truth). I opened my heart to the possibility of God and the reality of Christ only because a friend demonstrated Christ's love to me. That love was, and is, so sweet and real it is like a perfume that I began to desire above all things. In love, I chose to open my heart to the possibility of a deeper Truth and so God changed my heart. It really is a mystery. The faith that exists in my heart now seems to be a permanent part of me...written on my heart and mind. Yes, my logical mind still ranges through cynicism and disbelief looking for evidence of falsehood. Like Lee Strobel, author of "A Case for Christ", I am still seeking to understand the truth about Christ's outrageous claim to be God and the key to man's salvation, but in my heart I know, without a doubt, he is God and what he did re-established our relationship with God. Talk about weird!

My heart has been opened to the Spirit and this Holy Spirit is creating in me a new mind... the mind of Christ. What does "the mind of Christ" mean? For me, it means a dramatic shift in consciousness. Through no effort of my own, other than surrender, I went from hating Christians one day to believing Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. I also fully realized spiritual truth cannot be proven by logical means to be true or untrue because it exists outside of logic (material mind). Surrender allows us to be one with God. Faith is our reward.

Interestingly, I'm not being a very loving person right now. If I'm being tested. I've definitely been found wanting. I can feel myself wanting to put on my emotional armor. I need to stay pliant and open to God's will. However, I am encouraged because there is a change. The difference between two years ago and today is I am convicted by the Spirit when I act in unloving ways. Like a father, God warns me to watch out. I know I will benefit by listening to God because, just as a father chides and corrects his child, God corrects me because he loves me. I feel no guilt about my faults and missteps because I know I am eternally forgiven and loved unconditionally. I also know the positive changes, every small step towards healing and health, I choose to make in my behavior will be pleasing to God because these changes will manifest as a more healthy mindset and lifestyle. God desires our health and love. It's pretty simple.

God help me check in with you throughout the day before I react to challenges.

Vocation vs. Career

...I would encourage each of you to think about your vocation more than just your career. And there is a difference. From the outside, those two tracks may look very much alike, but asking the vocational question rather than just considering the career options will take you much deeper. The key is to ask why you might take one path instead of another - the real reasons you would do something, more than just because you can. The key is to ask who you really are and what you want to become. It is to ask what you believe you are supposed to do.

You do have great potential, but that potential will be most fulfilled if you follow the leanings of conscience and the language of the heart more than just the dictates of the market, whether economic or political. They want smart people like you to just manage the systems of the world. But rather than managing or merely fitting into systems, ask how you can change them. You're both smart enough and talented enough to do that. That's your greatest potential.

Ask where your gifts intersect with the groaning needs of the world - there is your vocation.

An excerpt from a commencement address that Jim Wallis delivered at Georgetown University on Sunday, May 20.

Prayer Request

Please pray for my pastor's son Isaiah and my nephew Dain, both of whom have a mysterious fatigue and are having to go through some traumatic testing to find out what is wrong.

Working Together

I believe the basis for valid political action can only be the recognition that the true solution to our problems is not accessible to any one isolated party or nation but that all must arrive at it by working together.

- Thomas Merton

Waiting

“It is when God appears to have abandoned us that we must abandon ourselves most wholly to God.”

F. Fenelon

Stay Put

When you come to a place that seems outside of G-d's realm, too coarse for light to enter, and you want to run away--Know that there is no place outside of G-d, and rejoice in your task of uncovering Him there.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe-words and condensation by Tzvi FreemanIyar
22, 5767 * May 10, 2007

This thought really resonates. I've been ready to "run away" lately in all areas of my life. There have been many situations this year that have been painful or scary or just plain irritating. I've held on...endured those situations...because I do believe God is trying to teach me something. Am I listening? But commitments are my real big buggaboo. Lately, if I think I'll get trapped in a situation, I have to stop myself from fighting my way out of the perceived trap and running as fast and as far as I can. I know fear of commitments is a weakness of mine. God wants me to make commitments. So... I've made myself stay in church, even made some commitments to long-term church related projects. I've also forced myself to substitute teach and apply for teaching jobs even though the thought of teaching in a public school classroom scares me. Teaching in the public schools is one tough job and I admire those teachers who do it.

Man, I've prayed a lot about teaching and making commitments to second careers. Recently I read an article about second careers and they suggested looking for one that is less stressful than your previous career. The idea is having more time to live a healthy life and be creative. That spurred me to think about ways I could teach and still have time and flexibility to do the other creative things I want to do. I'm pursuing that idea with a clear intention.

God help me keep my eyes on you and be patient.

To Curse or Not to Curse?

If our usual response to an annoying situation is a curse, we're likely to meet emergencies with a curse. In the little events of daily living we have the opportunity to condition our reflexes, which are built up out of ordinary things.

- Madeleine L'Engle
from The Irrational Season

The Middle Ages

Historically, "The Middle Ages", also called "The Dark Ages", were followed by "The Renaissance" or "The Age of Enlightenment". Is it possible for those of us over 35 years old to pay heed to this historical development of human consciousness? Can we ride the rapid of mid-life crisis and come out the other side more creative and enlightened?

I am being struck rather forcibly right now by our societies absolute horror of age. Age is advertised as a disease. We are compelled to desperately fight it tooth and nail...that is, fight it tooth whitener and nail design. Several liposuctions, tucks, injections, dermabrasions, tanning salon visits, youthful attire and anti-aging creams later, attempts by middle aged folks to freeze time leave most with artificially plumped and frozen expressions, a ridiculous wardrobe and empty pocket books.

I'm really struggling with a growing irritation with the superficiality I'm seeing across the board concerning the preference for youth and youthful appearance in our culture. I'm also struggling with my own desire to prolong a slowly altering youthful appearance. There is no wisdom in being driven by a fear of age and death. God help me focus on more creative and productive thoughts like living a healthier life style and loving others.

I liked the following article in which the author discusses what the term middle aged really means today. It's rather funny.

Halfway Humanity
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/magazine/06wwln-safire-t.html?ref=magazine

This is also an interesting Wisdom survey...though one you can easily cheat on. Or would that be wise?

Wisdom Survey
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/magazine/20070430_WISDOM.html

Failure - A Good Teacher

Failure is wasted if you return only to the place from where you fell. If your plans fail, think bigger, aim higher.

A Daily Dose of Wisdom from the Rebbe-words and condensation by Tzvi FreemanIyar
14, 5767 * May 2, 2007

This quote hits home. I've been struggling with a new career...trying to work in a system I sense I'll have to "cut off" parts of myself to fit into. It's true...I need to learn from my failures in this realm. What is God telling me when I try to do my best and still am not acknowledged by my peers as successful in my new endeavors? Maybe God's teaching me to surrender my competitive desire to succeed and, instead, trust He will provide a way for me to both live a healthier and fulfilling life while more fully serving Him and others. If I can trust God and think "outside the box" maybe I can use my skills in other, more creative, ways.