The Honeymoon is Over

For the last year, I've been trying to find writings by Christians who had a conversion experience similar to mine. I've found some contemporary writers, but most of the most relevant information I'm finding is from earlier writings. This reading I seemed compelled to do has shed light on many things that puzzled me and I'm starting to see some interesting connections between cultural evolution, interpretations of biblical passages, religious symbolism and current church practices. It's all a very interesting educational process.

Anyhoo...one of the recurring themes these writers share is there is a honeymoon period people experience after they surrender to God and experience His Love for the first time. The conversion experience can leave an afterglow...a euphoric joy that permeates every moment and, in a real sense, protects us while we are emotionally rocked by having our heart spiritually blown open . In this afterglow there is no loneliness. God's presence fulfills and satisfies. Like the lovers in Song of Solomon, after first experiencing Love, one is transformed by Love and only longs again for the open-hearted bliss and wholeness of Love in all relationships.

Well...most spiritually minded folks say the euphoria of this spiritual honeymoon period changes. I think I'm currently experiencing that change because it's more challenging to stay spiritually focused and balanced lately. One natural consequence of knowing Love is I am now becoming more aware of how distracted I am and how flawed and wounded I am. My wounds lead me into distractions and then I fall into old patterns of behavior. Reaching out to God is the answer.

By God's grace I know Love by being in Love, being healed by Love and by exploring the inner landscape of Love as it is reflected in me. Now these real experiences can serve as models in the world and be an anchor when I stop listening and looking to God. Living and Loving are conscious choices because God gives us the freedom to choose to love him.

So maybe spiritual euphoria is like training wheels and after we've been riding our spiritual bikes for awhile, God says "now it's up to you to do some of the work...like choosing to Love me and others...staying in touch...or passing on the Love I freely offered you to others instead of just sitting around seeking to be blissed out". God doesn't want a bunch of spiritual addicts. He wants doers...people who bring his Loving Power into the world through our mouths, hands and feet.

I think the message is getting clearer...Be the WORD in action. When we surrender to God we become the living Church without walls...the living temple in which God's spirit dwells. So I must be open to using whatever gifts God chooses to give me in a conscientious manner...understanding the power of the Word of God and the responsibilities I have as one who proclaims Christ's revolutionary gift of Love and Life to mankind.

Now, honestly, I must ask myself...do I truly believe all men and women are my brothers and sisters? Am I loving everyone as unconditionally as God loves me?

Love-in-action

A woman called today to cancel her mother's tickets to see our show "Pirates of Penzance". It turned out "Dial a Ride" wouldn't accommodate her wheelchair bond mother so, because she could not get a ride to the theater, she could not come. I ended up having a long talk with the woman about the challenges the elderly face and we both wished there could be a change in the way our society views and provides for the elderly. I have strong feelings on this subject after what my family went through caring for my 90 year old gram. Well we talked and talked and, though I was standing outside the restaurant where I was supposed to be celebrating my mother's birthday, I stopped and listened. This woman challenged me to bring my actors and singers to her mother's care home. She begged me to share the arts with the elderly residents, many of whom, sadly, never have visitors. I finally agreed that I would see if that was possible and I hope we can convince a group of students to provide entertainment in the upcoming months.

Tonight I was checking out an e-devotional my mom sends me occasionally and, amazingly, it was all about caring for the elderly and what the elderly value. I read the following,

"Acts like a visit, a phone call, a card, a bunch of flowers, a meal – gifts of our time and love that cost so little but put so much into the memory bank called kindness. These are the tokens of compassion and concern we can bestow on those around us who are growing older. Love-in-action lets them know they are important and valued! For those who may feel they now are a burden, our love and the sustaining strength of God can be a daily remembrance that, "I will carry you until your old age." "Listen to Me…I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Psalm 46: 3, 4 (N.I.V.)

I know a lot of people who are depressed about the state of the world right now. I encourage them to try manifesting some Love-in-action. Love is a powerful way to make a positive impact that has lasting and far-reaching consequences.

The Guarded Mind

“Be not conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

~Romans 12: 2

“It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.”

~Descartes

“Occupy your minds with good thoughts, or the enemy will fill them with bad ones: unoccupied they cannot be.”

~Thomas Moore

“All (persons) naturally desire to know, but what doth knowledge avail without the fear of God?”

~Thomas A Kempis

“Lord, teach me to know Thee, and to know myself.”

~St. Augustine

Jesus Freshness

Jesus' approach is always fresh, surprising, new, and unexpected. Consequently, it always provoked a direct reaction.... He shattered firmly formed convictions and beliefs. He often used nonreligious language, avoiding the religious language of his contemporaries, a language that had been used so long, and so often by so many people, that it had lost its meaning almost completely. He continually used examples from everyday life to express himself.

- Joseph G. DondersPraying and Preaching the Sunday Gospel

The Benefits of Hugging

"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

Hugging is all natural: it is organic, naturally sweet, it has no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and is 100% wholesome.

Hugging is practically perfect: there are no movable parts, no batteries to replace, no periodic check-ups, has low energy consumption, high energy yield, is inflation-proof, non-fattening, has no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, is theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable."

-- Sharon Lindsey --

I've had my own miraculous hugging stories throughout my life. It was huggy fellow music students who helped me overcome my shyness in college and - this week - it was hugging that helped save the life of my rabbit, Morgan.

Four days ago, Morgan developed a stomach disruption, a deadly situation for a rabbit. I have been so busy with a play, I haven't been able to give him very much attention for two weeks. Rabbits are very social and so I guess he got depressed. That, and some additional stressors, upset his system. The cure consisted of antigas meds, force feeding baby food and lots of hugs and kisses. After three days of attention, his digestive system started working again. Happily, I get to have my sweet Morgan for awhile longer and benefit myself from mini-lop hug therapy.

Checking in With God

I've been trying to check in with God more frequently lately....mostly because I'm extremely stressed right now and stress can bring out both the worse and the best in me. Because I find myself falling back into old, negative patterns of behavior, I'm reaching out to God like a baby reaches out to his mom...for comfort, for focus, for safety. I visualize his reaction to my actions...it's a real reality check. Would he like what I'm doing and saying? Is what I'm doing and saying loving? What is God's purpose in each situation I find myself in? What can I learn from even the most frustrating situation?

My co-worker shared a useful strategy for dealing with stressful situations. When he gets mad, the first thing is does is stop talking. Then he takes a deep breath and checks in with his body to see what kind of chemical reaction he's experiencing. He objectively identifies the area of his body that is being affected. Then he examines the setting and tries to figure out what is most important...what is the greatest good. Then he tries to contributes to the situation in a healthy manner or stays quiet. Sometimes it is best to leave the situation if emotions are running too high, but he suggested trying to stay and work through any discomfort. I've been trying to use this strategy the last two weeks and find it, combined with prayer, is working very well.