Care of soul
These days, I divide up my time in 2 specific ways; counseling and soul care.
In my counseling practice, I find that I am continually inviting people to COME OUT and be known. What’s interesting is that what typically brings a person into therapy is often not always the same thing that we spend the bulk of our time processing together. As the relationship becomes a safer place, people more naturally invite the other wounded parts to come out to be seen and heard.
In my soul care work, I find that we spend the bulk of our time inviting people to COME AWAY and be known. To come away come away from rush and hurry, to come away and commune with the Father.
We invite leaders to press the pause button, walk away from the cultural addiction to the need to be needed, to rest and recover their lives. Get away from the monkey’s in the banana trees that cry out all sorts of things during the typical day, and sit in relative silence with a few others, being lead by someone who is also on the journey. We offer opportunities like this for leaders like yourself.
To come away, even though I can function in this faced paced world, allows for the clutter to be blown away. But if I maintain this high speed pace of my life, it will only keep from knowing myself the way that God intended.
So, how do we bring our "self" (heart, mind, soul and strength) under the banner of God’s benevolence?
David simplifies this beautifully in the pages of his own journal. “Be STILL and know that I am God.” Let me break this down for us.
1. Be still. {Resource}
We will never be able to discern what we really need if we are constantly in motion. As a college student I recall trying to impress my college professor, Dr. Mattie Hart, by telling her how busy I was for God. When the moment was right she tenderly said, “Hayne, don’t you know that momentum is the thief of intimacy?”
We can not sustain this break neck pace without experiencing severe breakdown in our heart, mind, soul or strength.
So, Be still.
2. And know. {Resource}
Discern what you need in order to flourish. Do not be afraid or ashamed to pursue whatever that might be. We often disregard and minimize our hunger for intimacy. But we were made to be known.
If we are feeling isolated then we can know that we must seek out others;
So, be still and know.
3. That I am God. {Resource}
A friend of mine shared, “I really trust God in the company of my own presence.”
Here’s the thing...God is sovereign, not us. One of the great ways to practice the Sovereignty of God is to leave some things undone. To take Sabbath seriously. To be willing to let some people down. Let some plates fall. I can not and should not aim to make everyone happy. That is a fools errand.
I must Be still. And know. That I am NOT God. You are not my God. We are not one another’s God.
And we must bring our “self” under the banner of God’s benevolence. If we can do this, we only need two more things; others (people who help us flourish) and time (enough margin to allow the healing process to unfold).
What would our community be like if we would embrace what it means to “Come out, Come away, and Be known?”
In my counseling practice, I find that I am continually inviting people to COME OUT and be known. What’s interesting is that what typically brings a person into therapy is often not always the same thing that we spend the bulk of our time processing together. As the relationship becomes a safer place, people more naturally invite the other wounded parts to come out to be seen and heard.
In my soul care work, I find that we spend the bulk of our time inviting people to COME AWAY and be known. To come away come away from rush and hurry, to come away and commune with the Father.
We invite leaders to press the pause button, walk away from the cultural addiction to the need to be needed, to rest and recover their lives. Get away from the monkey’s in the banana trees that cry out all sorts of things during the typical day, and sit in relative silence with a few others, being lead by someone who is also on the journey. We offer opportunities like this for leaders like yourself.
To come away, even though I can function in this faced paced world, allows for the clutter to be blown away. But if I maintain this high speed pace of my life, it will only keep from knowing myself the way that God intended.
So, how do we bring our "self" (heart, mind, soul and strength) under the banner of God’s benevolence?
David simplifies this beautifully in the pages of his own journal. “Be STILL and know that I am God.” Let me break this down for us.
1. Be still. {Resource}
We will never be able to discern what we really need if we are constantly in motion. As a college student I recall trying to impress my college professor, Dr. Mattie Hart, by telling her how busy I was for God. When the moment was right she tenderly said, “Hayne, don’t you know that momentum is the thief of intimacy?”
We can not sustain this break neck pace without experiencing severe breakdown in our heart, mind, soul or strength.
So, Be still.
2. And know. {Resource}
Discern what you need in order to flourish. Do not be afraid or ashamed to pursue whatever that might be. We often disregard and minimize our hunger for intimacy. But we were made to be known.
If we are feeling isolated then we can know that we must seek out others;
- Do you long for the companionship of a friend or community of friends?
- Do you need the help of a pastor, professional counselor or the presence of a trusted spiritual director?
- Could you use the support of a 12 step group?
So, be still and know.
3. That I am God. {Resource}
A friend of mine shared, “I really trust God in the company of my own presence.”
Here’s the thing...God is sovereign, not us. One of the great ways to practice the Sovereignty of God is to leave some things undone. To take Sabbath seriously. To be willing to let some people down. Let some plates fall. I can not and should not aim to make everyone happy. That is a fools errand.
I must Be still. And know. That I am NOT God. You are not my God. We are not one another’s God.
And we must bring our “self” under the banner of God’s benevolence. If we can do this, we only need two more things; others (people who help us flourish) and time (enough margin to allow the healing process to unfold).
What would our community be like if we would embrace what it means to “Come out, Come away, and Be known?”