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Purpose
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The purpose of these email reflections is to stimulate the God-given longing we all have for that which is truly life-giving, and to encourage sacrificing the lesser, more immediate "satisfactions" for the greater, in all areas of life, so that one may Live and share that Life with others!
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Phone: (574) 533-2812
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Hello ,
Something inside me pretends to be for me, is really against me, and tries its best to hide that fact from me. Gets confusing at times!
- Sheldon Swartz
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Ego vs Spirit
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"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." - Paul (II Corinthians 3:17)
Last week I shared some things about how our longing for freedom can be used to further our spiritual growth. Obviously to long for something that does not seem possible hurts and it may be the easiest to just settle instead of embracing the pain of hope.
When we pray for patience we know what we encounter - trials designed to break down our resistance to waiting, to not having our way. Why would not praying for increased freedom come the same way - through experiences that show us how bound up we are so that we become more broken before God and open to His grace and true freedom?
It's been helpful to me, when thinking of this longing for freedom, to consider the difference between ego and spirit and what matters to each. The ego is the part of us whose job it is to make sure our lives come out ok, and he/she actually thinks he can do it, if she tries hard enough. On the other hand, spirit is the part of us that is not at all concerned about self-interest since it cannot be threatened by anything. So, spirit can love unconditionally, ego can not because everything it does relates to how it benefits itself. Here are some contrasts:
Ego concerns Spirit truth
How do I appear? I am.
What impression am I making? Impressions do not matter
Will I have enough? I have everything I need.
Do I belong? I am everywhere.
Am I loved? I am love.
Do I have anything to offer, Who I am is an offering, a gift.
any gift to give?
Will I be ok? I am ok
That's the beginning of the list. I may list more another time.
Read down through the list of ego concerns again. Ok, did you? They really do sound like things to be very concerned about, don't they? But what happens on the inside of us when we live as though these things really matter? If you are like me, you get uptight, become less yourself, more bound up, less free to love.
Now read down through the spirit truths. On the one hand they do not sound true, right? On the other hand, deep down, if we let ourselves, we may know they are true and may long to live in the freedom they offer because nothing needs to be held onto for our own sakes.
So, could it be that to be "filled with the Spirit" means to live in the full awareness of the stuff on the right? If you were to spend some time with persons living out one or the other of these, which would you choose? (Remember, the stuff on the right is not arrogant or boastful - it's just true.)
Just writing this out again whets my desire for spirit freedom and diminishes the concerns of my ego. At least for a couple of minutes! But I want it to be for longer, deeper times . . .
"God, to think that You are entirely free to give of yourself with no need to defend or protect yourself stretches my imagination beyond comprehension. You have nothing to prove, therefore your energy can be expended solely for the welfare of your children - in fact you gave yourself away for our sake. Would you move me an inch in that direction today? (since that's about all my resistance might let you do.) Would you help me to live at least a minute today as though you really have taken care of anything that could threaten me? I would appreciate that. Amen"
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