Foggy Mornings

In the last post, I wrote about some impressions I had while walking in the fog. That morning, I also had a few practical thoughts:

When you can’t see where you are going, it’s best to stay out of traffic, go slowly, and take small steps.

On that foggy morning, if I were driving on the highway instead of walking on a rural path, it would have been much more dangerous. I could have chosen to stay in my home and not step outside at all--this would have been the safest course. But then, I would not have experienced the fog and what it had to teach me.

In times of uncertainty--we may have to slow down, but we don’t have to stop moving. We can take small steps while holding on to Jesus.  

Shekinah

Shekinah is a hard word to describe. It is a transliteration of a Hebrew noun that means dwelling or settling. Other meanings include: Divine Presence, light, Holy Spirit, glory.

I’ve been pondering this word for several days, and I can sense there is something important about it that I need to understand. Yet, it remains out of my grasp.

The other day, I was walking the dog in our neighborhood. It was a cool, foggy morning, and I could feel the mist around me. There was a reassuring weight and density to this fog. It muffled sounds and veiled my path--all I could sense was the present space I was occupying. The weight of this blanket did not feel oppressive; it was comforting, insulating, and intimate. I felt rejuvenated and energized by the cool mist.

I could only see a few feet in front of me. Usually, this level of uncertainty freaks me out. Yet, this time it felt safe. I got the feeling that both  knowing and unknowing are from God.

When we settle into the Divine Presence, when we become part of the Shekinah of God--His light illuminates our next step; his glorious weight covers us; His Spirit refreshes us.  

Not There Yet

Telephoto lenses are great for shooting scenes that are far away. A photographer can focus the lens on a scene and get enlarged images of a subject. However, not everything benefits from magnification. Sometimes my husband takes close-up shots of my face. Every blemish and pore appears enlarged.

In life, whatever we choose to focus on appears magnified. When we fixate over problems, they appear bigger. When we concentrate on our blessings, they are enlarged. The opposite is also true. If we take our blessings for granted, they seem diminished. If we refuse to obsess over our problems they seem less formidable.

I am not advocating that anyone live in denial. Yet, even under difficult circumstances, we can choose what we pay attention to. Every person experiences setbacks and disappointments, but not all bounce back.

Refocusing on the positive rather than the negative, the controllable rather than the uncontrollable, the changeable rather than the unchangeable, can boost our emotions and improve our resilience.

Focusing on what we can do to move forward is useful. However, focusing on God, experiencing Him up close--can help us gain a different perspective. Some people have learned to use their trials and afflictions as a magnifying glass to study God’s glory up close. I’m not there yet.

Hacked

Every day, you hear of some new online scam which attempts to gain remote access to your computer. Recently, there was one that appeared as a pop-up warning that your computer has been infected with a Trojan horse. (In computing, a Trojan horse is a destructive program masquerading as a benign application.) The pop-up window then instructs you to call the manufacturer at a given number. The information appears credible since the scammers use the name of a reputable company. However, once the number is called, they attempt to remotely access your computer as well as solicit a payment for fixing your computer.

I noticed several parallels between this particular online scam and how evil sneakily manipulates our minds. A thought pops up in our minds. Instead of immediately closing this thought down, we pay attention to it, follow up on it, and take actions based on it. Soon, evil has remote access to our minds--like a Trojan horse, some seemingly harmless thought is used to carry severely damaging material into our minds and lives. This leads to actions that are based on fear and panic. We are no longer able to operate from a place of peace, wholeness, trust, and wisdom.

Just like the scammers, evil will not try this same, exact tactic next time, It will come in some new form. Now, if only I could recognize it every time.

(A special thanks to my friend, Laura, for sharing her experience with me.)

Christmas Song

Merry Christmas!
May Christ be born in each of us!
Here is a link to Francesca Batistelli's song:  'Be Born in Me' (Mary)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsXOP7aQeqQ

Who Is It?

If someone knocks at your front door, you usually check to see who it is before you open the door. If it is someone trustworthy or familiar, we open the door. Trust facilitates openness, and openness allows us to be filled.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13 NLT)

When God, the source of hope, knocks--we have to trust Him before we can open our hearts, minds, and hands to receive Him. Then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are filled until we overflow with joy, wholeness, and confident hope.

Now, if someone shady comes to your door and tries to convince you to open the door--flattering your ego, peddling half-truths, preying on your fears--then you bar the door and quickly make sure every other entry point in your home is sealed and locked as well.

The Prince of Peace, the Spirit of Truth brings wholeness, restoration, and healing. However, the prince of darkness, the spirit of deception induces fear, despair (lack of hope), and insecurity. Allowing God’s presence to fill our lives is the best defense against evil.

For “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NLT)

Prince of Peace, make us whole. May we trust you--opening our minds, hearts, and hands to you--so that by the power of Your Holy Spirit, we shall overflow with confident hope.

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Three Paths

Whenever we are faced with challenges, uncertainty and confusion on which path to take can be debilitating. When I come to the proverbial ‘fork in the road’--I notice there are usually three paths to choose from:

Path One--This is usually the tried and true choice. You just follow the herd so there will be lots of social support. You will have to expend some effort, but there is not much thinking involved. This is usually the path of least resistance.

Path Two--This is where you have to carve your own path. It is lonely and exhausting. You are likely to get overwhelmed and quit before you finish.

Path Three--God clears the path which He has chosen for you. You follow His lead. You align your movements according to His signals. You rely on his guidance. He takes care of the provisions, the debris, the equipment, the schedule--every detail.

So as we choose how to deal with any challenge, we can pick between one of these three paths. Thus far, I have traveled mostly on the first two paths, and neither has got me to where I hoped to be. So now, it’s time to try Path three...