The Tree of Life

Guard well your heart,

For out of it flow all the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).

We can depict the whole person as an image of three concentric circles, with the outermost circle, the physical, the most observable and the one most in contact with the world. The middle circle represents what the Greeks called the psyche, the intellect and the emotions, somewhat observable and somewhat hidden.  The innermost part of ourselves, and the least observable and most hidden, even to ourselves, is what the Bible calls the heart, or the soul.

We are most aware of and attentive to the physical part of ourselves; we spend a great deal of time feeding ourselves, entertaining and relaxing ourselves, and taking care of our bodies.  The psyche, too, wants attention and care.  The mind and emotions both want to be "fed," or attended to; we do not want to be bored but stimulated and active intellectually and emotionally.  On a psychic level, we crave two things:  safety and excitement.  The brain is designed to learn, to grow, to take in new information, but can do so only in a safe environment emotionally.  So sometimes fears, real or imagined, interfere with learning and growth. 

We delight in the physical capabilities of our bodies, but no matter how strong, how swift, our well our bodies operate, attention to the physical part of us cannot satisfy the needs of the psyche, although exercise can help calm the mind and emotions.  We now know that the state of the mind itself can also overflow to the body and bring health and healing. 

The innermost part of ourselves, the "heart" or the "soul"  also needs feeding and attention.  If we neglect the interior life, the life of the soul, that neglect will also starve the mind, the emotions, and the body.  If we feed the soul, however, our innermost spirits will also "feed" the mind, the emotions, and the body.

The Book of Proverbs tells us again and again that wisdom is the source of all life: 

fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones (3:7-8)

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,...

Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways,

and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her (3:13-18)

Many people read these words metaphorically, but I read them literally.  I know from experience that attention to the inner life will overflow to and satisfy the needs of the mind, the emotions, and the body.  The process will not work in reverse.

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

It's very simple and very profound:  The role of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to us the face and person of Jesus Christ; the role of Jesus is to reveal to us the face and person of the Father/God He alone knows; what the Father desires is to pour out into us His own Spirit/Person. 

Imagine a 3-dimensional triangle---a huge one, one that we could walk into.  The 3 faces represent the 3 Persons; the interior of the triangle is the energy, or dynamic, of the Father intensely loving the Son and giving Him everything He is, the Son intensely loving the Father and returning everything He is back, with the Holy Spirit the moving (not static) energy between the Two. 

It does not matter through which side we enter; we enter into the dynamic relationship of the Three Persons.  Some love the Son but cannot relate to the Father, but to enter the Son is to immediately be in relationship to the Father.

Some cannot "reach" Jesus; the Spirit must first make Him real to us.  Jesus told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they had received "the Gift of the Father."  We, too, need to stay put until the Holy Spirit is poured out on us.  Only then will we know/experience Jesus Christ as real; only then will He be able to show us the Father.  And, as the Holy Spirit is dynamic, His energy will enter us to move us in the will and direction that God has planned for our lives.  That is why Jesus said the only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin against the Holy Spirit---to refuse His energy is to refuse to know God.

Comfort

The word "comfort," from the Latin, means "with" (com) "strength" (fortis).  When the Comforter comes, He comes "with strength." 

Enoch (Genesis 5:24) discovered the Source of this comfort when he "walked with God."  If we walk with Him, we are comforted and given strength.  Nothing shall by any means hurt us, for we are in His Presence.

God is eternally and utterly faithful; He is present to us in every circumstance.  Why, then, should we be afraid?

Light

We are all sitting in darkness until the light of the world shines upon us.  Paul says of the Jews: "To this day, a veil covers their face when the word of God is read."
Greek icons portray Christ as holding a closed Bible, indicating that it remains closed until He opens it to us.  Only in Christ is the veil removed from our hearts and does the light penetrate the darkness therein.  We are all blind and without understanding until the Holy Spirit pours out in us the light of truth.

What a precious gift---to walk in the light and to be taught by the Spirit.  The words of God at the beginning drove back the darkness of chaos: Let there be light!  And light was.  We are all re-created by the word of light, and darkness shall never again rule over us, for He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Conundrum

He became naked,
exposed on a tree,
to cover our shame
and set us free.

He was enchained
because we were enslaved;
He--the precious ranson,
the price of our freedom.

The strong became weak
that the weak be made strong.

Thanksgiving

You are my God
Who taught me in childhood,
Who preserved my life from evil,
Who led me through the desert,
And established me in a good land.
Who has given me everything,
Who has fulfilled the desires of my heart,
Who has established me in Your place of dwelling,
Your holy Presence.

Peace

Our God is a strong arm
and a faithful shield;
With Him at my side,
I shall not be disturbed.

He enables me to go upon the heights
and guards my feet.
He watches over me in the night
and brings me safely into the day.

He is my God, my Rock, my Salvation, my Strength.