LIFE 2.0 – Principles of Growth

Toxic lies and faulty interpretations of harmful and traumatic events in our lives.

It is possible to honor ones feelings and experience that result from false interpretations of traumatic events- while changing their ultimate accuracy.  I feel like everyone is judging and rejecting me, for it matches my previous experience or interpretation of last events, but rationally I know that not to be true.  Therfore I embrace the ultimate reality in exchange of my distorted one, while completely accepting any and all feelings that I might be having. I am not my feelings.

A song emerges within our hearts.

Without striving the plant grows when in the right soil and atmosphere – receiving everything it was created to need.  Without shame, something emerges from nothing.  As a plant was created to grow, so are our souls designed to grow into the unique man or woman God purposed us to be. No two souls are alike.

This is common for those who have been exposed to and develop a hatred for the “religious” spirit in operation.  The tendency is to throw away a condemning truth for a license to engage in whatever feels good- dismissing any and all long term consequences.  In am attempt to get out from under the burdonsome and condemning law, one falls into the other trap of dismissing the wages of sin.

The two ditches of lawlessness and legalisim. Easy to fall into for those who seek to be righteous.

For the dark nights of the soul.

http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/pouring-out-your-heart-in-lament-to-god.html

I turn away from judging the emptiness I feel inside. There are large parts of my heart that feel lifeless.  Dark, empty, alone, fearful, and without hope.

Would you reach your arms into these places within my soul?  Would you allow me to experience the warmth of your embrace?  Would you bring life out of this nothingness, the deadness I feel inside?

In faith and value I refuse to judge or condemn these parts of me.  I trust in the sovereignty of your grace to embrace the pain I carry within.  I turn away from all messages of shame and judgement.  I don’t need to split these feelings off.  I don’t need to be ashamed when I lose that smile within me.  You cover me as I am.  You’ve taught me that I am not my pain.  It is a part of my story but not my identity.

Breath life to these dead bones as only you can my Father.

I trust in you for you are good.

Instead of judging that which isn’t ideal, may my heart soften to accept and value that which is real.

Pain, loss, hurt, disappointment- things that the mind seeks answers for but the heart only finds comfort in an experience of presence. 

The ache in my soul is one where there is no one who is with me.  I am all alone.  Nobody seems to care to get to know me.  I am left all alone and the cry of my heart is to be known, valued, pursued. 

There is a natural flow that acceptance brings.  It is opposite of the stopping energy of protest or judgement.

Acceptance embraces what is, even if it values something more or something different.  Acceptance can hold it’s own values even in the face of great opposition or adversity.  

Listen to what is happening internally.  What thoughts or feelings are you resisting?  What thoughts or feelings do you blindly embrace and act on?  By being present to yourself in this way can you sense the space created for acceptance to grow?

No matter what you or someone else is going through, love and compassion are available and willing vessels to the land of pain and loss. They allow one to get close and personal, and to carry the heavy load with others. They provide comfort and solace to a broken world. 

My story is one filled with pain and loneliness of not having anyone to be present with me.  The pain of a life full of emptiness.  This deficit has left a longing in my heart for the presence of God and others.  Compassion has filled the room, and I am also willing and able to be presence with myself.
Compassion, unlike pity, shame, or judgement, transforms the pain into comfort and peace by its tender invitation to draw near. 

A life paradox- that by turning in to embrace the suffering, instead of trying to avoid it or make it go away, one moves towards a peace that passes all understanding. 

Ever walked into a space that was carefully crafted and well thought out?  A place or space that evoked a deep level of satisfaction, meaning, and inspiration?  Why is this?

Deep within your soul is the desire for beauty and meaning, and objects or spaces created with a sense of love and intentionality- yield the fruits of goodness.