The Divided Soul: Learning the Language of the Soul

I wanted to write this blog post about the divided soul or at least my thoughts about it before I forget. Last time I pondered that it is easy to know the language of the body, the earthly realm we are all too familiar with. It is the language of the soul that we seem to have forgotten. I hypothesized that it is easy to focus on the body and our human existence because it is something we know and understand. Less so our soul and spiritual self.

 

I wanted to start out by sharing what I jotted in my planner back of May 16th when I first read the daily devotional that mentioned the "divided soul". It came to mind immediately that we know the language of the body. Which then brought to mind the question.... "How do we learn the language of the spirit.". I love jotting thoughts down in my planner because now days they "escape me" as quickly as they pop into my mind. So right away I started jotting down ways I think we learn the language of the soul. I continued adding to it during the day. Then tonight I decided to type "language of the soul" into Google.....

 

It's not one I had on my list but I think it's a great thought. Laughter allows us to let go of all those humanly things that hold us back and most certainly lifts the heart.

 

Music is so uplifting to the spirit. Sometimes when I'm feeling "down" just a good song is enough to lift my mood.

 

I don't really dance all that well but it is certainly a joyous thing to do!

 

Meditation is something that often allows me to connect some deep thoughts or suddenly come up with a creative idea. It reaches deep inside to channel unique thoughts.

 

Love....of course....yet at times isn't it difficult to tap into this feeling of love. We get so caught up in the business of life we forget.

 

Write...I did have that on the list because it is through writing that I often make the most powerful connections to myself and God.

 

Poetry of course is a form of writing but it is well known for accessing emotions.

 

 

When I look again at the list in my planner and at the ones I found on the internet, I have to ask myself "What do they have in common."  To me they transcend the human nature of our existence. They let us disconnect, just for a bit from all the helter skelter craziness of life on earth. In doing so we gain a glimpse into something much bigger, more profound. My list also included pray, seek, notice and listen (as well as some other things). Things we do far too seldom.

 

 Do you take the time to notice, really notice the world around you? To truly listen to not only people's voices but the sounds of nature. Do you seek God in your prayers. Do you seek to understand? Not just God but life, people, questions, thoughts, etc. I will strive to do this more and more because I think all of these things are the language of the soul.

 

Hugs to all of you. May you laugh and love and pray and seek. Notice the world everyday by looking at it through new eyes. 

The Soul Divided (Part Three)

In the last post I shared a very brief description of some thoughts about the divided soul and I ended with some questions. First and perhaps foremost are spirit and soul the same concept? 

I have always considered the "soul" as a tiny piece of God. He created us in his image but it was not our physical form but rather the soul that mirrors him. The soul's main goal is always to reconnect with God. To strive to "become" so that it can be joined again with our Father in heaven. However as "humans" we are "lost" we do not have the knowledge or know the path to God. We need guidance, we need a map to take us to the gate, to give us the ability to connect with God in a spiritual way. Thus we have the spirit. The role of spirit is to serve as a "go between" so we can have a better understanding of God's design and purpose. It is to guide us. Spirit was given to us through God but by Jesus.

Think of it this way. If we already have a soul (and we do at birth) then what is the spirit spoke of by Jesus when he says: "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." John 16: 13 
Therefore soul and spirit are two different things.

I don't feel as strongly about this part but it does seem to make sense to me. Humans are a trinity: spirit. body, and soul. The body is not just a human form. It is a bit more complex than that. It also includes base desires, thinking (as the brain is part of the body) and free will. The body may choose things that are not in accord with the nature of the soul. So yes, humans are divided but the soul is not. There is light and darkness in us but darkness does not reside in the soul itself. The soul yearns for God, the body yearns for earthly delights, and the spirit's role is guide and mentor to the soul. Spirit may also work with the body I'm not sure about my thoughts on that part. Or perhaps it is just that as the soul grows stronger the body desires less earthly delights.

As I was musing I tried to come up with a worldly example to tie together my thoughts about the soul. I didn't come up with one that totally fits but I'll share these in case they will help you in some small way.

One is a glass of water. If we think of the glass of water as a human we can say the glass is the body and the water is the soul. The body is rigid, it can be easily damaged, it has a role to play. The soul is fluid, it flows, it changes forms, it can't truly be contained as it can easily spill or over flow. That leaves spirit. What is it? Could it be the act of drinking the water (makes me think of the living water and Jesus 's promise that whoever drinks it will never be thirsty.)

Another way to look at it is thinking of the soul as a flower. The plant seeks light (not darkness). Its goal is to reach heavenly and to blossom. It can achieve it's goal through the spirit (rain, sun, soil). It is affected by the outside world (body). This can create stunted growth, no blooms, dried leaves, and perhaps even death.

The soul cannot be divided but it can be starved, ignored, stunted in growth. The soul can also be nurtured, nourished, and tended to. One thing that I jotted in my daily planner while musing the divided soul is that we know the language of the body but how do we learn the language of the soul? That my friends will be Part 4 of this mini series.

Until then hugs to you. May you find ways to nurture your soul every day and may the spirit guide you toward God.

The Soul Divided (Part Two)

As I mentioned in my first post about the divided soul, I almost didn't write my thoughts. I'm not a great philosopher, simply a person who muses. Below I will start with a VERY short version of my understanding of some of the early thoughts and ideas concerning the "soul".

Augustine writes: "Since they say that every living being has two souls, one of the race of light, and the other of the race of darkness, is it the case that the good soul leaves at death while the bad soul remains behind." The serious problem he tries to solve in the Manichaean doctrine is the idea of the two opposing wills of man.

Now if one wanted to argue this idea further you could say that it is similar to biblical references to the body as "earthly" and of the spirit being heavenly. There are also frequent references to the "light" and the "darkness" in the world.

Aristotle describes the soul as having two parts; one rational and one irrational. He proposes that the two parts can act differently but when in best form they do not.

Plato believed the soul had three parts: reasoning, spirited, and desiring. Each region had a different internal life. Yet in the purest form work together to one end.

Plotinus suggested the soul was two parts; the realm of the intellect and the realm of the senses. Like a floating ball the "size" of each might change as it bobs back and forth yet each influences the other. They are divided by facts of the world yet are one in purpose.

I want to pose some questions for you to ponder and reflect on. In  part three I will write my own thoughts about these and other concepts that have come up in this musing about the divided soul.

1. Are soul and spirit two different things? People often use them interchangeably.

2. If the soul is the part of God's likeness given to us (He made us in his image) then how can it be divided?

3. Are we (as some suggest) a trinity like God?  God being the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and humans being spirit, body, and soul.

Praise be to God as he continues to lead me on this spiritual path, always providing me with challenging thoughts that captivate me and tether me to Him.

Hugs to each of you. I will try to wrap this musing up in my next post, although it has the potential to captivate me for some time.

Divided Soul

Be forewarned this is another one of those long winding musings that goes in a lot of different directions and in the end rarely has a "true" answer. It all started this morning when I was reading a daily devotional book. It talked about a person being "divided" between wanting to do the "right" thing and yet being pulled not to. It talked about how even Peter questioned this saying how he wanted to do good but just couldn't seem to make it to that level or to sustain it.

It used the term "divided heart" which I can see but then it used the term "soul divided". That gave me pause. I've never really thought of the soul being divided. In fact, I didn't think it could be. I decided immediately to do some musings and writing on this concept. Then suddenly I was like....I can't be the only person who has ever pondered this....Yes God leads me down mysterious pathways....so I did a little digging. Below is a picture from my Bible study notebook that captures just a few of the things I read and also includes my own personal thoughts.

This page captures my rambling musings and where I am headed with the whole idea of the soul divided. Let's face it...I'm not Plato or Aristotle. I almost hesitated to write about this for that very fact. Yet how do great philosophers get to be great philosophers? They read, think, ponder, muse and wander down paths of thought, I CAN do that...and so can you!

I'll be back another time to give you my cliff note version of previous thinking about the divided soul. At that time I'll also venture out into my personal philosophy about the soul, whether it can truly be divided and the role that "spirit" plays. Disclaimer: It will be my personal thinking so feel free to disagree....in fact I would love to hear your own thoughts of the subject because it will definitely shape my musings.  I love these little adventures into thought....they are the true heart of musings.

Hugs!

Nicodemus, the Bridegroom and Eternal Life

Chapter Three

As I noted earlier the focus of John's writing is to outline and record the events that "prove" Jesus is the Son of God. It is the Gospel of Belief!

In chapter three we have the story of Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who meets secretly with Jesus and appears to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah. However it doesn't really state that he openly declared this. How like Nicodemus we are sometimes. We proclaim our love of Christ but seldom argue his story with others.

This is also the chapter where John the Baptist explains his relationship to Christ in terms of a wedding. The bride belongs to the bridegroom, The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him. He is overjoyed when he hears his voice. Such is John the Baptist's role with Christ. The joy is his at Christ's arrival and he is more than willing to become less as Christ becomes more. Are we still today, willing to play that role? As we share the good news of our Savior are we becoming less so he becomes more?  Do we proclaim the good news to glorify ourselves or God?

 

One of my favorite parts of this chapter is the explanation of how people who do evil avoid the light.

 

"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."  John 3: 20-21

 

I'm currently on Chapter 14 of the Gospel of John so I'm a little behind sharing my musings here with you.  This study is helping me form some powerful connections with the life of Christ, If you haven't started reading John, please jump right in. I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

Hugs today and always.

 

Catch me, Lord

Catch me Lord.

 

 I stumble

 

 Doubts splash

 

 I tremble with uncertainty

 

Catch me Lord

 

Make me whole

 

Support my fearful efforts

 

Transform me

 

Get me out of the boat.

 

 

The Lord has been busy in my life this past week. I don't know if you remember but I added a page to my prayer journal that included a section called Answers to Prayers/Hand of God in My Life. My idea was to start noticing God in my life whether in answer to my prayers or just His gentle guidance.  That's not to say He is going to answer every prayer but simply to notice when He seems at work,

 

Sometimes we ask and then we get so busy we forget that we even put in that prayer request. Sometimes things improve and rather than giving the glory to God we simply breath a sigh of relief that things are better and we go about our merry way.

 

There has been much on my mind of late and I can say that I know God has had his hand in my life. Several things I have been concerned about have either improved or resolved themselves! Thank you God. I used to lecture myself about praying about "small things" and reserved the need for prayer for those crisis situations. Not any more, if it's in my heart and mind God already knows it so why not take advantage of his great strength and support.

 

Hugs! Don't let doubt, fear, or uncertainty keep you anchored to the boat. Give God access and let him transform your life!

 

 

 

 

Water, Wine, and Clearing the Courts

 

John, chapter two is where Jesus attends a wedding and turns water into wine. I have to say when reading this part of John, two things came to mind. First turning water to wine seems a sort of "common" miracle for his first. What I mean by common is that it's not on the level of healing someone. Life is important but wine at a wedding not so much. Then I started thinking a bit about it. 

 

 The second thing that make me smile in this chapter is Jesus's response to his mother. "Woman, why do you involve me?"   It brought a smile because it is a very human response to a parent. So perhaps the water to wine miracle was Jesus's love for his mother showing as he appeases her.

 

Healing a person on the surface certainly seems like a more "worthwhile" miracle but really who am I to second guess Jesus. Yet at the same time, Jesus repeatedly stated that he was not concerned with the human body, as it was temporary anyway. In addition, think about it, the wine was transformed from ordinary water, Water that is essential for humans. This basic necessity was transformed into wine, a celebratory drink. In much the same way that Jesus transforms ordinary humans into souls with eternal life. Now that's something to celebrate!  

 

 

Chapter two is also where Jesus clears the temple courts. This is a slightly different Jesus than we normally picture. Here we see him perhaps even a little angry.

 

There are a couple of verses that stand out to me in this chapter.

 

"Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days." John 2:19

 

This is Jesus's response to the Jews who asked him about his authority in the clearing of the courts. They think he is referring to the temple but Jesus is referring to his body and that he will rise three days after his death.

 

"He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person."

John 2: 25

 

This was a reminder to me that Jesus knows our hearts, our minds, and our souls, even better than we do. We hide nothing from him and even though we may fool ourselves we do not fool him.

 

Question to muse:

 

1. How can you see God in both the ordinary (water) and the celebratory (wine).

 

Hugs to each and everyone of you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Light, Believing, and the Word

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1:1

So starts the Gospel of John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved." This Gospel focuses on recording the signs or miracles that Jesus performs that prove he is the Messiah, Christ.

My "cliff" notes for chapter one look like this...

• This chapter starts out talking about Jesus as the Word.  Also in this chapter John the Baptist talks about Jesus, explaining that he has come before Jesus to testify.

"The true light that gives light to everyone is coming into the world" John 1: 9

• Jesus starts to call his disciples. Andrew, Peter, Phillip and Nathanael.

"Jesus said, you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that. "  John 1:50

One of the verses that "jumped out" at me as I read the chapter was

"I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness." John 1: 23

These words were spoken by John the Baptist when he was questioned by the Pharisees as to who he was.

Musings:

The Word of God becomes flesh in Jesus and is able to interact with mankind in ways never before present in an earthly setting. This light (think shining a light on something, revealing it, illumination and understanding) gives light to everyone in the world. Not just the Jews, even from the beginning the plan was to give this light, this knowledge, this savior to anyone who believes.

Believing is hard though isn't it. I always like to say "I'm from the Show Me State, so I have to see it to believe it." This is a theme that Jesus also alludes to. He mentions it first to Nathanael, when he chides him for believing simply because he was able to "see" him under the fig tree.

Seeing is believing but seeing is not always understanding. The Pharisees and the authorities of the time saw or heard of Jesus's signs, they might have even believed that he did perform them but what they lacked was the understanding. What did his ability to do such feats mean? They refused to link these "signs" to the prophecies of old.

I wonder if I would have "heard" the voice in the wilderness. John the Baptist is saying: I am calling but no one is listening, No one hears me. Sometimes I think that God might feel this way today. So much calling but so little hearing in this world crowded with people, sounds, and worries.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself and to muse on for this chapter.

1. Do you make time in your life for the "light"? Do you allow for quiet reflection and stillness to let the light shine and nurture your soul? If not, how might you strive to do this?

2. What is an example of a time in your life when you saw, believed AND understood God's presence in your life? If you can't think of one, pay close attention in this next week and find a time when God whispers to you.

Hugs to all of you. I'm not a Bible expert; what you read here are my personal thoughts and reflections but perhaps they will be useful in some small way.

May Bible Study: The Gospel of John

 

For quite some time now, I've wanted to do a personal Bible study. I've read many portions of the Bible but I wanted to do a more in depth study. I originally planned to do the study privately. There is much to be said about studying privately, just as praying in secret can be powerful. The plan was to start in May but I got so excited about it that I started a few days early.

 

First, since I'm ME, I did some online research about which book is good to start with. Most of what I read suggested starting in the New Testament and specifically the Gospel of John. I've wrote a bit about John in my Investigating Jesus series.

Second I set up a Bible study notebook to use for reflection and journaling. I decided to do a chapter every day Monday-Friday.

 

I tried to get my friend to join in and she wanted to know what guide we would be using. I didn't really want the confines of a guide. I wanted to read, muse, decipher, and hear the words through my own mind and heart first without having them filtered by someone else's interpretation.

 

I'm five days into the study now and I am enjoying it so much I decided to share it with you here at Soul Musings. I'm hoping I might inspire some of you to dive into your own Bible Study. All you need is a Bible and some paper., You can put it in a notebook or use a spiral bound one.

 

 

I set up a "plan". This shows two months. The pink highlighter are days that are not being used for the "study".  In June we will be gone for quite a while on our Alaska trip and I plan to take along a small devotional but I know I won't be journaling or writing a lot during the trip.

 

 

These are my "cliff notes" for chapters one and two and the verses that resonated with me. I plan to layer some whole journal pages behind these where I can write in more detail about my thoughts or add additional thoughts and ideas that come to me. Some of these may occur well after the study is over.  You could easily do the same thing in a spiral notebook. I might doodle or add color at some point but for right now it is just the "heart" of the study.  

 

As I said I started out with the idea that this be a "private study" but then I kept getting little nudges to perhaps change or broaden my idea about that. So I will be sharing my personal reflections of the study here on this blog and over at Soul Musings Facebook page. If you are interested in following along please join the Facebook group or read along here.

 

Hugs all. I'm a few chapters ahead of you but I will be blogging from chapter one so you can jump right in. It's not too late to start.