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.