Arrow-dynamics

Have I stirred your curiosity with the image and title? I hope so, because the principle I am sharing in this post is a very crucial part of my faith journey foundation, and I hope it will become a tool for your journey as well. It represents my belief re: God’s work in my life, (*See note at end of post.), illustrated in one image. I am excited about the potential for this to be an aha for you, as it was for me many years ago – and continues to serve as a vital (re)orientation point for me.

When I was starting up my Life Coach practice, some eighteen years ago, I repeatedly found myself trying to distill the process of God making us new – to rightly reflect Him - down to one image of the lifelong, macro process for my Christian clients (and myself). And then the answer came...the visual that made it clear and straightforward: an arrow that starts with the ‘old self’ on the left end, and then moves towards the right end where ‘new self’ resides.

Take a look...

Let’s look at the different points on the arrow:

The first spot identified on the left end is not a passive point. I have to connect with what God wants to do – He wants me to choose His transformation process. He is waiting to hear my ‘yes.’ If He doesn’t, He is faithful to continue pursuing me! (Genesis 3:8-9; Lk 15:11-30)

Right after the ‘yes,’ I must surrender to His process, which means I am going to cooperate with whatever He brings to light, whatever He wants to change or remold. This is also the point where the specifics of what He is after – what He wants to transform in me – becomes known to me, to the point that I can put words to it- a misconception about Him, me, others, the world. In other words, something from my old way of doing, seeing or being (my false self) that He wants to make new (my true self). (2Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 43:19)

Next, I will most assuredly feel like this false way of mine is everywhere I turn! Now that my eyes have been opened to it, I can’t not see its pervasiveness! Ugh...I guess I need this apparent inundation to really commit to the process of moving to a new, better way. (Romans 7:18-19)

Out on a limb is just what it feels like at this point on the arrow: I am in liminal space – between the old and new. I am disgusted at how much I see the false pattern at work, but don’t feel like I can quite pull the new way into focus. (See Romans 7 again!)

But, as I stick to my commitment to His process, I realize I am at the point of no return – the old way is no longer acceptable to me; it no longer serves me (even if it had served or saved or protected me previously, maybe in my formative years.) (Philippians 3:13-14)

Then, blessed is the day when for the first time, I actually notice and identify a NEW response coming out of me! Something truer, more generous – towards myself and others – comes out, instead of something inauthentic, destructive/self-destructive, defensive, selfish or uncharitable. I may even be able to start identifying my true self being expressed and feel the fullness of joy when I am being used by God in the lives of others! (2Corinthians 9:6-8; 1Peter 4:10-11)

But this next point is probably my favorite spot on the arrow: It starts as one single person makes a comment about what seems different about you, your response to something. And then it grows to a few people noticing a change...mmm. That’s the affirmation of His transformative work in me! And it is not short-lived, nor is it self-improvement. It is true change by His Spirit at work in me, just as He promises. (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 2:8-9)

Eventually, after life brings more opportunities to work on upping my batting average, the new pattern will feel more natural. But I also have found that if the stress is turned up enough, or if the situation is a perfect storm of triggers for me, I can still fall make into the old pattern, the false self. That will always keep me humble. (2Corinthians 12:1-10)

...And then, there’s always the next old pattern to lead me back to the left end of the arrow, where again, God awaits my ‘yes’ to cooperate with His process of making me into the one He sees when He looks at me: who He created me to be, my true self.

You may be thinking: Ok, so what can I gain from awareness of this Transformation Process?

• Encouragement

• Accountability

• Conscious cooperation with God

• Seeing purpose in pain

I believe, if I have a Christian Worldview, I should be somewhere on the arrow all the time. This is how real change in me happens – not by self-improvement, but by the Potter's remolding of the clay (Jeremiah 18) – the continual process of becoming who He created me to be, reflecting that unique part of His character with which He imbued me before I was even conceived. (Psalm 139)

May I invite you to think about...?

Which of the points on the arrow can you identify with in your life now and/or in a previous season?

Where are you right now re: His transformation process? What misconception or false pattern may He be opening your eyes to?

What do you need to see, release, or invite for transformation in this moment or situation?

[*Note re: opening paragraph: I didn’t say God’s work in all believers’ lives or in your life. That’s an important distinction for me. I am very sensitive to and intentional about not making my experience into doctrine. How I have experienced God and His work in my life is personal- a personal experience, not a preachable doctrine. I believe the promises of His Word are true and unalterable; but how He demonstrates or makes good on His promises is as individually unique as He has created each of us.]

If you would like to follow me on this adventure, and receive notice whenever I post something new, please subscribe. (It’s simple – at the bottom of every page on the Perils & Pearls blog site. *No need to be a 'member.')

**A word about POSTING COMMENTS: I LV engaging with your feedback/responses to my writings! Let me cut through the tech hassles re: POSTING COMMENTS: When you click to add a comment, you will get a choice of leaving a comment "AS A MEMBER" OR "AS A GUEST." CLICK THE CHOICE "AS A GUEST" (-even if you are a SUBSCRIBER) & your life will be simpler- ha! And as many have done, feel free to send me a private message using the "Let's Chat" option on the https://www.perilsandpearls.com Home Page.

And if you know people who would benefit from the support, and/or enjoy the short writings, please share the site or a post with them. Heck, just share it on your social media…Let’s grow it together!

Blessed to play a part ~

g

WSJ Talks About Personal Theme Songs

Recently (April 25), the Wall Street Journal had an interesting article (by Elizabeth Bernstein)

about Personal Theme Songs (PTS).

https://www.wsj.com/articles/be-more-like-rocky-balboa-have-a-theme-song-8fb96c27?reflink=integratedwebview_share

It really caught my attention because being a music hound, I have always processed a lot of life through song lyrics, messages and melodies. If you have looked around my blogsite, (https://www.perilsandpearls.com) you will have seen the Music Page. Sharing music that speaks to me, moves me – and/or my feet – is a vital and intimate part of sharing who I am with you.

When I read this WSJ article, it reinforced some of the power I feel through music that moves me. The author shared some science about the powerful connections we experience when we listen to a beloved song:

Listening to a beloved song can help us manage our emotions and focus on the task at hand. It can also help us access what psychologists call our autobiographical memory, or personal history.

Cognitive Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, who studies how music affects the brain, shared,

It reminds us who we are and helps us stay focused on who we want to be.

Yes, I can feel that when I am immersed in the message of the lyrics to new song by a Christian artist. And when the words of a song are right out of scripture, the power to remind and focus me is even more powerful! Music with spiritual messages help me stay in communion with God throughout my day. And I can't count the number of times He has brought me, or confirmed, a message through song lyrics.

The article went on to share more from neuroscientists about what goes on with our brain when we partake of music we love:

...we experience pleasure in the form of a dopamine release in our brain. And over time, our brain learns to recognize music we enjoy faster and releases the dopamine earlier. (Dr. Susan Rogers)

Even the beat of music has specific effects on the listener: “If its beat is faster than our heartbeat, it can fire us up and make a difficult task feel easier. A more sedate tempo can help slow our heart and respiration rate down.”

So, the Personal Theme Song can change with a different intended affect? Yeah, I can see that. My PTS can change from day to day or week to week; on the other hand, I can stick with the same favorite song for an entire chapter or season of my faith journey. And I’m known to have a Personal Theme Playlist as well- ha!

The final point of the article might be the most significant: Listening to enjoyable music can even give our brain a rest! Sigh, yes, I experience that regularly – even plan for it. Come the end of my ‘workday,’ I am very intentional about what playlist I put on while I transition into the evening, perhaps preparing dinner while I move into a different, slower pace. I assess my mood: Hmm...Is it a Motown or Jazz kind of transition? Do I want familiar music or to listen to some new tracks? I take these choices pretty seriously. Dr. Levitin says,

Listening to music we enjoy is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to activate our “default mode network,” or daydreaming mode—what the brain does when it’s not working or concentrating. This restorative state is essential to our well-being.

Well, all this talk about Personal Theme Songs got me thinking, what is my PTS right now? All I needed to do to answer that was to think of the most-played cut in my Spotify library (of over 5000 songs!). Answer: I Won’t Move. The lyrics are below – and I put the song on my blogsite Music Page so you can listen to a sample.

“I won’t move until You speak” is the theme of where God has me right now in my faith journey. I am so grateful for musical artists’ gifts to help create the soundtracks of our life stories.

I’m wondering...

What’s your current Personal Theme Song? What draws you to it? If I could listen to your PTS, what would I learn about you?

I Won't Move (by Life.Church Worship)

Find me here again In the place we met Where hopelessness meets grace

Quiet all the noise Every whispered lie Put to rest by perfect peace

Even in my doubt I will not forget You are faithful still to me

I won't take a single step 'Til I hear Your voice, I surrender

When my eyes cannot see It's Your voice that's leading me Out of darkness and into light It's Your love, it's breaking through the night I won't move until You speak...

Here I wait for You In the silence now I'm holding on to Your truth

I won't take a single step 'Til I hear Your voice, I surrender

And when my eyes cannot see It's Your voice that's leading me Out of darkness and into light It's Your love, it's breaking through the night I won't move until You speak...

You break the walls apart You heal the wounded heart I won't move until You speak

You calm the raging sea You crush the enemy I won't move until You speak

You break the walls apart You heal the wounded heart You've been there from the start I won't move until You speak

You calm the raging sea You crush the enemy You set the broken free I won't move until You speak

When my eyes cannot see It's Your voice that's leading me Out of darkness and into light It's Your love breaking through the night I won't move until You speak...

If you would like to follow me on this adventure, and receive notice whenever I post something new, please subscribe. (It’s simple – at the bottom of every page on the Perils & Pearls blog site. *No need to be a 'member.')

**A word about POSTING COMMENTS: I LV engaging with your feedback/responses to my writings! Let me cut through the tech hassles re: POSTING COMMENTS: When you click to add a comment, you will get a choice of leaving a comment "AS A MEMBER" OR "AS A GUEST." CLICK THE CHOICE "AS A GUEST" (-even if you are a SUBSCRIBER) & your life will be simpler- ha! And as many have done, feel free to send me a private message using the "Let's Chat" option on the https://www.perilsandpearls.com Home Page.

And if you know people who would benefit from the support, and/or enjoy the short writings, please share the site or a post with them. Heck, just share it on your social media…Let’s grow it together!

Blessed to play a part ~

g

My Pace Was Interfering w/ My Peace

Our bodies are talking to us all the time. Are we listening? I wasn’t for a long, long time.

Decades ago, He told me clearly, as I once again found myself dealing with a health issue that was affecting my daily life and continuing for years, that my pace was interfering with my peace. Being in ‘press mode’ was my norm; but the price for that speed of life repeatedly manifested as years-long, chronic health issues.

My body was trying to tell me something, but I kept rationalizing the choices I was making as what was needed or expected. Meanwhile, I kept praying for God to heal me. Hmm...My problem looks so obvious typing it in the light of perfect hindsight, doesn’t it? God was healing me, but not in the way I expected. He wanted to heal me from the inside out.

I had to peel back the layers of misperceptions about what God expected from me versus what I or others expected of me. It has been a decades-long discovery-before-recovery process for me.

One of my Life Verses became Matthew 11:28-30:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I can never be far from these Words of Life! This passage addresses all the mixed emotions and thoughts I can have when I am overwhelmed, worn out, burned out. Every time I turn to Jesus’ words here, I feel like He is talking just to me – that He gets where I’m at, and is not judging or scolding me. His words demonstrate understanding, empathy, compassion, encouragement and hope.

And one of the statements inside this passage has become my mantra:

Learn (and live in) the unforced rhythms of (His) grace.

It’s my happy place. My center. To flow in the unforced rhythms of His grace. Mmm... And when I meditate on Jesus’ message to me in Matthew 11, I can literally, somatically, feel my uptight shoulders start to drop away from my ears, my heart rate decrease, my breathing slow...my nervous system start to move out of the fight or flight state, and towards the state of rest.

Many times, it is my frustration with myself, of again falling out of His rhythms, that God addresses first. I have to realize I am in a hurry with myself, to do better, to learn to stay in His unforced rhythms of grace. Geez, isn’t that word ‘grace’ a clue? I say to myself. I can’t get there by trying harder. I need His grace. And the power of His Spirit in me.

For years now, one of His most repeated messages to me has been: “I’m not in a hurry, My Beloved. You needn’t be.”

Rick Warren talks about this:

“God isn’t in a hurry with your spiritual growth. You may think he’s in a hurry, but he’s not. He’s using your current circumstances to develop your character and make you stronger. He’s patient.”

The Apostle Paul wrote about this - encouragement for us:

“...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6

This encouragement is repeated in the message of this prayer poem [A Prayer of Teilhard de Chardin] that has become one of my tools for slowing my pace and my breathing:

Patient Trust

Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability— and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually—let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

My prayer for you (and me): Lord, help us to give You the benefit of believing that Your hand is leading us, and to accept the anxiety of feeling ourselves in suspense and incomplete. Thank You for Your gentle reminders that You are not in a hurry.

Might you consider?...

Do you find your pace interfering with your peace? If so, how do you respond to that awareness? What feelings arise? What actions do you take?

What is your awareness of God – where is He? – in the midst of your busy life? Do you experience His understanding, compassion, and His desire to give you real rest? (See Matt 11:28-30)

Do you have practices to turn to that help you get recentered, to slow your pace and recover your peace?

If you would like to follow me on this adventure, and receive notice whenever I post something new, please subscribe. (It’s simple – at the bottom of every page on the Perils & Pearls blog site. *No need to be a 'member.')

**A word about POSTING COMMENTS: I LV engaging with your feedback/responses to my writings! Let me cut through the tech hassles re: POSTING COMMENTS: When you click to add a comment, you will get a choice of leaving a comment "AS A MEMBER" OR "AS A GUEST." CLICK THE CHOICE "AS A GUEST" (-even if you are a SUBSCRIBER) & your life will be simpler- ha! And as many have done, feel free to send me a private message using the "Let's Chat" option on the https://www.perilsandpearls.com Home Page.

And if you know people who would benefit from the support, and/or enjoy the short writings, please share the site or a post with them. Heck, just share it on your social media…Let’s grow it together!

Blessed to play a part ~

g