re: llename... for a friend (i have more to add, but this is a start)
recently i have been terribly compelled to understand the meaning of one's interactions with their little world -- their own personal universe with (proverbial) constellations of beauty and the defining pull of certain significant moons and planets and what-not (i'm not really very good with astrophysics). admittedly, when i say 'one's' i really mean my own...here in seattle, back home in colorado and abroad...so completely confounded by the meaning of finding one's 'soul-mate' and wondering if it is even possible -- or necessary. the homeopaths tell me i am a hopelessly wavering pulsatilla (which makes it seem unlikely that my floating-like-a-feather heart will ever completely settle). the astrologists tell me i need some stability for my watery, emotional pisces self...but i guess i'd like to think i am more than a little flower tossing in the wind or a wiggling fish in the sea...
an excerpt from hebrews 4 has been a central theme in my thoughts lately...
'for the word of God is living and active. sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow...' (vs 12)
what exactly is there to divide in soul from spirit? being a soulful person always seemed like a spiritual thing for me to be. but i am learning otherwise. Thomas Moore writes 'the soul has a strong desire and need for intimacy...the soul doesn't thrive on grand schemes of salvation or on smooth, uncluttered principles, nor does it thrive on theories and creeds...' the apostle paul said 'the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.' (I corinthians 2:10)
i am beginning to think there is something to this discrete division the Word brings to one's existence. it is often difficult to imagine my life in Christ apart from my soul's experiences -- but maybe its not so much a divorce as a distinction that must be made. perhaps its a life-long journey of differentiating soul from spirit that comes from time spent in scripture.
according to the amplified version: God's Word serves to carve out 'the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart....' hmmm. that is a lot of entities to sort out.
we are without life if we lose our souls, but we are without hope if we lose our spirit.
i suppose i am most encouraged to know:
'the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.' isaiah 57
an interesting side note: i discovered 569 references to 'spirit' in the NIV contrasted with 136 mentions of 'soul.' hmmmmm.
‘the Spirit helps us in our weakness. we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. and he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.’ (romans 8:26-27)
an excerpt from hebrews 4 has been a central theme in my thoughts lately...
'for the word of God is living and active. sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow...' (vs 12)
what exactly is there to divide in soul from spirit? being a soulful person always seemed like a spiritual thing for me to be. but i am learning otherwise. Thomas Moore writes 'the soul has a strong desire and need for intimacy...the soul doesn't thrive on grand schemes of salvation or on smooth, uncluttered principles, nor does it thrive on theories and creeds...' the apostle paul said 'the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.' (I corinthians 2:10)
i am beginning to think there is something to this discrete division the Word brings to one's existence. it is often difficult to imagine my life in Christ apart from my soul's experiences -- but maybe its not so much a divorce as a distinction that must be made. perhaps its a life-long journey of differentiating soul from spirit that comes from time spent in scripture.
according to the amplified version: God's Word serves to carve out 'the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart....' hmmm. that is a lot of entities to sort out.
we are without life if we lose our souls, but we are without hope if we lose our spirit.
i suppose i am most encouraged to know:
'the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.' isaiah 57
an interesting side note: i discovered 569 references to 'spirit' in the NIV contrasted with 136 mentions of 'soul.' hmmmmm.
‘the Spirit helps us in our weakness. we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. and he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.’ (romans 8:26-27)
posted by r.m. @ 7:22 PM
2 Comments:
At 8:04 AM, October 07, 2007,
Anonymous said…
I wonder if anyone has ever told you that you think too much ;) Can't wait to see you again and catch up. Perhaps you can make time for coffee or lunch one of these days? Hopefully we'll see you this morning.
-C
At 6:23 PM, October 20, 2007,
r.m. said…
ha. thanks candace ;o) yes, let's see each other soon!
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