Good morning…
After melting down, overwhelmed and discouraged, my friend received this encouragement. “In this life, we are all just walking up the mountain and we can sing as we climb or we can complain about our sore feet, whichever we choose we still gotta do the hike,” says the instagram post. “I decided a long time ago, singing makes a lot more sense.”
Climbing mountains was a topic of conversation in our class last week. Together we unpacked a wise quote from Self to Lose, Self to Find.
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Shifting Gears by Marilyn Vancil, page 177-178
The process of letting go of our seed coat and allowing space for our true self to grow involves an internal shift that is usually quite subtle yet powerful. Riding a bike serves as a good example of how a small change can make a big difference. When climbing a hill, even an experienced bike rider wastes a great deal of energy if the gears are too high and he or she must strain to keep going. The rider becomes out of breath, wobbles to maintain balance, and gets off to walk the rest of the way if the pain or effort is too much. By adjusting the control lever a slight amount to switch gears, a more comfortable pace can be found to make it up the hill.
In a similar way, when we operate from the Adapted Self, we spend a lot of unnecessary energy and strain. Emotional, mental, and relational difficulties are common. We find ourselves repeating cycles of the same old habits, as if we our wheels are spinning but we aren’t going anywhere… This way of living creates a state of being “out of balance” and “out of breath,” like trying to climb a hill in the wrong gear.
Letting go and relaxing into the sacred space of the Authentic Self brings with it a new sense of well-being and more freedom to become a unique image bearer of the divine nature. We become more receptive to God, others, the world, and our truest self. By releasing the outer seed coat, we allow more room for the Holy Spirit to transform our inner person so it can emerge and blossom. Life is lived with more ease, peace, and fruitfulness – both inwardly and outwardly.
The shift may be subtle, but it’s not easy.
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When we melt down, overwhelmed and discouraged, might we subtly shift gears? We are invited to surrender our self-reliance, “out of balance” and “out of breath.” We quietly shift from “I can do this.” to “God, we can do this together.” Revisiting a line from yesterday’s post, we say, “God, this is happening to me. Now, how are you and I going to deal with it in the most life-giving way?” Slightly adjusting our control lever, we change gears from “I” to “We.” Living life in tandem with God offers us ease, peace, and fruitfulness. Subtly shifting into a lower gear, we relax into a more comfortable pace as we journey up life’s mountain together.
Even if the mountains heave up from their anchors, and the hills quiver and shake, I will not desert you. You can rely on My enduring love; My covenant of peace will stand forever. So says the Eternal One, whose love won’t give up on you (Isaiah 54:10, VOICE).
Climbing up life’s mountain, will we complain or will we sing? Relying on the Eternal One, singing makes a lot more sense.
…Sue…
