Back In The Saddle
After many weeks of pursuing other high priority responsibilities and establishing a new routine, which includes a local community college 8:00am Spanish class, I feel it is time to get back into the ruminations of Centered Life thinking. My schedule will not return to normal for months!
As I continue to hone my understanding of the elements that define and direct a life towards balance and clarity, I am struck by the simplicity of the order and content of a life of integrity and at the same time the complexity of our human condition. Due to the simple fact that our internal conflicts are out of our sight, we do not have the natural capacity to begin the process of ordering our lives properly. The fact that most people are not reconciled with the source of life keeps the initiation of a centered life at bay. Of course, this would introduce the biggest hurdle of forward progress, the acknowledgment of God and His will. This can only be accomplished by faith, i.e., what you believe, and God is a rewarder of those who look for Him. We do not grow into a spiritual relationship with God step by step, we either have a relationship with Him or we do not.
A wise old rabbi named Nicodemus was puzzled by this process and how to initiate it. He asked the young messianic prophet, Jesus of Nazareth, a threatening figure in Israel to the established order, what must he do to begin. The portion of Scripture referenced is in the Gospel of John chapter 3 (NKJV).
1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
So, the basis for a Centered Life is not found in yourself unless you are restored in your relationship with God. He then sets the foundation of life by which all other values are established. This is NOT done gradually but instantaneously at the point of faith. Then the process of centering begins. More about that tomorrow.
jc
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