TIED TO THE DOCK

If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea.  Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in God, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock.  You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself – begin to have spiritual discernment. 

When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more.  Examine where you have become sluggish, where you have been losing interest spiritually, and you will find that it goes back to a point where you did not do something you knew you should do.  You did not do it because there seemed to be no immediate call to do it.  But now you have no insight or discernment, and at a time of crisis, you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-controlled.  It is a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more.

From:  MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST by Oswald Chambers

REFLECTION:

  • Have you been staying tied to the dock – safe in the harbor?  Do you need to set sail on the great unknown?
  • Is there a crisis that has you distracted or are you sluggish?  What are you learning and knowing that can offer insight to mitigate this crisis/sluggishness?
  • If you have no crisis at this time, is there something you need to discern to do? What is it… take a step today.

LEAN IN

It is hard to hate people close up, lean in.

Quote from the book BRAVING THE WILDERNESS by Brené Brown
 
 

REFLECTION:  

  • Is there someone you are in conflict with? 
  • How can you “lean in” and engage in a meaningful dialogue? 
  • Take some action to move closer to dialogue with someone today.

OF BEING WOVEN

The way is full of genuine sacrifice.

The thickets blocking the path are anything that keep you from that, any fear that you may be broken to bits like a glass bottle.  This road demands courage and stamina, yet it’s full of footprints!  Who are these companions?  They are rungs in your ladder.  Use them!  With company you quicken your ascent. 

You may be happy enough going along, but with others you’ll get farther and faster.

From: The Essential RUMI Translations by Coleman Barks with John Moyne

REFLECTION:

  • What fears are blocking your paths?
  • How can you have more courage and stamina?
  • Identify some companions.  Who are they?  How can you engage them to go with you?