How do you see the world? Do you accept it as it is or do you wonder if there's more?
There's a saying: "curiosity killed the cat". Well, thank you, Lord, I'm not a cat.
Curiosity = a strong desire to know or learn something.
What do you desire?
I, personally, seek the gold to be found in every person. However, how do you know if someone or something in someone is good/bad?
There are so many other juxtapositions in life.
First/Last.
Beginning/End.
Alpha/Omega.
If life is long, is it better to stay in the middle ground?
Colours also come to mind.
Pink/green.
Purple/orange.
Black/white.
Sometimes in design in safer to have neutral and accent colours in between.
Or do you dare to be bold?
It reminds me of the tension between thinking and feeling... Are we one, the other, or is there a balance to be found in between?
"Out with the old and in with the new." Or is there wisdom to be found in the balance of both?
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16 NKJV
Has anyone ever been stuck between being a wise serpent and an innocent dove?
I believe it is wise to reflect and gain knowledge of the past and the present to make informed decisions on our future.
Walking into a new season, it is wise to have preparation of past and knowledge of where you are to do well.
Like a child being guided and disciplined by a father and mother who wants the best for them. They have walked a journey before and plan for their children's children.
Is it healthy to be completed one-sided all the time? Just a dove? Do you need a serpant to balance you? What if that's your genetic make-up? Does it help to find a balance?
Is everyone the exact same or are we all different?
What questions do you ponder?
How often do you reflect?
Are you curious?
Is it destructive to be curious or is it ok with healthy boundaries from the right guide?
How do you determine who is the right guide?
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV
I think of many life experiences where I have been fortunate to have someone step in to help me in a time of need. Their perspective provided a much needed soundboard or their presence provided the missing advocacy that I needed."
There have been instances when I was unknowingly and at other times, knowingly being berated by another person. It didn't feel good, I knew it wasn't right. I knew I was in danger but I felt trapped and either couldn't think of a way out or wasn't heard when communicating. In circumstances like this, people need an advocate.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar position?
Or have you been that advocate?
Or been the person to provide feedback or mediation to resolve the conflict/communication breakdown?
Or needed to find creative ways to get out of them?
It reminds me of this Ethics scenario... Imagine you are the family in this scenario. The Nazis are eradicating Jews and you are a family who a Jewish family have sought refuge in their attic. What is the right thing to do? Is there a right or wrong way to respond? Could this scenario be avoided altogether? What do you do if you were faced with this scenario in today's world or in a parallel universe? What if you were the ones seeking refuge? Or the Nazis who have been given the orders?
LIFE HAPPENS
We live in a broken world. Have you ever needed a miracle during a dilemma whether an ethical one of a different kind?
I have been on a waitlist to see a Private Psychiatrist that I have a referral to for nearly 6 months now. My Psychotherapist and GP's hands have been tied in trying to get the needed medication. My family, more specifically, my younger brother stepped in and contacted UpDoc (doctors on demand) and I was able to get some medication I needed, dispensed immediately. I was in no space to be able to arrange that myself and needed the support.
Imagine drowning and having a life-raft with no air. You have all the tools as your dispense to save your life, but missing the inflation in the raft. Sometimes you not only need people to come to your aid. Moreover, in life (and not just life-threatening scenarios), it helps to have a well-balanced team.
Sometimes you may have all the right people on your bus, but they might not be positioned, empowered or compensated in their optimal seats. Not only in a team, but in relationships/partnerships. Do you know your gifts and what you bring to the table? The good, bad and unclaimed baggage?
How do you work this out? What gifts do you impart, both seen and unseen? What gifts have been imparted to you both seen and unseen?
I have a friend I used to work with. We'd discuss people's Myers-Briggs personality types (the framework consists of eight preferences organised into four pairs of opposites). It was never in a gossiping sense, but in order to help and empower people more. I'd call her "T" for "Thinker" and I was "F" for "Feeler". The rest of our personality type was the same, but we were strong in our respective lanes. We'd balance each other's thoughts and communications. I think we were a powerful duo in that team and imparted into many lives.
I once had a manager who I thought was far superior to me. I would glean off them during any opportunity I could when they would give me the time of day. I didn't realise back then how much they needed my input whether they realised it or not. Previously I would err on the side of not speaking unless asked. It's a skill to graciously and respectfully speak your mind with depth. I honour leaders and organisation that empower all people the equal opportunity to be heard.
It reminds me of the body. There's many parts that need to function well and we need all parts to be healthy. It's important to be aware when a part is in pain, damaged or approaching imminent danger. Awareness, reflection and seeking help when you're able is important.
Has anybody ever neglected the body or a part of the body before and regret it later?
Navigating mental health > mental illness has been huge for me over the past few years. It would be nice if there was an expert on this who could give you a report card on your mental health like when you were in school for school grades. I continue to find navigating the public and private health sectors quite difficult for not only myself, but my family as well. The distinction between Western and Eastern medicine adds another level of complication too.
For navigating mental health, we are fortunate to have the following available to us:
General Practitioners (GP)
Social Workers
Therapists
Counsellors
Psychologists
Psychotherapists
Psychiatrists
In Australia, you are able to get 10 Mental Health Care Plan sessions and 6 Care Plan sessions which apply to other areas like Dieticians and Exercise Physiologists. These don't apply to just anybody, but you are best to discuss with your GP for your best course of action. Some GPs bulk-bill, others you will need to pay a Medicare Gap fee.
Your health is worth the investment now rather than later. Physical, mental, spiritual, financial and relational. Consider seeking a professional's advice if you haven't yet.
If you ever have thoughts of harming self or others:
Call Lifeline 13 11 14;
Call 000 for an Ambulance; or
Speak to a close person ask them to take you to the Hospital.
There's another saying "those who can't do, teach". I don't agree with that. I think people who teach are more than capable and it's a gift to teach others.
Back on gifts, do you know yours? And do you believe you only have a few or access to all of them? https://spiritualgiftstest.com/spiritual-gifts/
22 Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-29; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11; and 1 Corinthians 7:7)
Apostles
Prophets
Pastors
Teachers
Evangelists
Prophecy
Teaching
Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith
Miraculous Powers
Healing
Distinguishing between Spirits
Speaking in Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
Helps
Service
Administration
Encouragement
Giving
Leadership
Mercy
Celibacy
How self aware you?
5 Senses
Sight
Taste
Touch
Hearing
Smell
5 Love Languages
Words of Encouragement
Physical Touch
Quality Time
Receiving Gifts
Acts of Service
How fruitful are you?
9 Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
No matter where you sit on the scales in any area of your health, I encourage you to seek help/sound advice.
Take a step back and assess your life as a child.
I encourage you to nurture your inner-child.
After doing that, I encourage you to think how your life choices are impacting your child(ren), future child(ren), adopted/spiritual child(ren).
We need to take care of the children.
We are all children.
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." 1 John 3:1 NKJV
What will your children and children's children inherit?
"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Proverbs 13:22 NKJV
Let's leave a lasting legacy.
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