Authenticity

3 Hidden But Powerful Reasons Why You Love Dragonfly Décor

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment

So discouraged. Head in hands. I haven’t seen the sun in weeks. It’s just cloudy skies day after day. I feel stuck inside this small room that confines me.

Where is the sunny sky, and how do these skinny arms transform into wings?

When is it my turn to fly?

I sit on the wooden box, my only piece of furniture in this cement box of a room and read.

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

The Message

And a glimmer of sun – Is it? Peeking through the clouds?

I go outside, for the first time in weeks, to look up at the sky and get a closer look. I shield my eyes now, for the sun shines with unstoppable radiance through the clouds. The sun reaches EVEN ME.

And I am pierced to the heart with this light that illuminates my chest and then expands upward and downward as I stand, mesmerized, as the sun peaks more and more of its light through the clouds that reluctantly part.

white clouds and blue sky

Is that hope I sense on the horizon, too? My heart stirs a little at the sight of something blurry, something I can’t quite bring into focus past the horizon. (Have you looked yet beyond your horizons?)

calm water during golden hour

In your great love revive me . . . I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can’t contain your commands

The Message

I am warmer now, and I take off my sweater.

The sun’s rays, which are even brighter now, moments later, seem to warm me from the inside out.

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?

The Message

The clouds part further, making room.

I reach deep, deep into my heart and pull out the weights that hold me to the earth.

I’ll take that, I sense the wind whispering.

Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders

The Message

And I feel an itch, now, and the urge to scratch at my back is almost unbearable . . .

The old skin falls off.

You’ll be changed from the inside out

The Message

And as I rest outside now, in the sun, my wings warming in the spring air, I feel almost enough hope to flap, flap my wings, as they dry here in the sun and then . . .

Do I have the courage to try them out?

Do you?

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar

The Message

a bug sitting on top of a green leaf

One species of dragonfly lives underwater for more than five years.

Yet some dragonfly species live only for a few short weeks on land.

Yet in this short time, dragonflies are a keystone species, meaning they play a crucial role in the health of their ecosystem.

And so, why do you, too, friend, love dragonfly décor?

  1. He is calling, calling you to more. Can you hear Him?
  2. There is a new season for you, too. Can you feel it?
  3. It matters to the ecosystem around you that you make the transition. Do you sense it?

P.S. – For more in-depth Fashion Analysis, check out my other Newsletters HERE, HERE and HERE.

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

Photo Credits: Parting Clouds by Marieke Verhoeven on Unsplash, Horizon by by Lucas Davies on Unsplash, Dragonfly Alive by Buddha Elemental on Unsplash

Thank you for liking me! I like you too! Let’s journey together!

3 Healing And Stunning Reasons To Love Your DOG / GOD!

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
photo of man hugging tan dog

Last night, I was up at three AM because our dog had his semiregular hair elastic emergency poo in which he eats a hair elastic and has trouble with the elimination thereof.

Surprisingly, my auto dictate function accidentally captured my monologue directed toward my dog, Siri, the last time this happened. “Are you kidding me? Okay, okay, okay! Let me help you, Siri! Just a minute! Stay, stay, stay, stay, STAY!”

However, he was able to get everything out all by himself last night!

I didn’t even need to reach down and pull it out like I usually do!

This morning, as I type this, I have just returned from a lovely spring walk with my dog, Siri, and my teen daughter. After enjoying the sweet spring air, part of this beautiful ritual includes finding an old stick nearby to “hockey puck,” our dog’s you-know-what off the middle of the road, the location our dog knew would be the perfect spot to place it.

To tie these miscellaneous thoughts together, I must admit to feeling astonished at how much time I had spent at the rear end of my dog the last time my dog was unwell (in his rear-end parts, of course)!

I wonder why people don’t tell pet owners this ahead of time?

Maybe it’s the same reason why they didn’t tell me it would be so much work to raise my kids. Because we would watch TV and eat junk food for eighteen years instead, the lifespan of dogs or the approximate time kids are in our home if we knew the truth!

Anyway, at least kids sometimes turn out useful!

Our kids may even help drive us to a Doctor’s appointment when we age! They will choose our old folks’ home! (My dad often reminded himself of this under his breath when he was furious at me, which helped him have increased patience with me!)

But are dogs EVER useful?

Why do we love dogs, given they aren’t even helpful? (Note: I’m not sure why my editor fought me SO much over that sentence! We all know that the only reason to “love” another is that we hope to get something in return eventually! Hello?)

Anyway, why do we love our DOGS? Because of the healing that occurs in our soul, of course!

For example:

  1. Dogs model how to forgive. Remember when I accidentally slammed your tail in the car door, Little Buddy? After your squeal, you immediately licked me to let me know you knew everything was okay between us. Thank you!
  2. Dogs comfort us. Remember when you hid behind me, Little Buddy when that scary dark shape approached as we walked that night? Wait -That analogy doesn’t quite measure up. Scratch that! Sometimes, I have the ILLUSION of being comforted because of a dog’s big, scary teeth, which he COULD use (instead of asking for a pet when a stranger entered our home, which is what he actually did). FEELING LIKE you are comforted is ALMOST the same thing as ACTUALLY BEING comforted, anyway!
  3. A dog’s love fits nicely inside the dark hole each of our souls carries- the part that screams for love!

If you want to make sure of keeping [your heart] intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal . . . To love is to be vulnerable.

C.S. Lewis in The Four Loves

Need I say more?

Now, I have recently been startled at the similarity between how a Dog’s love heals our souls in EXACTLY THE SAME WAY God’s love heals our souls!

For example:

  1. God will forgive you for every stupid thing you do if you ask Him, too!
  2. God can also comfort you when you’re home alone on a stormy night! For example: “True, [bullies] can kill you, but then what can they do? There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.” So all they can do is kill us! And when dying means hanging out with Jesus, we win both ways! (Do you feel comforted yet?)
  3. God’s love fits perfectly inside that dark emptiness within us, too! And His love is a (much) healthier alternative to heroin, booze, sugar and other “regular” vices we otherwise need to get through life!

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

As the song below plays, consider asking God to pour out His love on you in a tangible way that you can pick up, treasure, and carry close to your heart.

What are you sensing as your soul’s response?

Photo credit: Love Your Dog Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash

Thank you for liking me! I like you too! Let’s journey together!

3 Tips You Need To Know To Become An Amazingly Successful Human And Writer! (Like Me!)

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
a monkey with its mouth open

In his effort to build up my fragile self-esteem, my husband reminded me lately that people from twenty-eight countries have read my online writing, which is still shocking to me!

Riding on the heels of this life success – And of course, now I can finally rest assured that my life has purpose and meaning – is that several people have been asking me lately if I’m thinking of writing a book!

Of course, I have been thinking of writing a book, but the trouble is that I can’t figure out what topic I should write about! Sure, I could write up those embarrassing stories about me that make people laugh when we have dinner together, but those stories make me look stupid! I would much rather write about something I’m an expert in so that people will respect and look up to me!

The trouble is, I can’t come up with anything that people would think I’m an expert in.

But I must be an expert in something, obviously, because I write stuff online!

Since I can’t find anything that I’m an expert in yet, or at least anything that I can convince others that I am an expert in (Which my editor says isn’t EXACTLY the same thing- Whatever!) I guess I could write up those stories about the stupid things I did that make me look like a complete idiot.

Well, these are the things that sometimes we need to do for fame and glory!

And that’s what life is all about, wouldn’t you agree?

And so, as a potentially inspiring author yourself, looking up at me with eyes of wonder, what should YOU write about, you ask me?

Great question!

Tip #1

Well, of course, write about the idiotic things you’ve done so that you’ll look stupider than I do, and then I’ll feel better about myself, and we can both share in the fame and glory! (I wouldn’t share any of my fame or glory, of course. I’m not “sanctified” enough for that, which is a Christian way of saying,  “I don’t want to.” But I wouldn’t try to take yours if you have your own share of fame or glory. Unless I could.)

Anyway, please send me what you write!

I won’t read it because my therapist says I’m too self-important (That’s the same thing as being important, right?) to read other people’s stuff, but if I’m having a bad day, then I can think about the stupid things that you’ve done and feel better about myself!

Thank you! And it’s nice to have a friend and do these kinds of activities together – It is a wonderful bonding experience! Blessings on your writing!

And the best part about writing online is that we can tell people what they should do to live a successful life like us!

I hope this advice makes you feel “successful1,” too!

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

Tip #2

Write headlines that grab people’s attention and are (mostly, in a relative, limited way) true!

This is the second piece of advice!

For example, I thought of titling today’s newsletter “Blathering About Nothing,” but that headline doesn’t rank as well in the headline analyzer, for which I pay $1,000 annually.

And now, getting down to the nitty-gritty of the advice in this newsletter, I will take off my mask and set aside my neurotic whiny online persona, which, of course has no reflection at all of my actual personality.

So you wonder what to write about or whether you should be writing at all or doing something else?

Tip #3

We want to align our life to do whatever it is that God has set before us as our path in this season, whether it’s something that gives us no accolades or glory, or which may (even!) cost us financially, relationally or culturally.

And when we’re busy doing these things together with Jesus, who strengthens us, we find out that the things that used to be so vital to us surprisingly matter a whole lot less!

And then it’s also critical to connect with a group of people that already like you so you don’t have to pretend to be important! They like you because they have to like you, of course, but what difference does that part make? And then you’re soaring.

a large bird flying through a blue sky

So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.

The Message

As the song below plays, ask God, “How do you long for me to pivot my life?” Ask yourself if any of this stuff that I am pulling my hair out trying to attain matters once I’m dead?

And then, once you wake up to the fact that you’ll be dead soon enough in the big scheme of things we call “Life”, you’ll be ready to live.

And when Jesus is responsible for your success, life gets more fun.2

Photo credit: Amazed Monkey by Thomas Oxford on Unsplash, Bird Soaring by Alfonso Betancourt on Unsplash

Note: The photo of the monkey symbolizes you, of course – NOT me! Why would you think that? Refer to my opening line.

But take comfort!

The soaring bird symbolizes you, too.

1“Successful” relative to my life success, I mean, of course!

2 And funny, but that might be something unique to do with my life, so I have the advantage (over you) of being able to tell others about the stupid things I’ve done.

Thank you for liking me! I like you too! Let’s journey together!

How To Be Mature Even When You Don’t Want To Be! 3 Helpful Tips (To Change The World)

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
selective focus photography of man using tobacco

I’ve already explained HERE how to be mature.

You’re welcome!

And since that covers everything I know about the topic, I don’t have much more to say, except that I found myself in a (very rare!) instance where I was tempted (but didn’t succumb!) to acting with less than total maturity – The usual way that I conduct myself.

As I travelled recently, I sauntered across the line into injustice, which roused my dormant immaturity. I don’t usually cross over to the side where injustice lives. I like to stand firmly planted where the power is. (For example, read my marriage advice here!)

This is what happened.

“Welcome to the USA!” the signs read, cheerful people reaching through the posters to greet us.

Then the signs directed “Foreigners”, like us Canadians, to a long line of about 500 people waiting to enter US Customs, but our line-up only had 1 (that’s “ONE”) Customs Agent.

And when we finally arrived at Customs, my teen daughter ADMITTED (“WHY OH WHY did I teach her to tell the TRUTH?” I lamented with agony!) to forgetting to throw away her banana peel. She ignored or was too intimidated by the guys with guns at the customs depot to obey me when my eyes tried every manner of saying, “DROP the banana peel confession!”

So this little truthful confession cast into a deeper level of airport hell with the other Felons.

And there were no bathrooms during that long line up OR in the extra hell section of the airport we were in waiting for the Banana Felony to be absolved. And there was no water fountain. The lady before us was faint and had to sit on the floor just before her turn at Customs.

I felt like an animal waiting in a cage, the justice for basic human needs rising within me.

Not long after this, 3 hours later, when my sing songs, manic video watching and dancing about could no longer contain the fact that “I would like to use the bathroom please”, I was finally, reluctantly, given a pass out of the “Banana Felony” section of the airport.

Then the toilet wouldn’t flush. (It wasn’t just a number one but something more significant).

“Take that LAX airport!” I thought with great satisfaction!

There is justice in the world, after all!

After washing my hands, I suddenly realized it would be the hardest working person in the airport, the immigrant without much English, the one who is a post-doc in Moldova and whose 8-year-old child will one day end the Ebola epidemic. It would be that person who would encounter my indignant attempt at injustice.

I found a way to flush the toilet. (As I reflect, it was surprising how EASY it was to flush the toilet when one REALLY wanted to do it!)

“Did I find myself rejoicing in what I think I was rejoicing in?” my more mature self asked my recently victorious self several minutes later.

Yes, BUT I rose to the occasion and ACTED MATURELY!

Here’s how!

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

Three Tips to acting maturely EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT:

1) Try to remember that there are other people in the world besides you.

2) It’s okay that you aren’t friends with Trump, or someone in high places who has “connections,” and can bail you out of deep water when you are in trouble. (In fact, this may be a very good thing!) Something good happens to our soul when we suffer a little and brush up against a tiny measure of the injustice that most people around the world experience daily. This small measure of injustice can build compassion for the less fortunate if we let it (See Point #1).

An estimated 5 billion people have unmet justice needs globally, including people who cannot obtain justice for everyday problems, people who are excluded from the opportunity the law provides, and people who live in extreme conditions of injustice.

Source: World Justice Project

3) Let’s let the small injustices we experience be fuel to help another who has no power and regularly experiences this.

As the song below plays, consider asking God, “Is there someone I know experiencing injustice I can help support?” Who comes to mind? How can you reach out to them this week?

Will you rise?

Photo credit: Wise looking man by Parker Johnson on Unsplash

Thank you for liking me! I like you too! (Proven HERE, HERE and HERE!) Let’s journey together!

How To Make Homeschooled Kids Cool

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment

Photo credit: Blimey Cow

Yah! I know! My homeschooled kids had phases where they looked (a bit) nerdy.

And we all know that being cool MATTERS.

We know that our kids fitting in MATTERS!

Click HERE to continue reading this previously published post.*

*Let’s admit it! – You weren’t really listening the first time you read it!

Thank you for liking me! I like you too! (Proven HERE, HERE and HERE!) Let’s journey together!

Hiding Pain? Open Some Of Your Authentic Heart Here (This Is What Happens When They HAVE To Love You!)

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment

Previously, I talked about mourning with the group.

I also talked about coyotes, but let’s face it, we all know I just made that stuff up. You should never trust things you read on the internet, anyway! Except you should entirely and wholeheartedly trust everything in this newsletter – Of course!

Click HERE to continue reading.

Thank you for liking me! I like you, too! (Proven HERE and HERE!) Let’s grow together and learn to soar!

3 Hints For Authentic Relationships (Ignore The Dog Barf!)

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
adult chocolate Labrador retriever

Once, when I was a child, I thought everyone was laughing WITH me until I suddenly realized they were laughing AT me!

Wait, that still happens to me, and it happened just last week!

(On reflection, I don’t know whether people were laughing AT or WITH me last week, but does that part REALLY matter, anyway?!)

Click here to continue reading this previously published post.

Thanks for reading Restoring Life! Subscribe for free to support my work (and ego)!

Read Harry Potter – The Book About Halloween Type Dark Arts – To Better Grasp One Aspect Of The Christian Faith

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
a statue of a soldier holding a yellow object
Photo by Cody Otto on Unsplash

Last time, I wrote here and here about why we should try to give a wide berth to the dark arts and the demonic or satanic.

This week, to confuse you, I will tell you that you SHOULD read the Harry Potter series. I didn’t say I would be consistent! Give me a break! Who has time for authenticity nowadays? We’re too busy scrolling social media to have time to figure out who we are! It’s easier to follow the crowd, anyway!

And since there are gross Halloween decorations in every major department store right now, let’s talk about why you might as well read Harry Potter, too, while you’re at it.

Ahem . . .

So, several years ago, I was huddled in a corner, trying to shut out the world with its scary stuff. Children held out their Halloween candy to me once and yelled, “Boo!” and I screamed, terrified. “We have to keep ourselves CLEAR of all of that stuff!” I yelled after them as they ran away, laughing.

Actually, that memory has exactly the same point as my recent posts, come to think of it! Stay CLEAR of demonic stuff!

So today, let’s run as far as we can in the opposite direction. What satanic stuff SHOULD we be holding onto and perhaps even incorporating INTO our lives?

Ha!

I bet you don’t hear that question every day! You’re welcome! Good luck!

Now let’s get started as we dig a bit deeper to unearth some insights so that we can travel on our spiritual paths free of BOTH:

  1. Weird satanic stuff that could overwhelm us (See the last post), AND
  2. Weird spiritual “rules” (I.e., what to read or not read) designed to make us appear more spiritual than others* but that also choke the proclamation of Christ’s love

We’re talking about Point #2 today, so that’s why we’re discussing which demonic stuff we want to incorporate into our lives.

Let’s start with Harry Potter. The books crawl with spider webs and warlocks, abuse of power, and fear-filled followers of evil (I.e., scary Death Eaters).

Surely, this stuff is a NO-GO! We must confidently assert.

Not so fast.

The Harry Potter series helped me to more deeply emotionally resonate with the choice Jesus Christ made to hang on a cross so we could be free.

What now? You’re wondering.

Yup. Here. Hold my popcorn because I need my hands to explain (I’m Italian).

Harry Potter discovered a prophecy that said he needed to die so that his world could be free of evil (I.e., the guy Voldemort). Harry’s struggle with what this sacrifice would cost him personally and what it would mean for everyone else’s freedom in his world was a palpable decision he struggled with that made my hands sweat, quite literally. The point is, the fact of Jesus CHOOSING to undergo such intense pain SO THAT I could be set free came home in a new way to me as I stayed up into the wee hours of the night with a flashlight trying to figure out how the story ends.

The Harry Potter series ends with freedom for everyone in his world because he CHOOSES to sacrifice his one life for them.

Exactly like in our world.

One look at him and people turned away.

We looked down on him, thought he was scum.

But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—

our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.

. . . God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,

on him, on him.

The Message

Can I have my popcorn back? I want to see how this movie ends.

Our movie here on earth, that is, with OUR actors, us.

Great literature must treat evil, sometimes in a base and repulsive form . . . as do the Christian Scriptures.

Three Faces of Evil: Christian Writers and the Portrayal of Moral Evil by Susan Wise Bauer in The Christian Imagination

Drawing by MY HOMESCHOOLED KID! (Because homeschooled kids are our hope)

Footnotes

*Wait – Isn’t that the goal of our spiritual lives? Dang! Now I’m confused again!

ADVICE: Worship A Good God Instead Of Foul Demons!

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
person holding pink flower
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

So, I’ve been reading about becoming a successful and influential online figure that others look up to and admire.

Did I mention that yet?

Yesterday, I learned that we need to establish AUTHORITY that we KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON before we boss others around. “So THAT’S what I have been doing wrong!” I realized, slapping my head with this newfound wisdom. So today, I will ASSERT my AUTHORITY and EXPERTISE in the following sentence before I advise you:

I WAS VOTED ONE OF THE BEST DRESSED PEOPLE (!!) IN MY SMALL RED-NECKED HIGH SCHOOL SEVERAL DECADES AGO!!

And so, because of this obvious flair for fashion, you can now wholly trust me as I tell you about the cultural fashion trends I am currently observing!

As I sat in the new Mexican taco place last week, I was scratching my head and puzzling over the décor.

Why was this place decorated with skeletons and skulls?

The previous month, in another restaurant, when the 20-year-old kind waitress turned, her forearm flashed a skull tattoo. She didn’t look or sound like a terrifying “Hell’s Angel” motorbike member, cussing and starting fights. Or whatever scary biker guys do – I don’t happen to have any good friends who are active Hell’s Angels members, come to think of it!

Actually, there is one scary-looking biker guy who attends our church, but his heart is so kind and full of a desire to love like Jesus that I forgot he’s frightening.

a man in a santa hat holding a cat
Photo by Petrebels on Unsplash

Anyway, this young waitress had a kind smile and a genuine desire to see us be well served.

She just happened also to like skull tattoos. “Why did she like a skull tattoo so much that she wanted it engraved into her arm, never to come off?” I wondered, scratching my head, trying to figure out this new fad.

Now, as proven here I am a very cool person, and with only a BIT of imagination, I am even CLOSE to attainting the title of “Cool Surfer Dude!” At least, this is the case in my imagination. (Now – What is my editor yelling at me again for anyway? – And something about “Authenticity”? She’s a bother!)

We can all define ourselves the way we want, and I am definitely cool.

Anyway, since I am, as proven above, so VERY cool, you’ll want to sit down and listen to me when I talk about tattoo fashion trends and current decoration styles in the public space.

The only problem is, with this ONE vogue trend of demonic fashion decor, I have absolutely NO idea what is going on. (I’m SURE there are NO other cultural fashion trends for which I am confused – Rest assured!)

The point of this post?

We’ve tossed the church as the source of a beautiful gate leading to God’s heart. The gate has cobwebs, and the path beyond it seems dark and foreboding.  We have added stuff to Christ’s message so that The Way isn’t as brightly lit, especially in contrast to other paths that flash their bright neon lights and claim The Way to God. And so, people are gently turned away from the beautiful gate by the cultural forces of progress. “Travel here,” the dark shapes seduce us.

“Life comes from death”, they whisper, stroking our heads to keep us calm, like a parent to a small child.

It is true that life comes from death.

Unless a grain of wheat is . . . dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.

Jesus Christ, the guy 1/3 of the world claims to follow

We sense hints of the divine in the symbol of the life of a flower emerging from the skull of symbolic death, so we blindly walk in that direction.

And so, we allow ourselves to be steered down a path of partial truth, which has always been the path to the most destructive of lies.

There is a profound truth within this metaphor, but blindly embracing all demonic symbolism is a path leading in the wrong direction.

Wake up, friends!

Let the bathwater of unhealthy Christian culture wake you as we toss it in a panic. Ah! Let’s throw out everything that doesn’t reflect the love Jesus showed us as He washed His friends’ feet and hung on a cross! Let’s toss the dirty bathwater of some parts of Christian culture! And may many wake up by this water splashed in their faces as we toss it, friends.

But let’s keep the baby.

A virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Immanuel (. . .for “God is with us”)

The Message

Let’s polish that beautiful gate and allow Christ to transform our hearts so they are bright enough, full enough of selfless love that our hearts on fire light the way for others to see the path to God, too.

But let’s stop turning to demons, friends, to show us the path to God.

Let’s worship God instead!

The reasons why we may want to worship a beautiful God who wants to set us free in joy instead of foul demons that will eventually devour us will be discussed in the next couple of posts!

You’re welcome!

Good luck!

The Truth About 3 Lies That Are Often Found Deep In Our Hearts -It’s Time To Toss Them

/ Lori Lawe / Leave a comment
A man holding a stick on top of a sandy beach
Photo by Harsh Aryan on Unsplash

So I went to church the other day.

A kind fellow welcomed me by taking off his hat and bowing to me. Then he slapped me upside the head and told me that I had to believe a political ideology as well before they would welcome me into their church.

They’ll make a show of religion but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.

The Message

I left the church and got into that church through another entrance because I knew how to look for another door. But many of you don’t. Many of you turn away, saddened, looking for another path to God.

“That path is not in the church,” many of us assert.

Have we replaced our primary sense of belonging . . .to [Jesus] . . . with politics…?

Christianity Today

So we stay home the following Sunday and watch TV or ask questions online, wondering, “Where is God?” Our hearts are stirred at night as God tries to wake us from spiritual slumber. We hear stories and wonder, “Maybe?” and then we are again distracted by our lunch and phone notifications.

But our hearts are a black hole that attracts the supernatural, often against our will or our reason.

Let’s dig deep down in our hearts today, friends, and see what we find deposited there in the depths. Like a vacuum attracting dust and debris, cultural beliefs swirl around in our hearts and sometimes settle there even though these ideas are simply filth, cluttering our minds. Instead, we need to find thoughts and questions that are food to fuel our spiritual journeys.

What we find often surprises us when we dig deep, deep down, hitting the depths of the heart.

Here’s some everyday clutter that we dig up and can inspect from all angles before DECIDING, with our MINDS, whether these ideas should be treasured in the depths of our hearts or thrown far, far away into the night, never to wake us again with their mischievous badgering. Sometimes, the wrong thoughts keep us awake at night. What do we toss, and what do we hold onto of the musings deep in our hearts, friend?

Here are several ideas:

  1. When we reach into our pants pocket, we pull out the plastic figurine of Jesus that we’ve carried all our lives. It’s time to toss him.
  2. When we reach into our other pants pocket, we pull out the counterfeit $20 bill we’ve also carried all our lives. This is our experience of church thus far and assumptions based on this experience. It’s time to toss it.
  3. Like the useful “Pensive” in the Harry Potter series, which allows the extraction of memories for in-depth study, we must also extract memories buried deep in our hearts. You also have a memory of another guy who slapped you upside the head, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, before offering you a seat in one of the pews at church. “No thanks,” you said, running from the building and locking the door behind you. It’s time to toss the key to the door you locked.

Why?

A counterfeit Jesus, counterfeit rules, and counterfeit beliefs POINT TO THE TRUTH THAT SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, THERE IS “THE REAL” OF EACH OF THESE THINGS.

No one counterfeits items that hold no value.

The fact that someone bothered to counterfeit these items hints at the truth that the accurate, authentic, valuable versions are out there somewhere.

Don’t turn away from your path to God just because someone slapped you upside the head a bit.

Find the other entrance.