Archive for October, 2008

I’ve been reading Renovation of the Heart In Daily Practice (Dallas Willard). Today he talked about The Heart of Me.

He said that there are six basic aspects to a person:

Thoughts (images, concepts, judgments. inferences)
Feelings (sensations, emotions)
Choice (will, decisions, character)
Body (actions, interaction with the physical world)
Social context (personal and structural relations to others)
Soul (the factor the integrates all of the above to form one life)

“Each aspect or dimension of the person will be a source of weakness or strenth to the whole person, depending on the condition it is in. The condition it is in will depend on the heart. A person who is prepared and capable of responding to the situations of life in ways that are good and right is a person whose soul is in order, under the direction of a well-kept heart, in turn under the direction of God.”

What is a well-kept heart? My thoughts, my feelings, my choices, my body, my relationships and my soul depend on my heart. If my weakness or strength depends on it – how do I keep it well?

Know His word so well that I am not confused – I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:10-11)

Spend time talking to Him and keeping my bearings – My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. (Psalm 27:8)

Wait for Him – Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9)

Continue in what I know – Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. (Psalm 119:2-3)

And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

They walked across my path as if I wasn’t there. They stepped out in front of me and stopped. They parked their carts and walked off – leaving them right where I was trying to reach an item. They acted as if I wasn’t there. No one spoke. No one looked me in the eye. When I came near, they looked anywhere else.

Before my ankle surgery years ago, I had to use one of those motorized carts in the supermarket. I was surprised at what a lonely experience it was.

You would assume that people in our “civilized” society would make allowances. That they would help, not hinder. And I’m sure if someone asked them a hypothetical question they’d say “yes, of course”.

But that’s not what they do in practice. I don’t know if it’s because handicaps make them uncomfortable – they don’t know what to do so they pretend they don’t see. I don’t know …

I only know that that short experience has made a difference for me. When I see someone in a wheelchair I am careful to look them in the eye. To treat them like any other person. I guess person is the operative word here. They aren’t part of the chair.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

On talking about problems:

“No one finds it easy. But it’s a cold world if no one tries.”

Molly McDonald
Monarch of the Glen