If you are stuck in a cycle of negativity, or perhaps a critical and offensive spirit, then perhaps this is for you today.
"Stop taking yourself so seriously…."
That is EXACTLY what I heard in my meditation.
"Excuse me?" {sarcasm}
"Say What?"
"You heard me, dear," was kindly, and ever so softly spoken into my heart.
I had moseyed into one of my favorite verses. Ever done that? "Moseyed" awhile over one particular verse? If you haven't, then I encourage you, to try it sometime.
How to "MOSEY" in scripture:
1. Read a verse of your choosing.
(By the way, your "verse" can be anything that inspires you. Doesn't have to be a Bible verse. Just so happened mine was.)
2. Dictate the scripture into your handy little mobile devise.
3. Close your eyes, and listen to the verse word for word. Listen to each and every word. One word or theme may stick out.
4. Play it again, and listen for a particular word to resonate.
5. Play it a third time. What did you hear? Treasures are waiting to be discovered. Write them down.
Michah 6:8: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
In my mind, I am screaming out…… "LOVE!!!! YESSSSSS!!!!!!"
The "love-child" hippy in me immediately sees "LOVE mercy." (before my second listen)
I'm all about the LOVE. And mercy comes in at a close second!
In fact, the joke my kids have with me is that if I ever went on ABC's The Bachelor (which I wouldn't…. but I COULD take them all!!!), I'd be gathering all the drama queens around coaching them on how to BE LOVE to each other. That, and passing out all my essential oil remedies for their hangovers.
But today, (back to the point) upon my moseying, the treasure uncovered was the word "humbly" and it beckoned me to come sit a spell.
Convicted in places I have "failed" this whole humility thing, I want to first go to more even more critique. This is what my brain wiring likes to initially do… critique myself the most. Then I remembered a conversation I had with a good friend. He reminded me that reframing my words will ultimately change my reality. In my reframing I discover more buried treasures, and the more the dazzling diamond in my soul comes forth from that lump of cole....
So I hear this word humility, and I hear, "Listen!"
"Okay? ! I am listening!"
"Stop taking yourself so seriously, Girl!"
"Well, I will pay attention to that more." I say out loud.
The flies my the wall are wondering what the crazy woman is gonna say next to herself! I imagine them calling each other around, "Guys, Guys! She's at it again! Comon' grab the popcorn!"
I paid attention to this word Humble.
I found that in Greek translations, the origin of humble is described several ways, but my internal spotlight stopped at this:
"Bring down ones pride. To have a modest opinion of oneself. To behave in an unassuming manner devoid of all haughtiness. To confess ones spiritual littleness…. "
Wow! "To behave in an unassuming manner devoid of all haughtiness. To confess my spiritual littleness."
The opposite of this is to get offended. When I forget that I am spiritually little, I become critical, impatient, blaming, and much too busy to look a stranger in the eye. I miss out on so much beauty. I take everything and everyone too seriously…. including myself!
I want to take Humility's hand, and walk with her down the unconventional path.
She doesn't let me "get" offended with others, or myself.
When I am offended with others, its ALWAYS a "me" issue projecting out. I daresay, that being offended is a control issue as well.
Humility says, "Sow into others."
Humility says, "Be."
Humility leads me to know that all I own is not of my own doing but a beautiful gift.
When I critique myself harshly, Humility soothes me with, "You are wonderfully made, beautiful, and unique. Stop with the striving."
Humility offers grace to "view" through a lens of kindness and compassion.
She shows me when I am rightfully upset about the way I have been treated, and I just HAVE to retaliate, that there is something beautiful still in that person's soul. That She is also taking my "offender" on a journey.
Pause, Breathe….
"There is always beauty," I hear.
"Stop taking yourself so seriously, so that you can see my beauty."
In other words, I felt him jokingly say, "Get over yourself, girl."
My take away?
There is always beauty. I miss out on beauty, relationship, and peace when I take myself too seriously. Others will miss out on the authentic me, and I miss out on their diamond bright. Oh that I may forever see the diamonds. May it always be.
