Parallel Play

The other day I was speaking to a friend who has a toddler, and he started explaining child psychology, and this thing called parallel play. Parallel play is when you see two toddler playing side-by-side and it looks like they are playing together. But the children are not playing together, but alongside each other. Simply because they are in the same room, and playing iy looks like they are playing with each other. The children are playing, and maybe with toys, but upon closer observation you can tell they are not even communicating. When I heard this, I begin to think, this reminds me of the interactions among people. We all parallel play during most verbal exchanges. We are speaking but not necessary to each other, it is usually at each other. We are hyped on our point of view, perspective, etc, we fail to listen or understand what the other person is saying, or their needs. Yet, if anyone passes by it looks like two people are engaged in a dialogue, talking to each other. But this is thing, this behavior has shaped our lives and how we work with others. Thus, it is not surprising that we can not grow, or work collaboratively; we grew up and forgot. We forget that playing together means I do not get my way, I am not always right,and it is not about just me. During playing together, we seek what is best so all can play. This has an organic natural feel to it that is not achieved any other way. Surprisingly enough, we do this less and less. We engage in parallel, rather working together. No wants actually do the right thing, like love, save, not judge and condemn. If we stop the parallel play, we could have better place of worship, but also draw because the truth found and felt by those who are seeking. This is a seamless effort that is done because it is done through an unconscious competence; we know and are convince that it is automatic. Love, forgiveness, and faith direct our path, not fear, insecurities, or judgement.... John 3:16-17

Getting School

Phil. 4:13 'I can do all things through God who strengthens me.'
I can do, you can do, we can do all things through God. Thus, we all must do and engage in the experience if progression and growth is the desire. How we respond to the experience determines whether we got the lesson. This is a long one because something wonderful happened to me…smiling…

I went back to school. I have embarked on the next level of my journey in my faithwalk. This part will forever change my life, how I live, my interaction with others, expand my mentality, etc. I will be more conscious of what I put in to practice, what I speak, not that I will be perfect because for those who know me, will find this journey one quite interesting and I am far from perfection inspite of ego.…lol…For great is God’s mercy toward me, inspite of me and because He loves me. I felt it, once the experience settle in me what really this was about…sigh…and all I can say is there is not words, you just had to be there to see it. The illumination rain down in tears, the clarification rang through in my smile, the weight and gravity felt in the outstretch arms and head thrown back, humility shouted in the bent knees, the eyes closed as the silence brought a voice of loving kindness upon me, and I knew my surrendering was necessary…

Now let me go back to me going back to school. Well in this part of my faith walk journey there is this transition period where I am being prepared for what I am call to do. I came with trepidation, uneasiness, and not really wanting to do this. Wondering if this was the right person, should I be working with him, and if he even had time, ready to take this task own. So, I came in fully prepared to leave with the understanding this person is not the one for this task. To thank him for sure, for the time and effort but this is over; begin seeking elsewhere. Yes, I am crazy like that… Yet, I knew it was necessary because it was about me being open, vulnerable, not something I do very well. I like most people who in the helping, advising, professional guidance giving, informally and formally, we do not do this well. I had to trust the God who sent me, he was the one.

Letting others see into the vulnerability in us, and giving control to another is a necessity to ‘get it.’ See, we only have two experience as humans, where we really allow ourselves to be vulnerable and release control, (I believe)where go with the flow to get the most out of it…One is where there is a true sense of lost or hurt, and the second is when we participate in making the beast with two backs (Shakespearian term) of a personal nature (I hope this does not offend anyone but think about, you will see if you let go of your cultural constraints of sensibility, and yes, I went there, tactfully but fully there). Now the African-Americans culture might argue with me on this point because of the demonstrative actions, verbal and non-verbal, seen during in a church service. I am not move because this can be spontaneous but it is also habitual, what was taught as to how to express one self in church, and we control it, because even though we feel it, we do not do, always let go. Thus, for an actions to show true vulnerability and openness, it is not controlled, it comes, it occurs.…things that make you go..hmmmm… I had to explain this, now let me continue. We never really contemplate it being important or necessary to move forward in a positive progressive nature as part of growth. Because prejudices and knownness are challenged and expanded for the individual seeking to increase their horizon; there is not any other way. So I got schooled, literally, and the metaphorically; and I know my teacher enjoyed it…lol…. Let me explain. It wasn't just what was taught to me beyond verbal exchange, or form and function but the experience itself, and I was there to embrace, grasp the totality of the experience. I could only do so when I became humble, vulnerable, open, empty of expectations, and let go and let God; imagine that. You know, become an empty pitcher before a full fountain; I was there for the full experience, to sap everything out of it... This is no illusion or ‘game’ being put out to you, it substantive and weighty. However, this could not have happened without having trust and faith in my God will complete the work started in me. That He endowed the person I am been sent to with the skills to reach me, teach me, assist me as well as listen to me that hits it's the heart of the matter every time. My teacher did not make it easy for me, I have homework that is going to take me a minute..lol… When the teacher makes it easy it does not leave a lasting mark that lives, nor does it have a life past right now. It is not without emotional upheaval because you are open, vulnerable. Thus, emotions will come to the surface because you are going to an unused or untapped, uncharted waters; an emotional eruption is sure to come…think about it a minute. It is interesting tranquil beauty to see someone walking in their gift. They make it effortless, it is an unconscious competence (new phrase learned) that is seamless, and authenticity is evident because you realize the teacher, like the student wonders if s/he went too far, gave too much, or am I clear. See when we walk in our truth, we will fully see, what we do for others, God shall make happen for you…and you receive better, than what you gave….because an apt Teacher, who has an apt students eventually sees roles changing, and teaching is being done by the student in the unconscious competence that is seamless….lol

Now, you might be wondering what did you learn about God’s word, and I will tell you that this process is a test for what I am to put into practice, what I have been taught. And also, I wanted to share what is necessary to obtain growth in God because whether we pay attention to it or not. It all matters because whether we intend to or not, we are impacted by others, and we impact others with our words, our thoughts, our actions. What do I mean? Ever wonder why you missed something, and others got it? Ask yourself, were you surrendered to the moment, fully present and committed to the moment, or just there? Some say, it not my time? Well, timing has to do where you are? Are you open to it, or not? Were you there when you were supposed to be there, or was this happenstance, random.....You choose…

Proverbs 16:1,3,9 ‘Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word…Put GOD in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place…We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.’

I hope all who reads this finds this more than mere self-indulgence but enlightenment!

What happens when...

What happens when…
What happens when you realize the disparity you desire to correct, change, you have help to create. Not only have you helped to create it, you are currently perpetuating it with intentionality through your decisionmaking and actions. You have been on automatic pilot, so you contributed to what has been taught and never questioned because it was part of your world. It has as been a part of your life; you just engaged as an active participant; it is as natural as breathing for you. It appears to be interwoven in all aspects of your life. See, it is the way you overlook the discrepancies, differences and challenges of those skin to you, kin to you, and/or friend to you. It is as much a part of your truth, your reality, your controlled culture group,and it is not a problem. This seamless existence does not push you to step outside your frame of reference to see, maybe something is not right. Until we are ready to submit that we too contribute to the disparity we wish to change, we will never find a solution that works for us. As with most things in life, it begins and ends with us, when it comes to change because unless we change the lens we look through, nothing will seems to change; even when it has. Although it is for us, it is not about us. See we all have a story to tell, and until we know it, accept our own truth as the reason we are, as we are, not to be used as an excuse but for clarification. We cannot understand why you and I stand, and do what we do.  

What happens when we release our hang ups, walk outside of our comfortable boundaries to see? We begin the first the steps to grow, improve, change. We find what we knew was only part of story, and the rest shall challenge as it realign all we know. But if we seek God, then the changes is difficult but the transition is easier and we will find helping hands, smiling faces, and appropriate advisement in on the journey.. We choose.... Matt. 20:14 - is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous? (NASB).

Walking the path...

Walking the path is different than knowing the path. When know the path, you can choose whether you walk or not. However, when you are walking it, it is as if you are on automatic pilot, and you move. You are not envying another's gift, possession, or placement because you know, you are where you are suppose to be, doing what you need to do. Walking the path will put you in places where you would not have chosen, but in your heart you know such a time as this you are supposed to be, and do as the help needed at present to assist you along the way.
When you are walking the path, your enemies have no avail in or on your life success. Each trap laid for you, results in a discovery of their duplicity, if you do not put your hands on it to repair it. Repairing is done in an unorthodox method or illogical order but the outcome shows God's hand is in it for your good. Walking the path puts you in a revelation moment where you see, believe when others around you doubt the way you go. Yet, you know this is the way while trepidation and fear accompanies you, and peace resides within you. Walking the path is nothing like knowing the path to go. In knowing people can confuse you, talk you out of it, or make you think what you know is normal experience to what you are going through; you know it is not. While walking the path, no one is privy to the voice of God directing you, although they play their role to get you where you need to be. See, walking the path is not a regular thing of choosing that you and I are familiar with. It is like watching a baby learning to walk. No one tells them it is time to try, they just do. They fall, they hurt themselves, they are uncomfortable using what has not been used this way before, but yet they do not falter in their pursuit until it is mastered... Walking path is different than knowing it. When you walk it, you do the ordinary and the not ordinary things in ways no one would have thought about, and it fits...
Matt 14:29 - And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus...

The Great Awakening....

"The ancients who wished to manifest their clear character to the world would first bring order to their states. Those who wished to bring order to their states would first regulate their families. Those who wished to regulate their families would first regulate their personal lives. Those who wished to cultivate their personal lives would first rectify their minds. Those who wished to rectify their minds would first make their wills sincere. Those who wished to make their wills sincere would first extend their knowledge. The extension of knowledge consists in the investigation of things. When things are investigated, knowledge is extended; when knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere; when the will is sincere, the mind is rectified; when the mind is rectified, the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the state will be in order; when the state is in order there will be peace throughout the world. From the son of heaven down to the common people, all must regard cultivation of the personal life as the root or foundation. There is never a case when the root is in disorder and yet the branches are in order."
Confucius , "The Great Learning" in Wing-Tsit Chan, A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy (Princeton, 1963) p.86-87.]

What does this say to use Americans, Christians? We cannot expect to get something out, what we did not put in it. We cannot expect to gain the knowledge, if we have not investigated with a sincere motivate that is unselfish. We should not go out trying to fix others, when we have not taken the time to remove the beam, plank of madness in our own eyes. No one is expecting perfection, but we do expect you who guide to be further down the path of enlightenment, than the one being guided. We shall see change in others, the world around us, when the change begins in us first. When we learn, and grasp the true meaning of loving thy neighbor as yourself, and loving God, we find love covers and touches. When we ‘get it’, it takes us all playing our part, and watching others to see where we can help another, not hurt them, then we become the village that let each unique light shines within us. No more darkness that robs us of our own self-worth, because we understand too clearly how forgiveness frees all. Because it not just about who was right, who was wrong, but also acknowledge everything has a time a place, and although the right to do is yours, it may not always be right for you to do at this time. Just as we conclude expanding our horizon, perspective is more than just increasing, improving, growth, but also letting go, releasing, putting away childish things are need to mature because the duality of both in the same space makes things dysfunctional, and self-destructive and implosion are imminent. Therefore, we are reminded, we learn by doing, not rhetorical observation, we must practice, what we preach, teach, and explain. Jesus saved us through grace because he came down, out of his comfortable to become vulnerable among men to demonstrate for us the true meaning of servant-leadership.
John 15:1-8 (HCSB) - "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.

God is shifting things for you

God is shifting things in your life. The connection with one person will change your life forever.2 Chron 20:20... And I  do not know when, or who that person is. But I realized in the turning of the page, as I read Called Out of Darkness by Anne Rice, the conclusion she found to be profound and true. I do not have to understand it, or figure out if this or that was random, as we are quick to say, because God knows everything but we have freewill. He created all things, and our free will is where we fail because we do not want to do the following- surrender, trust, and love. None of which shall be easy, but it is the path we must travel to find the peace that alludes us. To find the life crave by us, and we must realize, and not rationalize away, God doesn't need us to argue His case in any court, we just need to admit, submit- not my will but Thy will be done. Come before God with a complete trust and faith that empowers you to stand, and become more relevant as a servant-leader in an expanded perspective. You finally get it; no more grappling the absolute because in God it is the absolute. And as time returns, truth is revealed and even though difficulties shall surely come the light shines in the darkness, and my soul leaps because Jesus sacrifice is finally comprehended by me. Words fail me now because how do you describe a moment where the sublime, the complex, the holy, the divine, and the hallowedness greets our imperfectness, and instead of leaving, love sweeps over to settle your frighten soul. You know why the sacrifice mattered and the true essence of it; it had to be for you to see. You are finally called out of the darkness by light that did more than to illuminate a physical way, but also your spiritual way. Nothing shall be the same now, every fiber of your being screams to you, it is done! You understand now more fully why John 8:32 matters and Romans 8:28 needs to be grasped in order for you to progressively grow... God is shifting things so you can be all you shall be, so stand still and 'know'!  You choose... 

We trust because He knows

We trust because He knows. We do not have to  wreck our brains, to find all the answers to questions that cannot be answered satisfactorily because if you do not see, you do not see. You have to desire above all else, in order to see truth because sometime the answer is trust and obedience is all you get. If you have a faith, a spiritual belief, at some point you must realize in this world of metaphorical landscapes and assessment latent forecast fools us; our intellectual capacity is limited. Yet, God's is not. However, to embrace this way, this disposition one must go to the core of self, and do the uncomfortable, the not feel good thing...surrender through an act of faith. 

Failure to have this awareness, comprehension leads to tumultuous relationships, no matter the circumstance or arena, in all our interactions. Why? The reason we fight, the arguments we are active participants in are all a reflection of internal issues, we have fail to address, we do not want to deal with, and now it has manifest in a form we do not recognize. Don't believe me, then ask yourself why are you struggling with the issue of not being worthy, good enough, born on the wrong side of the track, being in the wrong relationships, or to show what you have gain, trying to prove yourself, meet another expectations, etc. I could go on but the fact of the matter is this, when you are at peace with who you are, the good, the bad, the selfish or the scary, no one can use it against you, ever. You have nothing to hide because you know- I am who I am, and not what I ain't. It not an easy way but the path of not least resistance ultimately grants access to 'peace in the midst of life chaos'. And you choose to live out loud authentically. For you have conducted your own SWAT analysis, and realize everything present is needed for your personal growth and gain. Yet, you cannot overcome or have it healed, if you are not willing to reveal it.