Closed for Restoration

Still knowing a direction would come, along came Brave Girls Club. (Not sure how I first came across them, most likely someone sharing a post on Facebook.) I signed up to receive their Daily Truths - a little bird told me. Their daily newsletter spoke to me. On their website, they talked about this online class entitled Soul Restoration. Wow! That's it, just what I need; I need to be restored. To find Karen, again. What? $100?? Come on, that's not that much, when you consider therapy sessions. Go for it! Eight weeks of walking through my life to find myself again, seemed worth the investment. So I did!! It's been almost a year ago to the day. Oh, how things have changed. www.bravegirlsclub.com. Melody and Kathy were agents of life-saver for me.

Brave Girls Club's Soul Restoration was a video, along with questions, and a art/word journal. The first lesson: using the picture of a house as an analogy of your soul. Understanding that you make choices that allow people to come into your soul house. You get to decide who comes in, who stays on the porch, the yard, on the sidewalk, the road, or maybe even on the moon.

Around the same period, Paul had been giving a message at church on Relationships. He, being a man and a gunsmith, used the analogy of a target. You know the ones with the bull's eye in the center, along with the idea of a map. I was so amused at how the Holy Spirit was emphasizing this message of relationships to me.

So where do you begin when a house is broken, trashed, cluttered, expended? What must be done to restore it? It must be cleaned out. Remove everything. Start new. Have you thought about it? Have you ever wondered how to get a handle on what is going on in your life? Have you wondered where to begin?

Step back...breathe. Everything is going to be okay. When all seems in chaos it is time to stop, and get a better perspective on people and situations. Who do you run to?? Ask yourself, with so many people, who do I need to be at the core of my soul? Who and where do others need to be?

I love how Jesus is a perfect example of this. He had so many people in, out, around, and passing by him. Yet, he never lost his connection to his heart, his soul. To the one who knew him more than any other, to God, his Father. He understood the importance of that relationship, and it was with him throughout his daily movements. He also had his inner circle, then those out on another level, and those who passed through on his journey. He knew and understood who and how much time to give to each person, each task. It is possible for each one of us, too.

You see, at the core of our heart, our soul, is our Creator. He knows us more than anyone else can, including our own self. To cling to Him when times are well, and when they are uncertain, are crucial to not getting lost in the light or the dark seasons of life. My Truth Teller (lesson 2) will say to me, Be Peace. And I will know all is well with my soul. When you have this relationship at the core of your soul, you have the ability to understand, and be at peace with others in this world, even during times when it doesn't make sense.

So now, that I had gone into this state of soul restoration, and determined who was at the core of my house, I was ready to take the next step...to look at who and where others were and needed to be in my life. This was the most fascinating process. A spouse, children, family, friends, acquaintances, those who I came across in my daily activities. There were some I invited into my house that were intend to just teach me something, and I them. There was no need to set aside a room in the house and let them live there...a refreshing glass of water was all that was required. (See post February 3 post).

I would tell you where those in my world were positioned, but it is different for everyone, and adjustments are necessary. I will say if you are married, that your spouse should be right close by the core of your soul. For it is in marriage that a gift of a helpmate has been intended, God's gift to each other to become more than they would apart; and therefore God's intent to be a blessing to the world. (Pg. 173, A Return to Love written by Marianne Williamson.)

For others in my world, there are shifts on the front porch, the yard, the side walk, and even some who are a part of my world, but who I choose to love, as I leave them out on the moon.

How about you? Your soul is precious, at the core, your Creator has bestowed specific gifts and talents for you to bestow on your walk through this world. Are you watchful of your heart? Do you understand that there are choices to be made in relationships? Does a relationship enable or hinder you from being who were created to be?

Who is on the Walk?

Not going into the details, the "here again" took place on at least two fronts; one - my mother; and two - me getting involved in others' lives more than was necessary or required. Bearing others' burdens was an addiction. (Of course, I did not see it at the time.) When I assume any task, I take it on with 100% enthusiasm. What's the problem? Let's look at it. What can be done to change it? Come on, you can do it. As I look back, I have done this while involved in several group environments. After all there are more people, more needs. Humm, that's not quite right. Humbly, and being vulnerable, my "I'm trying to help you; Listen to me; I can fix it." attitude has always been with me.

When the last blow-up took place at the end of 2011, talking it out to why I was so taken back....my husband offered this observation (after almost 30 years, he kinda knows me), "You don't need a pat on the back for what you do, but you also don't need a "slap in the face." a.k.a. verbal not appreciated. I had never thought about that before. Each time these blow-ups occurred in the past, I was left with this "slap in the face" feeling. Not appreciated...struck a nerve. Wow! A new discovery. A new question to ponder. Why do I do the things I do?

Have you thought about that? Why do you do for others?

So this is what I discovered for me. I am an encourager. I would say it is my heavenly gift. However, there is a point when my good intentions of encouraging become a curse. When, you might ask? When I move from my heavenly gift, into my own doings...a performance mode. When I get falsely lured in, that if I don't do it no one will, or everyone expects me to do it. Or, when I think "I" can fix it. "I" have all the solutions. Awe, the schemes of the evil one.

How key it is to stay connected; to stay aware; to be humble. This is what I learned through this knock, ask, seek, and change exploration: If it is something I am to get involved with I will be excited, there will be no hesitation, I just know to do. If there is dread, dragging, withdrawn, forced feeling, I need to step back and look deeper into the actions I need to take. When my heartaches or is burdened for someone, it does not mean I need to run to someone's side and get involved. It means I need to send up some heartfelt prayer, then be still. If I need to do more than prayer, He will make it known to me.

The Connection. As it has been said throughout time, it is essential that you stay connected to the Creator. Beginning each day, consciously, taking that moment to be aware that there are forces in this world that want to drag you off into darkness; and will do it with little steps. Then one day, you are lost and weary; wondering how you reached this place again. The great news...He is Faithful always. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. He will provide a way out. I know He does!!! Because each time I walk around that same mountain, He is with me, waiting patiently for me to ask Him, and to lift me up once more. And with each time, I learn a little more about staying connected, by hearing His voice and heeding His direction.

Who do you take on your daily walk?

Hug!

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, He is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30.