Reflect Living Wholeness
By Carolyn Russell
I have recently had a holiday. Superb in so many ways – seeing friends, returning to places we have loved, being with family including watching our 4 year old granddaughter enjoy REALLY cold weather and laughing with her. We planned our time, we paid money for all the fares, we travelled a long way, then we walked and drove, we ate food and enjoyed fellowship, (we found living in close quarters in small flats quite challenging at times !), and yet it was good. The job of a holiday is for a person to have a break …. RIGHT? And to return to more standard life energised to continue… RIGHT?
Yet, I have returned and feel refreshed and ready in some ways, but there is a persistent niggle in my heart…. A CONFLICT!
I tried to ignore this presence of the Niggle in that sector of my heart for a while after returning, returning to my normal routine of home life/client work, and planning the year– A potentially full one, which will give a lot of satisfaction and joy. So.. the true character of Conflict was being expressed – on the one hand I think and believe this, on the other hand my body and my mind and spirit are wanting to give me a message that seems opposite.
The Niggle continued! Then I got sick – confined to bed for 2 days after a Gastro bug, the Niggle amplified… Shouted VERY LOUD. ‘Take NOTICE’
So, I did. I had to STOP to do so. STOP running busy, STOP getting into my ‘regular’ way and FACE… but WHAT was I seeing as I did this?
Well, our God is Invitingly gracious in Niggles. He wants to always teach us more of Him, to be present to us, as we choose to Centre. His Word is always there for me to read and learn from.
Where did I go in His Word through these sick days….? Well, my brain was a bit addled perhaps, but I prayed for Understanding, then thought of 2 very short words, Do and Be, which I am sure came from His Spirit’s voice, as they led me to read a lot of Scripture, illuminating what was NIGGLING….
As you read this, open the Scriptures, and hear the words that illuminated, taught me, and exhorted me to then FACE what is actually going on inside me with that knowledge of Him.
Let’s join together TURN the Eyes of our Hearts (Centre) to Him who knows us.
3 portions of Scripture shone out as I followed through the Canon to understand Do, and Be.
James Chapter 1
Colossians Chapter 3
John Chapter 9
At first glance, there are Behaviours, obvious to all around as they read these chapters. They seem to be all about Tasks… Doing work and activity, ‘putting on’ stuff!
Then hone down:
Col 3: 17 and 3: 22 : The WHOLE, ALL, EVERYTHING words shine through! ( CWF is based on this WHOLE picture!)
And look deeply at James 1: when we Turn ( repent) and Focus on Christ, there is produced in us a Heart Suffused in righteousness, Like a deep Soaking in water then Cleansed, and then Activated, bearing a beauty which LOOKs like Jesus!
Now read John 9: how Jesus responded to the blind man, and to the crowd, when he was here in person: He said ( John 9:4) ‘ we must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world’. Jesus knew that his character was to illuminate, and this led to doing tasks and activities, but overall to Responses which cause the BLIND TO SEE.
So, I spent that day resting, and thinking about CWF, and using the shapes to explore my niggle.
The word TASK came into my mind and arrested me – how easy it becomes to DO tasks, get knowledge and apply skills, not allow the Transformation of Heart, and changed Attitudes from Jesus to seep out The True TASK. People see the Behaviours, but the Character is not blessing others while there is light.
The discomfort of the niggle was slowing – I was getting it!
Carolyn, you have been sliding back L – over into DOING only, not BEING, and though the Social Physical and Mental parts of you were fed somewhat through the holiday, you did not take enough time for the Character of Christ to be continually formed in your heart, to become more and more HIS.
What have I learned from Him?
TASK = DO and yet…. TASK ≠ BUSY
TASK = Being HIS… What we do with the WHOLE, with ALL of us, With EVERYTHING
(including planning, and work, holidays and eating with friends, paying money, blessing folk, helping the Blind to see)
After I was recovering, I read some things on Bible Hub, and found this: ‘… we seek diversion, distraction, and busy-ness to elude the encounter with God, and the examination of self in His presence’. This attitude of Busy-ness had become pervasive for me through the last months, and I needed to notice the uncomfortable NIGGLES more. ( this is worth reading if you wish to follow up more on this topic: 2. Process Spirituality: Being Versus Doing | Bible.org
Thank you Father for the Conflict sector that you have gifted us with in our hearts. We praise You, that You have given us minds, which have thoughts and emotions, and ways of observing ourselves in the world, and hearts which can notice when we are not seated in your gates, learning from You.
Help us all to be more aware of the Niggles in that Sector, to STOP, Feel that discomfort, think about ourselves, and to FACE the truth of our ways, and to Turn for HOME, to the illuminating, inviting presence of Christ from Your word and Your Spirit.
Then help us by Your Spirit’s power to submit ourselves to be Cleansed, Soaked, and refreshed, and to DO your will while there is light.
Come Lord Jesus,
AMEN