Life Outside

   "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

  God is good.

  All the time.

  It's funny, how what you know can suddenly become something you understand. There's been a great deal of understanding as of late. It's almost as though the Lord has preselected the videos I have been watching. It seems the right one always comes across my path at the right moment. Who knows, maybe He has, or at least guides me in the right direction. True to His way, He lets me decide if I watch it or not.

  I am most grateful.

  But knowledge without wisdom is empty.

  So I need to know how to use what I've learned because the cage I've stepped out of is inside my mind and body. And because the primal, survival part of my brain has been running the show for so long, it's going to take time to help it understand it's not needed until it's actually needed. Like when a bear attacks or something like that.

  Right now, it sees bears absolutely everywhere and is acting accordingly. 

  And my brain responds by affirming, "Yup, there are bears everywhere and one might attack you in your bed so be aware and ready to run." 

  

  I don't think a simple, "Stand down, soldier." will be enough.

  Or maybe that's it. Three words to calm my soul. I like the idea of calling my survival brain a soldier because it's only tried to do what a good soldier does: serve and protect.

  Maybe I am angry with her, too. She didn't do a very good job...and now she's overcompensating for her failures.

  That's not really fair, is it? 

  Because bears can wear disguises: mother, husband, brother, friend, doctor, boss...

  And that is a hard lesson.

  The bears are real after all.

  Dear, sweet Lord Jesus, help my inner soldier learn to assess a situation before going full on battle ready. Help me discern what is real and what is not and grant me the wisdom to act accordingly. In Your name I pray. AMEN!