Stuck In My Head

I know I’ve asked you this before, but it’s happened again.

Just as when we first explored “Becoming”: Forbearant, I need to inquire if you ever just get a word stuck in your head?

One that seems to just pop in there, from out of nowhere and then won’t leave you alone?

If it has happened to you, then you can empathise with the feeling that it can be quite maddening. Bouncing around the left brain, right brain, tip of tongue…

Why am I stuck on this word?

When was the last time I even heard that word?

How could this possibly have anything to do with anything?

Now I’ve found myself needing to be forbearant as I have a number of other words stuck in there.

Hmm… patience… endurance… tolerance… I just used all three of those skills in searching for my answer. There must be something to this forbearance thing and how it relates to our shared path of “Becoming”.

Just making a small adjustment adding a couple of syllables to my request, gave me a much clearer picture of the impact of this word. I could begin to realize it’s relevance, how it directly related to me, my life, our paths of “Becoming”.

I knew I had heard the word before, though could not remember when, so that led me to the next step in my search, the Scriptures.

So I stumbled into Matthew 9:13 (ESV): “Go and learn what this means, ….”. Well that’s what I thought I was doing. Anyway then I stumbled into, (I never said this would be a straight path), Colossians 3:13

Bearing with, yes bear is part of the word forbearance. It also takes us back to the patience and tolerance mentioned in the dictionary. Forgiving as we were forgiven. Always a good reminder. Especially when we need to forgive ourselves, so I think we are getting closer.

Then I arrived at Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

I think we may have arrived at our revelation.

Forbearance is patient self-control, restraint and tolerance. I need that.

Wonder if that’s why in quiet contemplation this word adhered to me and would not let go?

And it’s not the only word that keeps popping up. There are also those “R-words”.

Reviewing our shared paths, with the rewards of his past week and respectfully revisiting our most recent steps on this path to “Becoming Today”, we recognize we are realizing a period of renewal.

So let’s consider the origins of the word renewed.

In Scripture the basis for this word comes from the Greek “ananeoo”. Which is defined as “to be renovated by an inward reformation”. Therefore we can accept that renewing is an ongoing process through which a transition from one state of mind, attitude or belief to another takes place.It is a rebirth in the sense that there is a shedding of the old and putting on the new.

This can take place on all four levels.

An essential part of “Becoming”, these four aspects of life, are something for years I’ve referred to as P.I.E.S. That’s when you reconnect with the fact that the Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual aspects of our lives are all reborn within the same realm.

When you are addressing all four aspects of life, the circle remains unbroken, the wheel of life keeps spinning, you continue to move, if not then suddenly one area deflates and like a flat tire you find yourself temporarily stranded on the side of the path, However, this too can be corrected,with Fix-A -Flat, the tire changed or someone comes to rescue you.

Take a moment now to reconsider where you see yourself. Contemplate who you really are and what you truly want to achieve. Be painfully honest with yourself.

Do you need to reconcile something? Are you in need of a reconciliation with someone, or an idea, thought, belief? Examine why this rebirth is vital to your “Becoming”.

The rebirth I’m talking about comes to pass in the ‘spirit of your mind’. It is within the reach of our inner selves. This is the residence of the higher life . Where we reap what we sow, either in rewards or repercussions. This region of our essence is where we realize moral thinking and the region where wisdom and knowledge are received.

Through the Scriptures we learn when we are reborn or born again, then we have a new essence, radiating brightly in the light of the Lord and therefore we need to reemerge from this time of redevelopment with the resignation to relearn, recommit and receive new principles to live by.

“And that you put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”
Ephesians 4:23

Continuing on that thought the literal translation of the Greek language words for ‘after God” are “according to what God is in Himself”

We realize we are recreated in God’s image. We are to put on the robes of this new reality which reveal that our role now, according to what God is in Himself, involves being reinforced in our righteousness and true holiness.

This return to life, or recovery of forgotten promises can be recognized as a revival.

Not the kind with tents and fire and brimstone, unless you really need that, but in reviving our own personal connection with God.

The KJV Dictionary, which revisits the language choice in the King James Version of the bible reveals this definition of revival:

1. Return, recall or recovery to life from death or apparent death; as the revival of a drowned person.

2. Return or recall to activity from a state of languor; as the revival of spirits.

3. Recall, return or recovery from a state of neglect, oblivion, obscurity or depression; as the revival of letters or learning.

4. Renewed and more active attention to religion; an awakening of men to their spiritual concerns.

This return to the Lord is indeed a realization of our own recognizable reawakening. Much aligned with the seasonal changes we have been experiencing, we are ready for rejuvenation, our coming out of winter’s hibernation with energy and enthusiasm and rejoicing for the possibilities that we can reason are coming next.

Remain steadfast and re-clarify your life’s mission. Ask God to help you recognize what it is that He has uniquely created you for.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

Resurrect your vision for your revival and then if you think I’ve recycled all the “R words” I can….. Well realign that rationale because there’s more…

So how do we ready ourselves to continue this discussion? Let’s begin with the concept of “Readiness”.

It’s really beyond just a simple definition so let’s examine three aspects of the word and then develop our thoughts into how it applies to our shared path.

noun: readiness

the state of being fully prepared for something.

synonyms: preparedness, preparation, at the ready, available, on hand, accessible, handy, at one’s fingertips, prepared, primed, on standby, standing by, on stand-to, on call, on full alert

willingness to do something.

synonyms: inclination, enthusiasm, eagerness, keenness, gameness, promptness, quickness, alacrity, ease, facility, address

immediacy, quickness, or promptness.

synonyms: swiftness, speed, speediness, punctuality, timeliness, cleverness, sharpness, astuteness, shrewdness, keenness, discernment, skill, skillfulness

Each of these explanations offer insights to the usefulness of being “ready”.

Readiness allows for us to be ready for change. To have the tools accessible to use to put that willingness into action. The eagerness, the ability, the skills to see ourselves “Becoming” who or what it is we desire, along with the understanding of the immediacy that we need to step forward and build our individual momentum. The first step in exercising our readiness is to commit to resolving our questions and having the resilience to initiate the first step.

Resilience, therefore, is the next aspect under the rainbow we need to examine.

noun: resilience

the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.

synonyms: flexibility, pliability, suppleness, plasticity, elasticity, springiness, spring, give, durability, ability to last, strength, sturdiness, toughness, strength of character, hardiness, adaptability, buoyancy, ability to bounce back, bouncebackability.

Once we have entered the state of readiness we need to strengthen our commitment by stepping up our resilience. We need to have the flexibility to change to become. We need to have the strength and the resolve to continue through obstacles, strengthening our character through both our success and our missteps.

This adaptability and willingness to learn and grow is essential to our combined journeys along this path of “Becoming”.

Being prepared and ready , armed with resilience and ability to overcome, we can then take on the next step of “recovery”.

noun: recovery

a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.

synonyms: recuperation, convalescence, return to health, process of getting better, rehabilitation, healing, rallying, improvement, picking up, betterment, amelioration, rally, upturn, upswing, comeback, revival, renewal, a turn for the better

the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.

synonyms: retrieval, regaining, repossession, getting back, recapture, reclamation, recouping, retaking, redemption, replevin, recoupment, recuperation

First I’ll raise an objection with the dictionary folks here with the first inclination to be expressing recovery as “ a return to a normal state”. Since normalcy o a belief of what is supposedly normal is highly subjective, I don’t feel it adds to a shared understanding. In fact a recent study found use of the word normal was perceived by many to be limiting, restrictive and if something was referred to as normal it made them feel as if they were being excluded.

It caused a multinational corporation to announce they were saying “no to normal” on their product descriptions.

The research conducted in 9 countries found, …

“Seven in ten people agree that using the word ‘normal’ on product packaging and advertising has a negative impact. For younger people – those aged 18-35 – this rises to eight in ten.” – Unilever says no to ‘normal’

Taking this into consideration then I believe we need to formulate a definition of recovery as to be a return to or the achievement of individual optimal health, increased strength and a clarity of thought.

No two people are exactly alike, nt even denial twins, so a recovery for an individual is highly subjective and we need to understand that while we can accept a meaning for ourselves and be cognisant of another’s understanding they will always vary.

Keeping that in mind, for our communal purposes then let’s consider recovery as an ongoing process of reinvigorating renewal. The ability to rebound, reclaim and respect ourselves and our goals. Perspectives that are very much an essential part of the essence of our “Becoming”.

And you know what? The list of stuck words doesn’t end there. In fact it’s grown to include several phrases. More than a few words grouped together, my stuck phrases have evolved into significant concepts. In forbearance I am steadfastly resilient and ready to renew and rebirth them for you over the next couple of days here on “Becoming Today”.