Another week has come and gone and this time the seasons have changed both literally and metaphorically.
As we make our way forward into Summertime, let’s look back at the week that was here on “Becoming Today”.
Monday we found ourselves “In The Midst Of It All”. Where no matter what it is you may currently be going through, you can do so in a state of peace.
Peace can have many meanings. From the dictionary among the offering of definitions are:
-a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended. Synonyms include law and order, lawfulness, harmony, and accord,.
-a ceremonial handshake or kiss exchanged during a service in some churches, symbolizing Christian love and unity.
Plus the one I find most beneficial for our common understanding:
– freedom from disturbance; tranquility. Similarly described as calm, calmness and restfulness.
Being free from distractions, harassment, annoyances and chains that bind us to past realities and circumstances certainly creates in us the space to manifest a place for and an overall attitude of being peaceful.
Accepting this we can receive peace as calm.
Calm (/kä(l)m/)
Adjective-Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.: “she had to keep calm at all costs” “his voice was calm”.
Noun -The absence of violent or confrontational activity within a place or group.: “an edgy calm reigned in the capital”. Synonyms: tranquility, stillness, calmness, quiet, quietness, quietude, peace, peacefulness, serenity, silence, hush, restfulness, and repose.
Verb– Make (someone) tranquil and quiet; soothe.: “I took him inside and tried to calm him down” or “a cup of tea will have a calming effect”. Synonyms: soothe, pacify, placate, mollify, appease, conciliate, hush, lull, gentle, quell, allay, alleviate, assuage, or dulcify.
The concept of remaining calm or at peace, and the teaching of it have been with us for centuries. In the Scriptures we find,:
Isaiah 7:4 “Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart…”
Exodus 14:14 “The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Proverbs 15:18 “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute”.
Plus there are many more. We also know that we are called to reflect (meditate, ponder), remain calm, be peaceful (filled with peace), and at rest. No dozing off here; in the Word we understand that “at rest” is at times defined as “to be quiet or tranquil, as the mind; not to be agitated by fear, anxiety or other passion.”
Living with the peace of God is truly virtuous. Sharing it with others enables more favor in our lives and boosts the quality of life for all we encounter.
One of the best parts of gaining the peace of God is that it involves so little effort.
Seek, ask and receive.
Toosday found ourselves under the influence of the Summer Solstice, the time of entering “In The Good Ole Summertime”.
Seasons in life are important and that wisdom has been shared for quite a long time.
In the Scriptures, the passage often referred to as “A Time For Everything”, outlines the many changing seasons we all experience in life. It outlines the constant cycle of “Becoming”. In fact 28 specific times or seasons are mentioned in this one passage.
Now on “Becoming Today”, as part of our examination of ourselves and our shared paths we’ll take note that not included in those examples is a very important aspect; none of the 28 mention a time to quit.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, is perhaps so revered and often quoted because of its poetic approach towards life. It balances 14 distinct elements we all experience at one time or another, and some more than once. It reinforces our constant state of Always Being “Becoming”.
It teaches and reminds us that life is a mix of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, harmony and struggle, and life and death. Each season has its appropriate time.
Some are difficult, and still we know that we must never give up and continue on in Faith, trusting in God, believing his plans for us are always based upon good purposes and joyful outcomes.
As the passage begins “There is a time for everything,…..”
Included among the lessons learned in studying these verses is that we are to accept each day as a gift from the hand of God because He has a reason and a time for all things.
There is much wisdom to be gained in understanding this concept of
“There is a time for everything, / and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
When we live our lives in faith we are “Becoming” our destinies as we comprehend and embrace the power in always trusting God. Our lives truly reveal their meaning and purpose when we rely on His wisdom, timing and goodness.
Much of “Becoming” involves embracing the need for change, it is the only way in which we can truly grow, develop and realize our potentials. Life is a process. A repetitive one/ We learn, grow, become then question, learn, grow and continue “Becoming”.
On Wednesday I asked you to “Tell Me Your Address”.
No, I’m not really interested in your house number. Nor is this some kind of online phishing scam, rather on this edition of Becoming Today, our combined quest for truth, enlightenment and wisdom may reveal exactly where we are living.
We continued, now on week 14 of our extended odyssey, having undertaken a search and rescue mission for wisdom.
Remaining hopeful, becoming teachable and receptive to new understandings is where we picked up with our study of Proverbs Chapter 14.
So looking at this chapter entitled “The House of Wisdom” as a desired address, an up and coming zip code or that Shangri La you’ve always dreamed of, we immediately find three reasons on why this would be a good place to live.
For it’s promoted as a place where “Every wise woman encourages and builds up her family”, “Lovers of truth follow the right path”, (hopefully our shared one of “Becoming Today”) and is an environment that fosters safety and security as, “the words of the wise will become a shield of protection around them”.
And verses one through three also note that not choosing to live there has some drawbacks, “ but a foolish woman over time will tear it down by her own actions”. The “it” referenced here is her house, meaning not the physical dwelling but her family and loved ones. And instead of receiving the security of wise words, opting to live the opposite ensures, “the words of a proud fool will all come back to haunt him”.
Moving forward we hear a common sense statement as verse 10 is translated, “Don’t expect anyone else to fully understand both the bitterness and the joys of all you experience in your life”
We can never truly know what is in the heart of another, While we can empathetic towards their pain or circumstances none of us are exactly alike so our understandings will always be slightly different. As will our expectations, reactions and attitudes towards them.
In seeking residence at the House of Wisdom we can then only choose to live righteously. To be accepting, caring and guided by the Golden Rule. Always being “Becoming” by treating others with the same kind of respect we would like to be treated with ourselves.
Over the past few Thursday’s we’ve been traveling together down a new fork along our shared path.
It began with my introduction of the “21st Century Epistle ”, as I speculated about how the messages of the communiques edited together in the Bible might be disseminated if the Apostle Paul were As he often was, we find Paul doing time. Locked up for crimes he did and did not commit, still he was never truly imprisoned. His spirit was high, and he focused on doing his work from inside.
Last week Paul’s message was one of overcoming. A topic that I have lived with over and over again. Now this week, my imagination shifted me to discussing what some define as “Final Exhortations”, or “Living in Harmony with One Another”.
Part of that conversation included:
Yesterday we marked a “Milestone Moment”.
One year ago… well more precisely it was exactly a year ago, this past Wednesday, that I shared for the first time an intensely personal tale from my life. I had never spoken publicly about it before then.
So while Fridays are usually my time to discuss random thoughts and current events for the next two weeks, we’ll switch from that option. Today because I am really feeling called to share it again. There are those out there I know need to hear it.
On this edition of “Becoming Today” we’ll talk about “Why Becoming Became My Way”…
Starting from a place of total transparency and absolute honesty, this is a difficult one for me.
Usually putting words on a page or filling a screen with idioms, expressions and phrases is something that flows easily for me. Part of my God-given talents to share, nurture, express and communicate.
However this one is different.
By the time you are reading this I will have written, cried, edited, cried, re-written, cried, re-edited, cried, re-written several more times, cried again and questioned my proofreading abilities through the steady flow of tears.
This is a deeply personal, intense saga, which makes it even more important to share with you.
On this edition of Becoming Today I will not only speak publicly about, but also in some cases for the very first time to anyone, reveal some of the struggles, obstacles and challenges that led me to learn these lessons and accept this journey. These are the reasons why I’ve expanded this part of my path to include all of you. So that we may all learn and share together.
Why? You ask? Did Becoming Become My Way?
It wasn’t a split-second decision or an impulse, it was the way I had to climb out of a deep dark place, wash the grime and sludge off of me and decide not to end my life…..
It’s hard for me to condense this testimony, because well life is complicated. You can read the full post here, and for now I’ll just sum things up with a turning point moment:
“Sometimes all it takes is a few loving sincere words, a smiling Texan and an angel disguised as a monkey in a dog’s body coming together in spirit to lead us to the place where we can not only ask for, but also desire for and be able to accept the help we need.”
Thanks for being here today. It was an eventful week on many levels, yet there is still so much to come. I believe we are all being presented with the potential to make the most of a momentous time of change. How that develops for each of us is something we’ll discuss come Monday, on our next edition of “Becoming Today”.
Becoming Today with Rochelle Jeanette 