Heavy Swings of the Soul

Hi Friends,

When our kids were young we made regular visits to the Greensboro Science Center to see animals and explore their scientific exhibits. The entry point was at the top of a spiral staircase that led down to the first wing of the center.

As you walked down the steps you would notice a huge pendulum swing back and forth... less swinging up top and more swinging was not he bottom.  It hung by a strong cord or rope from the ceiling to the floor where the staircase led you. 

The pendulum would constantly swing knocking over little pegs. The heavy swings were consistent and inevitable. 

Last month I spent some prayerful time recent journal entries and saw my soul having resemblance to a pendulum swinging from side to side. These heavy swings of the soul I noticed were for various reasons: grieving a loss, an unmade decision, discerning a view point or just living with good and bad circumstances. Sometimes these heavy swings felt like motion-sickness of the soul. 

As I prayed and reflected on what I was noticing the question popped into my mind, what if I ran the eyes of my heart up the pendulum rope? What if I focused on that hidden anchor point with God where there’s less movement and more security? I slowly reflected on these questions and then Colossians 3 came to my attention.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

Regardless of where I land with a decision, life circumstance or viewpoint… my life is held together by Christ (Col. 1:17) and my identity is hidden in God (Col. 3:3; John 14:23). This is head knowledge and heart knowledge, information and transformation.  Our spirit is fixed or attached to God’s Spirit!

During one of those reflection times, I was sitting on our back patio and the sun nearing the horizon so I snapped a picture. A few minutes later I looked at the picture and noticed how the camera picked up a sunbeam stretching from the sun to my journal (see below). I ran my eyes up that sunbeam (pendulum rope) and smiled at God speaking to me through this metaphor. "Be a fixed point with me John no matter how the pendulum swings."

We share this communal ability to set our minds on things above. Colossians 3 is written to a people not just a person. I hope these words encourage all us to run our eyes up the pendulum rope even in the midst of these heavy swings.

Heavy swings of the soul video from Instagram

Much love,

John 
www.gracegreensboro.org