Title: Golden Seeds for My Spirit
golden seeds for my spirit
Text/ 3 John 1:2
1. Introduction
Today, January 11, 2008 (Friday), I woke up early in the morning to take care of my body and do gymnastics with my bare hands. I opened the windows in all directions and changed the air in the house, which had become cloudy overnight, into fresh winter morning air. It feels so clear and refreshing. After breakfast, as I was preparing for Sunday sermons, I was packing this and that, and suddenly I said, “Give me the bread of life to the empty-hearted who will taste heavenly food. Have mercy on us low and lowly, Lord, Lord, let us down...” I was conscious of myself singing (Frank Cesar's Bread of Life). Perhaps, “Beloved, I pray that all things go well for you and that you may be in good health, as your soul prospers” was hidden in me and then unconsciously came out as a song.
I believe that “if my body is healthy, if my heart is happy with everything it desires, and if my soul overflows with peace and joy, then that is the golden life.” In this sense, following last week's “Golden Seed for My Body”, this week, I would like to share grace while meditating on “Golden Seed for My Soul”.
2. The golden seed for my soul is to know yourself.
One night, Nasruddin's friend met Nasruddin, who was diligently searching for something under a bright street lamp. “Honey, what are you looking for?”, “I lost the key”. The friend also found the key together. No matter how much I searched, I couldn't find the key, so my friend asked. “Honey, where exactly did you hear the key drop?”, “Huh? It's a dark place across the street." Then my friend said, “Have you ever seen such an idiot? I have to find the key where the key has fallen. Is there any key to finding the key here?” Hani Nasruddin was rather rebellious and said, "It's you, not me, that's stupid. Easy to find in the light Is it easy to find in the dark? You sound like a fool, don't you know the basics? ttttttttttt..” he said.
Who is stupid? Are you Nasruddin? is that friend? Of course it's Nasruddin. This parable by Nasruddin is a great paradox. Although many people in this world know how to find simple material keys in dropping them, the most important golden key to life = the key to happiness = the key to success = the key to heaven = the key to wish fulfillment = the key to blessing = the key to the joy and peace of the soul. The key is that you're looking in the wrong place like Nasruddin.
Where is the key? The answer to this question is life of faith = life of faith = religious life = spiritual practice = church life = self-knowledge = awakening = rebirth = image of God.
3. Golden Seeds to Sow for Our Spirits
first. Our spirits must also eat to live. Just as there is food for the body, there is food for the spirit. If anything beyond the expiration date - hoarse - rotten - polluted - dirty - dirty - turbid - unripe - smells disgusting, the body suffers. That's the bottle. On the other hand, clean-fresh-ripe stuff is said to be good for the body. That's health. In this way, when worries, worries, fears, hate, complaints, complaints, envy, sighs, loneliness, etc. enter our spirit, the spirit suffers. It is called a sick spirit. On the other hand, when joy - peace - courage - faith - hope - love enters, our spirit is said to be good. The text says, “Your spirit is well” = “Healthy spirit.”
So, what is “food for the spirit”?
(1) It is the word of God. It is listening-reading-learning-meditating-and sharing the word of God. It is not just listening and reading, but reading and listening spiritually in connection with my existence (Lectio Divina - Reference: Fountain of the Word No. 352, 353, 354).
(2) Holy music. The power of music is great, both positively and negatively. There are decadent music (horror-grotesque-disturbing-lust-weakness-depravity-suicidal impulse), artistic music (Korean traditional music-gagok-masterpiece-classic), and holy music (hymn-gospel song-mass-gospel-CCM). Spiritual food is holy music (artistic music is a side dish).
(3) It is a prayer-meditation-meditation that is regularly offered at a fixed time with one's own body (nature) or in a quiet, sacred space of one's own accord (daily morning prayer, 3rd-21st-40th-100days prayer, etc.). Prayer is the shortcut to the fulfillment of wishes. Prayer is the key that unlocks the door to the future.
second. It is to be content with gratitude and contentment. Counting all the positive things that happen in my life, one by one, being grateful and self-congratulating. We should be grateful for the negative and celebrate. This is because negative things are the opposite of my life (a teacher: a teacher who urges me to reflect) and act as a trigger for 切磋琢磨.
third. It's about building good relationships. Our spirits are seriously affected by the good and bad of human relationships. Our spirits are anxious and distressed when our relationships are uncomfortable. Good relationships don't just come for free. It takes time+money+training+practice. Go to a bookstore and take a look at the books displayed in the Self-Management-Self-Innovation-Self-Development Corner. One of the most important items is the commentary on “how to maintain good relationships”. You should have a good relationship with your neighbors, especially your close neighbors (couples-family-relatives-close friends-district family members). Therefore, the apostle Peter said, husbands, honor your wives, so that your prayers may not be blocked (1 Peter 3:7). What does it mean? Our spirit is saying that when human relationships (especially! close ones) are uncomfortable, we become anxious and distressed, and we cannot pray. Good relationships are the golden seed for the spirit.