Parakalein

The book of Malachi is the last book of the old testament.  I completed a study and series of sermons from the 6 chapters a few months ago.  I believe it is a call to the 21st Century Church to a New kind of Honesty, A New Dimension of Humility and a New Frame for Holiness:

Honesty is about authenticity with respectfulness, not about brutality or judgment of parts.
Humility is about audacity with respectfulness, not about quiet, non-assertive or compliant parts.
Holiness is about the abandonment of self-serving agendas and self-promoting conditions not about sinless behavior.

These three qualities of the divine in us need courage and calmness to be nurtured and drawn out.

This shift results in redefining justice, redefining righteousness, redefining redemption and redirecting community.

It is about helping the church inside to come out side.

In a dialogue about these two concepts I realized what I experience as a fundamental difference between these two.

Empathy is being drawn into the experience of another person.  For instance I read an article in Newsweek (June 20) last week on Bipolar Children.  The author told the story of a mother who gave a prescription to her son for his BiPolar condition and the son died.  As I read the story I was drawn with empathy to put myself in her place and imagine how hurt, angry, bewildered and grief stricken she was.  The capacity for empathy is putting myself in her shoes.  Some do not want to do that. Some do it so much that they take on the experience as if they actually knew the person or had the experience.  That is an extreme version of empathy and can be helpful to some degree but hurtful in other ways.  Empathy allows me to embrace another persons pain which his necessary for human connection.

Compassion is being drawn to the experience of another person from inside which is empathy.  It might include an identifying embrace but it offers the strength of presence, of perseverance, of persistence, of perspective, and of patience.  It offers open heart and open arms of support while the person work through the hurt and pain in their life.  It combines the empathy of care with the wisdom of not caring so much that you become lost in the hurt so are no help for the wounded. Compassion opens wide the accepting arms of love and stays balanced in the compassion of Self.

From a theological posture we see this in the cross of Calvary.  God opens wide his arms of loving care filled with compassion.  "As a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compassion on his children for God recalls that they are dust"(Psalm 103).  Empathy had God empty himself of all but love, then he opened his arms to offer that kind of supportive loving to all in compassionate care.  Compassion is imbued with empathy but balanced with self care and care for others.

Be compassionate is the command.

One of the issue of religion and spirituality is that we present it as it is what people need to be rescued from their plight,, thought or experience that are collectively or individually overwhelming.  the idea of an external redeemer is what drives many salvation based spiritual groups.

A few weeks ago I blogged about a rescuer, Leonard Pope.  He was at a pool party and dove into the pool to rescue a 6 year old boy.  Everyone especially his mother thanked God for the rescuer part in Leonard.  He was actually called a "savior".  In one real empirical way, he was the savior of this boy in this moment of time.  A part of me began thinking about the rescuer part in all of us as helping people and helping professionals.  We get hooked by our rescuing others and put our selves in jeopardy.

I began to think of another metaphor or story.  It is the opposite extreme creative made up story but parallels the inner dilemma. It uses the same setting a person in a narrative .
Leonard Pope is at a pool party.  It happens to be in an area of the country that is spacious and wide and has all the ingredients of God's created world of nature. At a distance in a Mountain plateau is a "Hot SPring".  Leonard Pope strolls out into the nature beyond the pool where there is no right and wrong but where there is safety and security in the peacefulness of nature.
The Hot Spring is a beauty to behold but is immediate death to anyone who falls in it.  Leonard Pope hears a mother cry out.  My baby is falling into the Hot Springs. Leonard Pope comes running for he is in his heart a caring compassionate responsive person.  As he gets closer he watches the child being brought into the hot springs and life immediately going out of him.  He stops and looks at the mother.  When she begins to beat him on the chest telling him to save her baby!  He is not indifferent though she accuses him of that, he is not uncaring though she accuses him of that, he is not afraid though she accuses him of that, he is not.  He is securely present offering to her his compassion, care and strength.  Had he jumped into the hot spring to prove his courage or compassion he would have lost wisdom.

When I try to rescue a person who when rescued continues to die for las of a sense of their own power, I contribute to the cycle of their own powerlessness.  Saying not to helping may sometimes be the most helpful thing I learn to d. It i snot if I help I care and if I do not help, I do not care.  That sets me up to die rather than teach people how to live free of the compassion that beats up on myself and does not strength others and the compassion that is peaceful and wiise as its focus it, will it really be helpful.  Will it help me to feel impertinent or important or impermanent.  Would it add to my frustration .  Would that add to the cycle of frustration or dissolve that cycle.

There is wisdom that surpasses understanding that comes from being in a peace place that also surpasses human understanding.  It is a place where the rescuer in me learns that sometimes trying to rescue a person actually does not help them and can kill the rescuing part in me.  We call this burn out. It is operating out of a burdened part that cares rather than operating as a system that lives in peace and compassion with wisdom and strength.  It is not whether someone outside of me thinks I am a caring person.  It is when I know inside who I am.  It is always about peace, wisdom and love. These are the characteristics of God in me.  It is not what I do as a rescuer it is:  how I stay safe and secure inside as I offer help, that really helps rather than offering help that does not really help.  I can help out of compassion and kindness or out of egoistic altruism or ego.  If it is about me it is a hint that it may not help the other person.  Empathy can draw me into another persons neediness and have meet operate out of my need to be a helper.  Compassion contains the wisdom to offer help but assess if the offer is in service of my ego needs, the other persons ego wants, or in service of healthy growth.

It is why I consonantly ask myself and use the rubric of reflection taught to me by a Rabbi at Yeshiva University, Wurzweiler School of Social Work:
"In whose service is the service".  Seeking always to be in service of the wisdom and compassion that takes courage and creativity to offer, and disciple and discernment to not offer.  The vital balance of compassion is found in the internal balance of wisdom and peace.

God reveals his truth to many people in parts and the whole comes through connections




Today I heard Lisa Sharon Harper speak at the 6th Annual North American Conference of the Society for Social Work and Spirituality in Washington DC.  It was amazing.  A wow, in a number of different ways.  Part of me says it was amazing because her thought, evangelical orientation, human compassion, delivery, articulation, humor, points and text were amazing.  It was also amazing because that has been my text in several messages ove rthe last two years.  She said, in Genesis 1 has no word for shalom but God rested on the 7th day  as shalom.  I sat there amazed at another level entirely.  As arrogant as it may sound a part of me said, she is preaching my sermon.  Then another part of me said, "remember the other day you were saying to a client that was affirming truth, that God is the keeper of all truth.  While  you believe God has given you a message for the 21st century you are not so naive to believe that God is only giving this truth to you."  


As God reveals the hidden truths that are the divine secret to hearts that are open.  Then another part thanked God for the suffering and pain in my life for that suffering has created an "open heartened" that sees and receives  when parts are not activated or are not under the illusion that you are special.  Humility and honesty and holiness all of a new and different kind.  I will re-defined these three later.

Imagine a world where we all have deep convictions and beliefs that create a sense of need to correct each other because we thing it is about right or wrong.  Imagine the right wrong agenda that feeds competitiveness yielding to what we all believe in as compassion. Imagine a world where a statement of what we believe about God and the future is not replaced but subject to a Statement of Beliefs that are about a renewed sense of holiness and healthiness:

Our Statement of Faith:  Not a particular faith but the faith that sees what no one else sees:

We believe that God is the courageous creator of the world as we know it and remains a calm and compassionate toward that world regardless of anything.

We believe in God the creator of everything and that everything as created is "very good"(Genesis 1:31). That while creation is intentionally created replete with opposites like light and dark, all those opposites are not designed to create oppositional tension or conflict but reciprocal balance and harmony in the solar system of ideas thoughts and all created things.

We believe that all conflict is an intentional invitation to expand our universe to be inclusive and in harmony with all things and people in the balance of opposites through appreciation and understanding.

Religion is the formation of rules and roles to sustain and to promote the purity of faith and the practice of faith.  Most religions grew out of a person having a depth personal and spiritual experience that was life transforming.  The followers codified, categorized quantified and qualified the way to have a similar experience of spirituality.  The problem is that replicating a spiritual experience is not done by rules and roles but by respectful and restful openness.

Spirituality is about being quiet, calm, contemplative, compassionate, and courageous which results in the creative experience and expression of the deep resource within everyone of spiritual presence.  It is practicing the presence of peace and love within where the Kingdom of God dwells which transforms us form the inside out.

I sat today with a client today who was confused as she was not able to speak the truth of her heart to a fellow believer in the church because she would not listen so why even try to speak.  Speaking the truth in love that is the direction to the church to be the church is not nurtured while ecclesiastical beliefs that are about rules and roles for the church and intentionally to purify promote and practice faith does not s nurture spiritual presence.  I began to think following this session what it would be like if instead of statement of faiths that define core beliefs about God, the church adopted "Statements of Belief that were about being the church"

We believe that there are many ways to believe and all those ways are about loving God and loving God's creation, people and everything God made.

We believe that no one has a corner on truth but all are called to speak their honest truth without devaluing or denigrating any other truth for all truth comes from God.

We believe that we should treat one another out of the character of a peaceful spirit, a compassionate heart, a courageous soul, and a creative mind.  We always make room for all in an ever widening circle of love and kindness.

We believe the the most important two r's to community are the responsibleness to be mature non threatening and unthreatened  toward anyone and respectfulness in mutually affirming ways regardless of anything.

We believe that if we treat others as better than ourselves and everyone does the same the world will be a better place.

We believe that what we belief about God should never get in the way of living out the character of God.  God is love, God is peace, God is Spirit, and God is truth.

We believe that we are all created in the image of God and when we live in that image we live in peace and love and their is justice for all.

We believe that what we believe is out personal choice and distinct faith but we believe that we must respect all other ways to believe that are different in the celebration of diversity and deference.

Ok I have to think and look at this and see what I think as

 I have just mused freely.  Imagine what would happen if we adopted these Statements of Belief???
More later

The last book of the old testament ends with the last verse: "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers" or I will come and strike the land with a curse.  Malachi 4:6

I have three reflections from mediations on this:

The Father of heaven turned his heart toward his children, all creation, and opened his heart to the suffering and betrayal of humanity.  It opened the door to his creation, children turning their heart toward the Father.
Malachi is the prophet for the 21st Century calling us to turning and tuning our hearts toward our children as father's and to lead our children to turning and tuning their hearts toward us.

Yesterday was fathers' Day.  Two of the three of my children, and all three of my great grandchildren   were at our home for a hike and cook out.  It was wonderful.  Over the past few years their has been hurt and betrayal in our relationship.  As a father I caused some of that pain.  The daughter not present though very present in spirit worked through our sense of betrayal and I asked her forgiveness.  My heart tuned and turned to her in a new way and healing occurred.  The ripple of that seoulhealing (she is from Seoul Korea) has continued to expand in the family wherever it is welcome.  Our family gathering was a rich celebration of hearts healed.  All of us different in our minds about lots of things but one in our heart of love for each other.

Turning and tuning our hearts toward the hurt and pain in others creates healing and hope for our world.  We judge with our minds that think certain things and our feeling that get stuck in certain fixations.  In these days God is calling the church the world to let go of judgment that is about correct thinking and embrace the heart with heart for healing.

So thank you to all my children who have provoked me to growth and who have grown with me!  From being right in mind and opinions to being right in heart and attitude.

When the heart of the father can take the lead in admitting failure he may become the best leader of all.
I believe God is calling Father's to take the lead in leadership not as in dominance or control but as example and true fortitude.

It was a great father's Day

A few weeks ago there was a political jostling on the issue of raising the "debt ceiling".  I called my son who is much better about finances than me and he tried to explain to me that we have to do that so our credit will remain good.  I was a bit puzzled and told him that I was.  My puzzlement was that if I raised my debt ceiling I would have less credibility and if I decreased my debt I would have more.  I think he told me that I was right but that we had to do this wrong thing or something bad would happen.  Interesting?

Today, I was reflecting on debt. I was reminded of a verse in Romans 13 which is interestingly enough a passage that deals with the relationship of citizenry to their government.  Verse 8 says:  "Let no debt remain outstanding except the ongoing debt to love one another".  What if we were to raise this debt ceiling and all of us took this seriously.  What if in America everyone eliminated all their debt but increased their sense of owing everyone "love and compassion".  What if that love was unconditional and free of any agenda: political, economic, social, religious or personal?  What if instead of owning things we focused on owing to all people love and care.   The true debt and the only debt we should be servicing is the debt to love one another.

Maybe just maybe their might be peace and justice on earth.  Maybe even our economy would improve because our energy was in the right place.

Maybe if we did the right thing something good would happen?

Imagine!

In a day where the news is full of athletes who think only about themselves, their money, their fame, about winning and money it is refreshing to see an athlete stand out from the crowd.  It is true that the media tends to put the bad stories on the front page still even though we are in a new century of enlightenment?

It is also try that humanity in general still seems to pursue money and profits more than integrity and honesty. Have you ever walked away from a counter and realized they gave you too much change.  No one was around so no one would ever know.  Did you pocket the money and say "his loss my gain".   Did you reason you did nothing wrong and he just made a mistake?

Several weeks ago we went on a one day trip, budget version so off season, to a resort town.  After walking the beach, swimming a bit our golden retriever went totally in the other two humans in descending degrees of wet then walked the small town.  No crowds made it more fun.  Afterwards we stopped at a little ice cream shop.  Debbie went in for ice cream while I managed the dog, sorry Ginger.   then I went in to get my ice cream and of course ice cream for Ginger.  I paid what the man charged me.  Walked back to Ginger and Mom.  As we were all enjoying our ice cream.  I told Debbie how much I paid and she said that is not right then we realized that he forgot to charge us for her ice cream and I had assumed she had paid.  We went back in to the store and made it right.  Then ice cream man said, "I cannot believe it you are the first people who have ever come back to make it right!"  How sad.  It is in the isolated moments that true character comes out.  I am not saying we always do the right thing more concerned about doing the right thing than profit or gain.  I confess I had a part that said, his mistake our profit.  Thankfully I was in control of that part not that part in control of me.

Yesterday Leonard Pope, an NFL football player with the San Diego Chiefs, was at a pool party and heard the cry of a mother for her son who was drowning .  Without through for the cell phone in his pocket or anything else except the need of this little boy he dove into the water and came up with the boy.  I do not know if he is a Christian but his behavior and focus was that which mirrored Jesus who thought of all of us more than he did himself and dove into humanity to save humanity form drowning. I is not about what you believe as much as how your belief translates into actions.  He stated that he did not have time to think it was just a reaction without thought.  He had to act.  He dove in without any thought except this 6 year old boy will drown if no one does anything.  He did not look around to see if anyone else was doing anything.  He acted in calmness and compassion form inside.  What a role model for all kids and people.

The real Pope stood tall in that moment.  In the tradition of the first Pope, Peter.  He did for another without thought of self, without thinking about gain.  This is an athlete in action.  The content of character is what really matters after all.

The other day I was with a 6 year old who was trying to max sense of his divided life.  A part of him loved his mother. Another part loved his dad.  A part of him could not figure out how his parents who once loved each other were now hating each other.  He had written a short story about cats so I made up a story that after it came out of me (the foundation story was in me but I had never used it in this way) and I saw that it was helpful to home I decided it might be helpful for others.  Here is the story changed a little for this setting and for context:

When people get married they snuggle up together like two cats that lay together really tucked into each other.  Someplace along the way something triggers a part of them that changes how they see each other.  It is as if someone tied their tails together while they were sleeping and threw them over a clothes line. What do you think would happen.  The little boy looked up at me and said, they would start fighting".  Exactly!
That is what happens when something goes wrong in a marriage.  The boy looked up at me and said, "How do they stop?"  Interesting? Somebody has to untie their tails. When people get married they love each other.  Over time something triggers their hurt and angry parts.  It sometimes gets to feel like two cats fighting and you can feel in between.  Even when someone unites the knot in their tails that had replaced the weaving of their hearts, they keep fighting becasue they think they have to.  They try to draw you into it.  When your dad says he hates your Mom it is the part of him that can't stop fighting.  It has nothing to do with you so just ignore their fighting and see that it triggers a part of you that might feel bad, sad, and confused.  He asked "will they ever stop fighting?"  I said, I am not sure.  You can stop letting them pull you into the fight.  Just think of the cat story you wrote whenever your dad tells you how much he hates your mother and how bad your mother is.  See it as his fighting cat part and don't take it in or try to fix it cause it is not about you it is about him and your mom.  Do the same when you are with your mom. It is not even about them but about their parts that once loved, you are a product of that love.  Now they only know to fighting.  Just know that inside of them they love you but their outside parts fight over you and through you or try.  Just know you are loved and let love set you free of any fighting inside.

It is not about fighting it is about loving.  Compassion replaces confusion when you step out of the fighting.

This weekend I was out for a walk and began to stumble and caught myself before falling down.

Three thoughts gripped me:
1) Thank you God for helping me to catch myself
2) I thought of my friend who has ALS, who walked a 3 mile walk for ALS in NY a few weeks ago surrendered by friends like my wife and I who walked with him.  Several times as he stepped down along the course he nearly stumbled but God strengthened his internal courage and he did it without falling.
3) I thought of a promise in God's Word to all people:  Psalm 37:23 "Though he stumble he will not fall down for the Lord upholds him with his hand".  

No matter what happens in your life:  natural disasters, unnatural disasters, difficult days, untimely and horrific death, this passages says to all that even though these things may cause us to stumble, falter and even fail, God is always there to catch us in our falling, and in our failing.  I picture God catching us in our hopeless and helpless states.  Catching us like I recall catching one of my children and just wrapping him up in my arms where he felt safe, loved, and cared for.  Not rescued but strengthened to believe in the power of the holding of love.

I believe this is the sacred space where you and I are in the "arms of God's love".  Whether you know it or feel it or not, it is true.  God is there for you.

When i was a child I fell head first onto a cement floor.  God id not prevent me from falling.  I did not die.  I could have.  I believe God is there with loving arms always.  Whether to rescue me from death or to welcome me to eternal life, God is and was there!  Arms of love are like that.  Always there.

I am glad God rescued me to life that day.

The one thing that is always true is the Arms of Love are there.  In life and death, arms of love keep us from falling into the hell of despair where there is no love.

I was the train coming back from NYC and a man was talking loudly and rudely apparently on his cell phone.  When the train official arrived and confronted the passenger he apologized profusely.

She told him it was okay.

When the train official left he began again.  Her okay that I imagine was intentionally placed to make him not feel so badly, as she had called him on his irresponsible and disrespectful behavior. It actually seemed to make him think it was okay to go back to previous behavior.

I began to thing this may be what happens when people confronted but make no changes.  What if she said.  You are okay but this behavior is not okay so thank you for changing and being more respectful to others and more responsible for your behavior.

What is the balance between confrontation with compassion and having so much compassion that the confrontation never registers and therefore behavior never changes.

Compassion is a key but too much can have the key lost.

Rev. Anthony Robinson told the story of being in a church as a worshipper.  During the opening hymn a 7 year old girl named grace was dancing and twirling to the music, while the rest of the congregation sang with a stiffness that was accentuated by her movement.  She was lost in "wonder and praise" which is just what worship really is.  Getting lost in the wonder of God's love twirling to the delight of the rhythm of the soul and the moving of the spirit.

Later in the service the pastor came forward to do the children's sermon and there were, as he scanned the whole congregation, no children.  Here is where a part of me is triggered and I want to respectfully and responsibly note those parts without e parts in others that might take my words as being critical or judgmental.  So let me try to speak with love and grace the truth that is in me without implying that it is "the truth" or the only way to see this.

What an opportunity to let the little girls movement be the children's sermon.  To talk about "inhibitions that restrict the free worship of God."  I was triggered to recall a moment in an interview for ministry in a church as their senior pastor in which the following question was posed:  We have some concern that some of our people are raising their hands in worship in an effort to show off which makes others uncomfortable.  How would you handle this?"

My response:  First let me say that Worship is by definition freedom for all to worship in the way they are best drawn into the presence of the living God.  Second, when I am in a church and no one is moving or raising their hands, I know two things:  1) that some have it the way they want it and 2) others are sitting on their hands and crossing their feet restricting their souls need to move.  We need to create space for people to be free to do what is in their heart and in their body that is part of their worship.  We especially should not judge others as "showing off" in worship when Worship is "showing up".  Grace the little girls name is the key.  Having grace toward all invites all to Worship in the multitude of ways that people can and do worship without being inhibited by "we do not Worships that away here" meta message.  Maybe the 7 year old was the message that say but because she was not seen as the messenger her message was missed.

Look around for a message form a 7 year old when you are in church or synagogue or temple or mosque this Sunday.  Maybe the reason children are not present in many of our church is that our welcome is not wide enough for them to feel welcome.  Let's widen our welcome by broadening our thinking.  We may be old but our thinking need not be.

May grace abound in our WORSHIP!  May children lead us to be free in Worship!

I ate at Panera's with a friend today.  My pick 2 included and Tomato Mozzarella Panini Sandwich.  It had a three inch corner burnt black hard and bad.  I never like complaining much and just go along with whatever so ate and talked telling my annoyed part it is not so important.

The waitress came over to take our dishes away and she asked if everything was okay.  My friend and I had been talking about speaking in truth and grace with people.  I seized the moment as if out of control.

"Well while apart of me really enjoyed my lunch, another part of me said this is unacceptable. ( I turned over the three inch corner of the panini with its hard blackened crust....)  I can burn my bread this well on my own I do not need to have them do it for me."  The pleasant waitress said that I should have asked for another and they would have given me one.  "So, I have to be the complainer to get a well un-burnt panini.  I get that is a legitimate response but it puts the responsibility on me.  When it is the chefs responsibility to cook the sandwich and check it before he or she serves it to a customer.  For my part it is on them to do there job not on me to complain.  I obviously am not wanting a new sandwich, it is also obvious that I enjoyed most of the sandwich.  It is obvious also that I am not angry or demanding just calmly and clearly speaking for a part that felt unattended to.  I just want the kitchen to know to check and not serve a burnt sandwich hoping that the recipient would not notice or complain."   She said I will let them know. " I wished her a good day and smiled as she turned and walked away.

I wonder, what was that young lady thinking as she walked away.  Was I a grouchy old man to her.  Did she experience me as speaking calmly and clearly without anger or judgment but with compassion and courage.  Does our culture place the burden of complaining on us then we complain that people are complaining?  Doe we just shut up about it because it is not all that important or should we model speaking in a compassionate way.

Speaking truth in a compassionate, clear and calm way is elusive yet it is the direction to the church (Eph 4).

If you cannot say it in a nice way then do not speak might be a good rule to follow. My grandmother's wisdom:  If you do not have something good to say say nothing at all is replaced by:  "When saying anything to anyone about anything say it in an affirming and challenging way. Positively speaking the truth about yourself and how you are feeling in a nice and compassionate way is the mandate for the conversations at the church coffee table, social, work day, anywhere, anytime to anyone.

Grace in truth.  Truth in grace.  It is the Christian wrap.

'If it is to be it is up to me"
-author iunkown

With God alongside and within me all things are possible only believe!

Years ago I took this be-attitude to mean that if I kept my mouth shut, suffered for Jesus, let people trample me under foot, in the end I will get the "well done" and not only get eternal happiness but also I will get to rule the earth.  Today I have one word for that, "Really"!

I see that position or understanding as feeding the ego, depleting honesty, and ruining the church.  It is not about getting power over.  It is about being empowered from the inside out.  It is about speaking out with courage, calmness and compassion toward all even those who would persecute or undermine you.  It is not power of over others it is power to be the authentic person you are and to see God work through that authenticity and audacity.

The meek are not the quiet mousey people that harbor inner angst or anger just waiting for their turn to rule.

The meek are the strong, opinionated, capable, assertive, and aggressive people who have no agenda to control and who can with unconditional love surrender their power without malice toward anyone and can exert their power with charity toward everyone.  The reason the meek will inherit the earth is they are then ones who have been given f=great power but refused to use that power to fulfill their own agendas or to abuse or misuse anyone regardless of how tight they might have been.  Might does not make right in this spiritual system.  Might is willing to sacrifice its power.  Right rules might.  In the kingdom only those who have been meek can be trusted to rule in a Godly way.  In the way of righteousness, might surrenders to right!

Power is not about exerting control over others it is about being in control of one's human self.  Similarly the divine self is in control from the inside.

Omnipotence is all powerful from within not over those without.  Guess I am a little still on that from yesterday's blog.  I will control myself and let that be all folks.

I was turning the corner to my home form my walk when I noticed a friend drive up to his shop in  his pick up truck.  I had just checked my watch and said, "wow, I am behind better get to my blog".  I walked by then turned around and greeted him with, "I know you are busy but I figure if I am too busy to stop and say how are you doing to a friend I am too busy".  We laughed and chatted some and here I am.

Meditative walks are great but my mind has so many parts, thoughts and feelings what do you focus on.  I felt a little gentle breeze reminding me of a moment in time that a part had encapsulated and stored.  I was sitting in a hot seat, a great storm of conflict in the church had emerged, with the help of many parts in many people.  I had a part hat felt like it was a good manger and could help the church thought the conflict.
A group of leaders were gathered to be of help and they tole me I had a messianic complex.  I could get side tracked into how they thought I did and I thought I did not and it would all be for not so good!  So I step back.  Stepping back shifting perspective is an amazing thing and has an amazing effect on broadening your heart and enlightening your mind.

Why do we refer to something in someone as a messianic complex in a negative way.  We should not have that.  Should I not want to be help.  Should I not take a step back from "busy" to see a friend who I know is going through difficult times and not stop to say hello.  This could help start his day in a good way and mine.

The messiah is one who was able to step back and let humanity do whatever yet remain in peace.  He was never triggered by negative thoughts about self, God or others as he was always seeing more than anyone else.  Maybe this is a messianic calling.  A calling to "help" in little ways.  Ways that are not perceived to be helpful at first but in the end are what really counts.

I was going to blog about some theology stuff today.   I think this is more important.  If by Messianic Complex we mean that people think themselves to be the messiah when they are not I get that. What if we thought of the messianic complex as a complex of ideas that are not ego-centric but Christo-centric.
What if my theology or "got to get to work" thoughts are ego-centric, and stopping to say hello to a friend is a messianic complex of compassion and care as the primary rudders stirring the boat in the river of this day?

So step back, to step up and out into your day and have a good messiah day.  Be a sent one to someone to someone today.  Don't let it go to your head but let it come from your heart.