Beside
the Well
I
have a few books on my Kindle I have read while travelling. But if it weren’t for my journaling, I would
have no way to record what I have read because I’m no good at marking the
computer books. Even though I can colour
the text and put in marks, I can’t seem to go back and find what I am looking
for. I much prefer a real book where I can make
notes and my visual mind can recall where to find them. Anyway, I came across some quotes I had
copied out of a book called Unburdened,
by Chris Tiegreen. Great book, by the
way! Let’s think about them together.
“The
burdened personality is preoccupied with achieving personal plans and purposes
as well as compensating for emotional wounds.
It is also worried about the future, protective of its own ego,
defensive and easily offended.”
“The
unburdened personality is unconcerned with personal agendas and trusts God with
the future. It is emotionally healthy, humble, unpretentious and not easily
offended.”
“The
burdened heart is focused on getting and keeping what it wants and needs; the
unburdened one reflects on open-heart and open-hand mentality. In other words, generous people who aren’t
trying to hang on to what is theirs are able to live in freedom” (Kindle p 1661 – that’s the best I can do to
indicate the location).
That
challenges me. Can I keep balance in
life so things don’t burden me down?
Would I describe myself as emotionally healthy all of the time? Where is my focus? Am I trying to make life work or working with
life? Am I pushing and shoving or
resting and trusting? Do I get offended when
my plans are thwarted? Or can I give and
take? Do I live in the realization that
since God began the work in me, it is up to Him to complete it, or do I live as
though the whole burden of life depended on my accomplishments?
One
of his suggestions on working at becoming less burdened was, “Make a contract with yourself not to do and
think the things that bring unnecessary weight to your life. Enforce that decision in your daily,
moment-by-moment choices. Whenever you
start to feel the need to maneuver and manage, remind yourself that it’s
unnecessary and resist it. Whenever the
burdens you cling to threaten your peace, just let go.” (1689)
Disney’s
song pops into my head! Let it go! Such a simple instruction, but one with such
freedom. If something is burdening me
down with unnecessary trouble and upset, I need to let it go. If it is a thing outside my sphere of control
or responsibility, I need not be burdened by it. If it is something that is turning me into a
monster, I need to let it go.
Here’s
the amazing thing. Letting it go doesn’t
mean I am shirking my responsibility. It
simply means I am recognizing Who has the ultimate power to carry my
burdens. I have a shoulder to lean
on. I don’t have to carry my burdens
alone. I really don’t have to be burdened
down with them at all. I have seen God
work in amazing ways when I let go of control, turn it over to Him in prayer,
and wait to see what He will do. I’m
glad I recorded these quotes. They are a
great reminder. Let it go, Gail!
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