Blog 92 – 8.12.15

Some people believe that writers have a Muse, or inspiring angel, from whom their ideas come. Of the Old Testament it is written in the New Testament that holy men spoke and wrote as the were moved by the Holy Spirit. Joseph Smith, the founder of The Latter Day Saints church, claimed an angel helped him find the words for The Book of Mormon. Believe what you will.

I think each of us has a still small voice that attempts to guide us to the highest and best. There are other opposing voices but really only one, I think, ole Ego. But he disguises or at least tries to disguise his voice. Often it comes to us as an echo from the past, some discouraging word from our childhood, some cruel or unguarded remark from a parent perhaps like, “You know better than that.” Or “You’ll never amount to anything.” Parents, too can say some pretty stupid and hurtful things. They ought to know better, we ought to know better, but most of the time we don’t. We heard those things as children and echoed often by Ego and we say them aloud even in front of children, and the child in each of us too often believes those lies.

It amazes me that even parents who are over concerned about their children hearing “bad words” can say the worst things to their own children. One of the ugliest four letter words is not the F bomb but “can’t”. Every time you tell a child they can’t you are putting another brick in the wall (as Pink Floyd sang) that they may never be able to scale. In the I Am Woman song the lady sings, “I can do anything.” That is what we ought to teach our children. The only limits are those we impose.

Please don’t confuse limits with guidelines. Parents do have a responsibility to guide their children to the highest and best. Meanness never motivates it only demotivated. To hateful acting coaches, drill sergeants, and bosses who think those management tools produce great results, I say that if they are seeing great results it is in spite of these tactics not because of them,

The sweet voice of inspiration guides us not only to achieve the highest and best in our own lives but to be an encouragement to others. If you need to hear an encouraging word, get still, get quiet, and listen. Once upon a time an inspired writer wrote, “Be still and know that I am God.” But I caution you that if you practice this brief quiet time often enough it will change your life for you will learn Who and Whose you truly are.

Your friend and fellow traveler, feeling a bit inspired,
David White