| I liked school-it was fun for me, so I stayed for a | | | | be sure that change is not complete! |
| while. But I've discovered that the really important | | | | But more and more, as I open my heart to God's |
| learning doesn't happen in school. | | | | spirit, I can trust that He will grow me in kindness. |
| The really important stuff happens from the | | | | He will pierce me with words that touch my heart. |
| inside out. It grows from a place much deeper | | | | He will give me opportunities to experience |
| than thinking, much richer than words. The really | | | | kindness, and provide lessons-in-action. And slowly, |
| important stuff happens when your heart is | | | | I will become more kind. |
| changed. | | | | But in order to experience the lessons, to make |
| Take kindness, for example. I'm not always as | | | | the heart change, I have to open myself to Him. I |
| kind as I want to be--especially when I'm irritated, | | | | have to be willing to be changed, and allow the |
| or rushed, or when I know I've been wronged. I | | | | process to occur. |
| could have tried reading up on kindness, | | | | That takes time, and space, and a constant |
| memorizing the steps of being kind, planning and | | | | re-opening of closed places. |
| strategizing about when and where to be kind. | | | | Where does your heart need to open, to deepen |
| And all that research might allow me to talk about | | | | and change? Where in your life do you actively |
| kindness like an authority (or even write an article | | | | open to God's intrusion? When do you leave time |
| on kindness!) but it wouldn't make me kind. | | | | for longing to appear? Time for Him to work in |
| My heart has to be changed if kindness is going | | | | your heart? |
| to flow from me out to you. | | | | We really don't multi-task, you know. We just |
| Especially if you rub me the wrong way! | | | | 'partly-task'. And that works great for some |
| When you're growing as a person, when you're | | | | things. But for transformation, we need our whole |
| deepening your heart and transforming your mind, | | | | heart engaged. We don't need to remember the |
| it doesn't often matter whether or not you | | | | words. We just need to be transformed. From |
| remember the words. In fact, knowing the words | | | | the inside out. |
| may not mean a thing. What matters is that your | | | | Actually, remembering the words might be easier! |
| heart is changed. Once that happens, your words | | | | Meditation is the active opening of heart space |
| and actions follow along like the wagging tail | | | | and time. When you meditate, you won't often |
| follows the dog. | | | | notice that you're being transformed. It's really |
| Last evening, during my prayer and meditation, a | | | | affirming when we experience it as it happens...but |
| longing for more kindness toward others | | | | when we're open and receptive, it happens |
| appeared in my heart. And with that longing, the | | | | whether we 'see' it, or 'feel' it, or not. |
| change began. I was with some new people soon | | | | It's a pain to stop long enough to open a 'heart |
| after...not all of them my favorite! And I was | | | | space' in the flow of everyday life. |
| surprised to find myself being more kind as we | | | | But there is a great return on your investment. |
| talked at dinner, giving my full attention to | | | | Transformation, from the inside out. And you |
| someone I had previously blocked...though you can | | | | don't even have to remember the words. |