Tags
Allegory of the Cave, being born again, experience, Glaucon, Jesus Christ, light, other religions, philosophy, Plato, Socrates, the Kingdom of God
The (B)right Sight of Life…
(Source http://www.pinterest.com/pin/258816309809364763/)
Identification problems? 😉 Looking at that pic above, I can tell you that before Christ I was like one of these four girls on the left who listen to a human teacher and try to do what he or she tells them. However, since I have come to know God better and better, I find myself seemingly alone like the girl on the right side that watches the world from a completely new perspective. As I got that photo attached to an email recently, I had to laugh out loud since below the pic I could read,”Susanne in Ballet Class,” and that is indeed the way I feel when I am confronted with traditional religion or normal human reasoning which wants to figure out who God is and how He leads us human beings.
When I compare my former perspective of this world to what and how I perceive everything today, I am reminded of philosopher Plato who described the difference so aptly in his “Allegory of the Cave”. Plato has Socrates describe a gathering of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them, and begin to designate names to these shadows. The shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall do not make up reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners. (Source Wikipedia)
Indeed, that is the way you feel when Jesus looses your chains and sets you free to leave the cave of narrow human thinking and seeing behind you and to enter eternity, i.e. the Kingdom of God where God reigns whose thoughts and plans cannot be grasped by anyone. Now I want to offer you a longer excerpt of Plato’s narrative. You can read all of it online if you like, see http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.8.vii.html.
Socrates – GLAUCON
And now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: –Behold! Human beings living in an underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.
I see.
And do you see, I said, men passing along the wall carrying all sorts of vessels, and statues and figures of animals made of wood and stone and various materials, which appear over the wall? Some of them are talking, others silent.
You have shown me a strange image, and they are strange prisoners.
Like ourselves, I replied; and they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave?
True, he said; how could they see anything but the shadows if they were never allowed to move their heads?
And of the objects which are being carried in like manner they would only see the shadows?
Yes, he said.
And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them?
Very true.
And suppose further that the prison had an echo which came from the other side, would they not be sure to fancy when one of the passers-by spoke that the voice which they heard came from the passing shadow?
No question, he replied.
To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images.
That is certain.
And now look again, and see what will naturally follow if the prisoners are released and disabused of their error. At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive someone saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision – what will be his reply? And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them – will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him?
Far truer.
And if he is compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to take and take in the objects of vision which he can see, and which he will conceive to be in reality clearer than the things which are now being shown to him?
True, he now said.
And suppose once more, that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent, and held fast until he’s forced into the presence of the sun himself, is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he approaches the light his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities.
Not all in a moment, he said.
He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven; and he will see the sky and the stars by night better than the sun or the light of the sun by day?
Certainly.
Last of he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is.
Certainly.
He will then proceed to argue that this is he who gives the season and the years, and is the guardian of all that is in the visible world, and in a certain way the cause of all things which he and his fellows have been accustomed to behold?
Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun and then reason about him.
And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?
Certainly, he would.
And if they were in the habit of conferring honours among themselves on those who were quickest to observe the passing shadows and to remark which of them went before, and which followed after, and which were together; and who were therefore best able to draw conclusions as to the future, do you think that he would care for such honours and glories, or envy the possessors of them? Would he not say with Homer,
Better to be the poor servant of a poor master, and to endure anything, rather than think as they do and live after their manner?
Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner.
Imagine once more, I said, such a one coming suddenly out of the sun to be replaced in his old situation; would he not be certain to have his eyes full of darkness?
To be sure, he said.
And if there were a contest, and he had to compete in measuring the shadows with the prisoners who had never moved out of the den, while his sight was still weak, and before his eyes had become steady (and the time which would be needed to acquire this new habit of sight might be very considerable) would he not be ridiculous? Men would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes; and that it was better not even to think of ascending; and if any one tried to loose another and lead him up to the light, let them only catch the offender, and they would put him to death.
No question, he said.
This entire allegory, I said, you may now append, dear Glaucon, to the previous argument; the prison-house is the world of sight, the light of the fire is the sun, and you will not misapprehend me if you interpret the journey upwards to be the ascent of the soul into the intellectual world according to my poor belief, which, at your desire, I have expressed whether rightly or wrongly God knows. But, whether true or false, my opinion is that in the world of knowledge the idea of good appears last of all, and is seen only with an effort; and, when seen, is also inferred to be the universal author of all things beautiful and right, parent of light and of the lord of light in this visible world, and the immediate source of reason and truth in the intellectual; and that this is the power upon which he who would act rationally, either in public or private life must have his eye fixed.
I agree, he said, as far as I am able to understand you.
Moreover, I said, you must not wonder that those who attain to this beatific vision are unwilling to descend to human affairs; for their souls are ever hastening into the upper world where they desire to dwell; which desire of theirs is very natural, if our allegory may be trusted.
Believe it or not, I think God shared His wisdom with Plato in order to point us to Christ since that philosopher wrote The Cave Allegory about 400 years before Jesus Christ was born. To put it more biblical, it is as Jesus said,
“And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (Jn 12:46-47 ESV)
Before Christ, people all over the world and in all religions were able to see The Light, yet they could not discern God IN the light as He really is. The only exceptions who could “see” God were the Jews (am just thinking of Abraham and Moses, for example). However, seeing God reached a new level since Christ had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to all who receive Him. Jesus promised us,
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (Jn 14:18-20 ESV)
In closing, I dare to link to one of my latest poems on that issue about seeing Jesus and God. If you’re interested, confer https://susanneschuberth.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/seeing-god/.
Entering the Promised Land 
Dear Susanne, What Plato describes here is truly right from the scriptures! Plato wrote:
“At first, when any of them is liberated and compelled suddenly to stand up and turn his neck round and walk and look towards the light, he will suffer sharp pains; the glare will distress him, and he will be unable to see the realities of which in his former state he had seen the shadows; and then conceive someone saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision – what will be his reply? And you may further imagine that his instructor is pointing to the objects as they pass and requiring him to name them – will he not be perplexed? Will he not fancy that the shadows which he formerly saw are truer than the objects which are now shown to him?”
Paul spoke of the blindness the Jews were under for this very same reason. Moses and Abraham might have seen God, but what Moses wrote for the Hebrew people, the law and the traditions that followed, were chains that held them looking at something that Moses saw in reality! Paul wrote,
“[Christ] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a false humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God. Therefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:14-23 KJVCNT)
Religion does that, it binds us to looking at mere shadows. Christianity is no different. Jesus was and IS the substance and the very essence of the Father. Yet men read the scriptures and set out to form an image of Him that is only a shadow as they bind Christ’s followers to their projected vision instead of introducing them to the ONE and letting THAT ONE teach them and manifest Himself to them. Thus you have John confronting this problem of false teachers and many antichrists in the church by saying,
“Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and just as it has taught you, you shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” (1 John 2:24-28 KJVCNT)
Be filled with the Spirit of God and listen to His voice, dear saints, and you will soon find yourself like our Susanne in her ballet class, looking upside down to everyone else, but the only one who is looking at Christ as He is instead of human teachers as they cast their shadows. BUT, we have this promise that if we seek Him, when HE appears we shall be like Him for we shall have been seeing Him as He IS.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:8-11 KJ2000)
Thank you dear sister. Keep listening. We love you and the perspective Father has given you to share. ❤
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Ha! Michael, that was another case of you quoting these Scriptures I only had on my mind while writing, i.e. Isaiah 55:8-11. 🙂
And that was great interpretation of the shadows as you wrote above,
“Jesus was and IS the substance and the very essence of the Father. Yet men read the scriptures and set out to form an image of Him that is only a shadow as they bind Christ’s followers to their projected vision instead of introducing them to the ONE and letting THAT ONE teach them and manifest Himself to them.”
The problem in Christianity indeed is that almost all leaders do not know Christ, but they know Scriptures, tradition, and every doctrine imaginable. How can someone who does not know God ever point people to the risen Christ? To put it bluntly, it cannot be done. Instead, someone who is not familiar with walking in the invisible realm and does not live with Christ who is seated above in the heavenly places, is automatically stuck in the visible things. Thus he cannot receive real life which only comes directly from Christ, not from reading Scriptures, not from attending church, and not from simply believing what others teach us (even though they might teach the right things). Jesus said and I recall that you, my brother, often quote part of these verses,
“And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (Jn 5:37-40 ESV)
Isn’t it interesting that those whom Jesus addressed here knew Scriptures, but at the same time did “not have his word abiding in” them? The written word and the living Word is not necessarily the same. It can be idolatry to confuse one with the other. The living Word, i.e. Christ, as it is written in that Scripture from Isaiah 55, was sent by God and accomplished what the Father pleased AND if God speaks to us TODAY, His Word still accomplishes what He pleases.
“For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Ps 95:7-8 ESV)
Love you, too, Michael! And thanks for your encouraging words, as always. 🙂
Blessings,
Susanne
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Susanne, thanks for quoting more of John 5 and giving it a greater context that I have been doing…“And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.”
It would seem that Jesus is saying that they just don’t get it because they have never seen Him or heard His voice and Jesus has! The Spirit is that voice and HE will reveal the Father and the Son to us in a most intimate way while we live on THIS earth if we believe, wouldn’t you say? Search the Bible only can do one thing… get us to look UP!!! We have to get out of our Laodicean boxes and open unto Him, then we hear and see things all together new.
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.”
(Revelation 4:1 KJ2000)
No more closed doors to those who are IN Christ Jesus.. and the Spirit of Revelation is ours as we leave the confines of man’s religion and start walking by the Spirit. I love walking with you and Him, my sister!
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Yes, Michael, I would say the same that you said above. Very good! ⭐
The Spirit reveals the Father and the Son to us. And indeed, the Bible can help us look up and confirm God’s promises to us, for example. But the Bible cannot talk. Actually, God can revive written words in our human spirit if we need it, but that is not the same as if God directly speaks to us. Can we compare an older love letter from our spouses with their voices that speak to us TODAY? Would we keep on reading their letters, again and again, if they asked us whether we could rather talk with them?
I was just reminded of another Scripture.
“Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Mt 13:14-17 ESV)
I love walking with you and Him, too, Michael! 🙂
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Wow,I am blown away–not by the original article..as I have read that story by Plato before–but by the comments between you Sue and Mike…your statements spoke to me in my spirit…now hopefully I will put them to my daily use…thanks to both of you.
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You’re most werlcome, my brother! 🙂
Thanks a bunch for the confirmation about Mike’s and my replies. I am glad that they spoke to your spirit, dear Kenneth.
Thanks again, says the German girl with the continuous blank mind. 😉
Love,
Susanne
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Hosea and Kenneth, I had to go back and read what we wrote again. It seems that we have a forgetful Suzy and a forgetful Mikey as well. 🙂 Thank for your comments. They are appreciated. Paul said, “You have the mind of Christ.” When I read that years ago I prayed, “Oh God, how can you dare say that! I pray that THIS mind in me that is not of your Son be removed and that I would truly have His mind and His thoughts.” Well, He seems to have answered the first part of that prayer and is slowly answering the second! :-p
So, when it comes to writing for Him, I am like Susanne, I go for days asking Him what He would have me share with nothing to write. Then a verse or a theme will start working in me and then more time goes by and I finally sit at my computer and start pecking away, often writing something that I was clueless about up until the moment I started writing… take this reply for instance… same thing. When I started out I thought I would write about something related to our replies to the article, but instead this is what you got. 🙂 Imagine me as a preacher! Ha!
God bless you both!
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yea Mike I relate to what you are saying–I think-oh boy watch out-that we need not an improved mind but an exchanged mind–then there will be improvement
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Yes, Kenneth, where Paul wrote, “be ye transformed by the renewing of our mind.” is translated wrong.. it should be “be ye transformed by receiving a whole NEW mind.”
And that is what He seems to be doing to transform us into the image of His Son. God bless you, my brother!
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Hahaha 😀
Michael, it was exactly the same for me. Neither do I know what this article was about nor what we both wrote. Even after rereading our replies, my mind is as blank as it was before. Sounds silly, doesn’t it?
I love your description of how God leads you as to your writings. Our God is sooo very humorous! In fact, He does not need our wisdom, instead He ignores our thoughts and plans in order to create a NEW THING. Always… I think it cannot be boring with God, ever, what do you think? 😉
Love,
Susanne
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Susanne you are sooooo right. God waited until my mind was slipping to start using me as His scribe (not author). I complained about His bad timing in the whole thing and He told me that He has been waiting for me to lose my mind so I would write with HIS! So it is official, folks, we are crazy! But the good news is that Jesus’ family thought he was crazy and they even came to take Him away at one point and King Agrippa told Paul that he was nuts, too. We are in GOOD company and I love our fellowship as we share the mind and heart of Christ together. Truly His ways are NOT our ways.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a PECULIAR PEOPLE; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
(1 Peter 2:9-10 KJVCNT)
Michael ❤
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Hahahahahaha 🙂 😀 ROFL
“So it is official, folks, we are crazy! But the good news is that Jesus’ family thought he was crazy and they even came to take Him away at one point and King Agrippa told Paul that he was nuts, too. We are in GOOD company and I love our fellowship as we share the mind and heart of Christ together.”
Can’t stop laughing, Michael…. Thanks a lot for this comment!
Susanne ❤
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Susanne, so good to see you laughing! 🙂 As for it ever being boring with God? Not a chance! What makes things boring is their predictability. God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts as normal human beings, that’s it. He is not predictable! Religion is predictable, though, because it is an invention of man.
Once we start operating IN the mind of Christ, even THAT is not always predictable for God makes and does ALL things NEW! Whether we are now dwelling in heavenly places IN Christ Jesus or we are also dwelling there after our bodies are gone, the width and breadth and length and depth of His creation and creative mind we will never reach the end of. Ours should be lives filled with new discoveries to be made in the spirit realm, not ones the settle for the humdrum of the mundane. Heaven will not be a bunch of people sitting on their pink paisley clouds strumming on harps, but a vast NEW world that is perfectly made to be explored and discovered as is the wisdom of God even now. Oh, what a GREAT salvation we have to share together. ❤
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Wow!! In fact, Michael, that is great truth you shared in only a few words. You said,
“What make things boring is their predictability.”
Yes indeed! Isn’t it the same with people of who we always “know” what they will say or do in the very next moment? Isn’t it a lack of individuality which is also part of God’s creation when people are predictable too?
“Heaven will not be a bunch of people sitting on their pink paisley clouds strumming on harps, but a vast NEW world that is perfectly made to be explored and discovered as is the wisdom of God even now.”
Grinning again, my dear brother. 🙂 That was lovely! ❤
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Mmmhhhh……
You’re very welcome, dear Hosea! What you wrote was very encouraging for me and for Michael, too, I am sure! Thank you, I have been blessed by you! 🙂
Love,
Susanne
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Plato and I dated back in college, about a hundred years ago [small joke]. :0) I called myself an atheist in those days. But we are more than flesh alone. Even then I knew that.
We experience reality through a body, mind, and spirit — tainted by sin, forgiven at the cross, enhanced by the Holy Spirit. We wrestle, in a spiritual sense, against thrones and powers, dominions and principalities of which we have only a rudimentary understanding. Is it a surprise that we stumble and fall, absorbing reality in fits and starts?
Think how small and weak mankind is, in comparison with the universe, let alone with God, Himself. King David put it this way, “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (Ps. 8: 4).
In the classic “A Christmas Carol” the deceased character Jacob Marley asks his former partner Ebenezer Scrooge why Scrooge doubts his senses, doubts the reality of the apparition. Scrooge responds, “You see that toothpick?…Well, then, I’ll just swallow this and be tortured by a legion of hobgoblins, all of my own creation! It’s all HUMBUG, I tell you, HUMBUG!”
Of course, by the end of the story Scrooge pleads for another chance, and undergoes a transformation. What he could not believe at the outset becomes obvious to him. Likewise with us, in large measure because of the very trials we would prefer to do without.
There is no substitute for walking with the Lord through those trials. They are our Calvary.
God, the Maker and Master of the Universe, is too grand for us to fully comprehend Him. We see a hint of God’s majesty in nature. But the true glory of God remains beyond most of us, at least in this life. Recall the transfiguration at Matthew 17, when Jesus’ face shone like the sun, and His clothing became as white as the light.
Christ took on a human nature not only to redeem us, but to help us better comprehend the reality of the situation. He, Himself, said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8: 12).
As Plato unknowingly pointed toward Christ in history, he pointed toward Christ in my own life.
Thank you for another great read (comments included). By the way, I love the photo!
With love,
Anna ❤
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Hahaha – I love your sense of humor, Anna! 😀
Scrooge was a great example for the spiritual transformation we all need to go through so that our eyes can truly believe what they see in His Light. As for Jn 8:12 – yesss, that Scripture fits! Jesus even goes on to say,
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (Jn 9:5 ESV)
Well, and afterwards…where is the light to be found then? Sounds unbelievable, but that’s the way it is written in the Bible.
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 5:14-16 ESV)
And this promise, isn’t it amazing?
““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (Jn 14:12-14 ESV)
Imagine that! Almost too good to be true…
Dear Anna, I was glad to hear that you love the photo 🙂 and you may know that I have been encouraged immensely by your response, once again. Thank you! ❤
Much love,
Susanne
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I am the one who is upside down, that is the story of my life; never fitting in with family, peers, church folks with people in general. Now days I stay to myself avoiding even my husband and his father. My tiny world is closing in on me.
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Dear Susie ❤
To be honest, I got really concerned reading your comment, my sister. I do hope that the fact that your tiny world is closing in on you does not mean that you are suffering from depression. If so, please, seek any help you can get!!!
Will be praying for you, as always!
Much love,
Susanne
xoxo
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I love this. My spirit is singing. Find the others.
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Thank you, dear Skylla! ❤
Singing with you… 🙂
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Susanne,
Since I wrote my response to your post, I have sensed my spirt and mental outlook being lifted up. Something is changing inside of me, like I have changed directions but have NO idea, what triggered this event within me. But, I am happy for it.
Depression has been a constant with me for many years, yes, I have ran the gammet of counselors, both pastorial and sectular, and have even run the coarse with medications, (my body does not tolerate those kind of meds).
I am sorry for alarming you Susanne, I didn’t realize my words had such an effect upon
you, I do not like to cause undue distress to you or to anyone for that matter. Ever.
Like I expressed to another person, relationships have always been extremely difficult for me. I just cannot make it work, which is highly disappointing for me. My present situation has been hundreds to thousands of miles away for ALL of my friends. The only way for me to communicate with anyone is either on the phone or through the internet which involves having to type every word. No face to face, no one is physically close by. OH Susanne, this is such a tiresome situation, but it is all that I have.
Yes, I know that I need some real people in my life, (not that you are not real). We just cannot build real realtionships online nor on the phone. But, that is life in this present age. Computers, Facebook, Word Press, Computer Gaming, Support Groups, but alas, no warm bodies anywhere.
I do realize that I am drawing inspiration from you, Anna and even Michael, knowing that this is so has caused me to write this to you tonight.
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Dear Susie ❤
I am glad to hear that you are doing better right now. 🙂
No, my sister, you did not cause any undue distress to me. As I read your comment above I only prayed. That is all I can do and I do know that God can help in ways no human being could ever offer.
The fact that you and I and many others have not been able to make relationships work in the past might have to do with our negative experiences beforehand. Don’t you worry about it any longer since with God everything is possible! When our hearts have been completely healed, we will be able to trust others from a childlike heart once again.
As for your tiresome situation, well…… I have been thinking a lot about that lately.
Question: How deep can our relationships with God and Jesus be who are both not physically close by?
Answer: I do understand that longing for physical touch, though, but I also know that God’s love through His Spirit can touch our hearts and bodies way deeper than a heartfelt (physical) hug from a friend could ever feel like. Just some thoughts that spring from my own experience with fellowship, both with God and our brethren. Heartfelt hugs over thousands of miles are possible, indeed! 🙂 Without the Holy Spirit’s power involved, it cannot be done, that is for sure.
I am happy to hear that we could inspire you a bit. Thank you sooo much for your very honest response, dear Susie!
May God keep you close to His heart and hug you so that you can feel His warmth, too.
I love you,
Susanne xoxo
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Susie,
It is good to hear you are experiencing a change for the better and a lifting in your spirit. I have enjoyed your exchange with Susanne on here. I also know that the dark night does not last forever, but His joy comes in the morning. She is right, we CAN experience heart to heart fellowship thousands of miles from one another and know the joy of the Lord and His love in it, though meeting some of these wonderful saints face to face is also my desire. Being knit together with one another is the work of the Lord as HE joins us according to His will and plan.
I have learned many years ago that unless God builds the house, they who labor build it in vain. So, I have had to pray and wait on Him to place me in heart to heart relationships with other believers. And during this long wait, I had to first see Jesus above all others. It was Him that said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these other things will be added unto you.” Once we know Christ as our sufficiency in all things, He then allows these other relationships to come together and to grow.
God bless you as you seek His face,
Michael
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Thanks for your confirming words, Michael. Very encouraging! 🙂
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I am glad to hear that, Susanne.:)
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Part of what I am missing so much is having a buddy, someone to visit with, do things with, a compatible relationship where we both enjoy being with and doing things together, you know a give and take friendship; where both seek each other out. I also long for a Big Brother. I am not a touchy feely kind of person, but I do like being with someone. I miss the fun times.
Growing up with parents who never brought friends home, my Dad was severely Schizoid, who only talked to guys at a restaurant. My Mom only had 2 friends in her life when I was growing up, old people that I could relate to. My family lacked social skills, so I did not learn social skills either. Growing up in an abusive environment, incest and alcoholics, emotional neglect and abandonment has made social situations a Minefield of dangerous and damaging experience for me. I simply do not know how to make a relationship work and this of course effects all aspects of life my life.
It is complex and complicated, not to be easily explained so others can understand.
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Yes, I think do understand what you mean, dear Susie.
Your life story is so saddening that it is no wonder that you have had difficulties in making relationships last. I believe we all need some fun, don’t we, particularly when we have come to know those deep valleys of tears as well.
As you mentioned the Big Brother, I had to immediately think of Jesus. Growing up as an only child, I always missed a big brother. Nonetheless, as I came to know Jesus better and better, I saw that he was the best brother I could have ever had. And sometimes he is very funny, too…… 😉
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I do not have a relationship with the Lord, I do not understand the how to.
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Susie, He is the One who needs to manifest Himself to us. We can only seek Him until we find Him. But whoever seeks, will find. Promise! 🙂
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I know that I have had this backwards and it is extremely hard for me to break this pattern, this habit esp. when I have been doing it all wrong for the my whole life! Reading Michael’s response this morning openned me up to admit this today. Hey, that is a first! I have always known that I had it backwards but hadn’t even admitted it to myself, just would not admit it! Well, now that CAT is out of the bag!!! LOL!
Honest confession is far better than the deniel that keeps one stuck in false beliefs and behaviors.
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The picture above this post would be a perfect discription of me if the little girl who is hanging upside down, were dressed in boys clothes. I have never fit in with anyone other than the opposite sex. A girl on the outside, but I feel like a boy on the inside. No, I am not gay, nor am I bi-sexual and I am not possessing both male and female organs; my body functions just like the girl that I was created. My God, has healed the confusion that I struggled with for the majority of my life. I shall learn to except myself as I am made, as God has created me, surely He created a beautiful thing when He created me. Thank you, Jesus, for making me who I am.
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You’re not alone with these feelings, dear Susie!
I remember a great and honest blog post by my Irish friend Emma Scrivener on which I also commented in the past. If you like to read it, here’s the link http://emmascrivener.net/2014/02/man-i-feel-like-a-man/. 😉
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That is the first time that I have ever made a possitive statement about myself.
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Congrats, my sister! ❤
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