God, many are now shocked to realize, does not have a brain. And he never misses it. This is something one must never forget. Body and brain come from him, not the other way around. And in him our own personal being will be as secure without body and brain as it now is with body and brain. In fact, much more so.
~ Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience… Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified… What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Romans 8
Oh beloved, it is true.
G_d gave us brains, and He is delighted when we actually use them. The problem is that once we start using our brains, we find that the brain acts as a promoter for something within us that would have us believe the brain is all we have when it comes to making decisions.
This problem gets us into real trouble. Because, as beautiful as the brain may be, it is still something less than a mind. It is, rather, the microphone which can hear the soul. It is too, the speaker that transmits our base impulses up into our real thinking.
It doesn’t really stop there. Far in from the soul, deep and touching upon eternity, is our spirit. This is us. Our spirit is both larger than our frame, and smaller than the smallest cell in our body. It is the only part of us that is simple, in the theological sense. Simple, simply means that all of something is everywhere within the confines of it’s existence. So, all of my spirit, is everywhere that my spirit is not matter how small a slice of it one defines. This is true of G_d as well. ALL of G_d is within the smallest location. And this does not stop Him from being everywhere and everywhen. Mind-blowing stuff, but important to this entry.
Can we see it?
Simplicity trumps a brain by far. And so, when we get really stressed, the brain is going to try and answer all the onboard physical inputs from the senses. It is then going to try and lock out lock out any distractions – including those from the higher functions of soul and spirit.
And, the only way out of this conundrum is for the spirit to work to get an edge into the trapdoor of the brain. For, if it can get in a little, all of us is there and can work to reign in the out of control brain that is directing the rest of the body to make some really unsettling chemicals and choices.
For, if our spirit (the highest aspect of our being) gets back in control of our thinking, we then have an Infinite Advantage. For, just as the brain is microphone to the soul, our spirit is the instrument that can actually hear G_d speak. And, while He knows everything about us, and can listen along any part of the continuum of our being, it is in the space of our spirits, where our simplicity communes with the simplicity of the very Creator of the universe.
And when all of us is with all of Him, there is nothing that can stop us.
So, are you getting wrapped up in your own thinking? Are you letting the impulses of your flesh and brain get in the way of making a good decision? The answer is simple. Allow the right part of you to take control of the seat of ‘self’ within. And then, turn that control over to the One Who’s simplicity pervades all time and space.
Tonight is your night. Time to quit relying on your brain.
Dear friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, His name will continue to resound throughout the world.
~Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger
