Mystic Musings: Lent 3/09
“Our hearts become the instruments we learn to play so well.”Dan Fogelberg Nexus
Photo by Brett Jordan @brett_jordan
I can remember when a well-intentioned member of the candidate’s committee who oversaw my ordination process said, “Brian, you are clearly gifted, but you need to learn to stick to a plan.” I knew what he was referring to. I had taken a year off out of high school to work before entering college. After I entered college I left after the winter semester to take up bike racing. I did that for three years before returning to college and finishing my undergraduate work. This meeting was taking place during an eight-month break between college and seminary as I had finished my studies in December and needed to wait until September to start seminary.
As I look back over my career and those early decisions I have no regrets at all. In fact, they were exactly the decisions I needed to make for how I am psychically wired. My well-intentioned friend would have been right if my goal was to set myself up for financial stability and professional success. But that was never my goal. I always wanted to show up in the world in a way that best reflected the desires of my heart and the inner workings of my soul.
Here’s the deal. Some people’s hearts truly do want stability, security and success. In fact, some of my favorite people in the world have established very secure lives and are deeply contented and satisfied. It’s not about whether our lives look conventional or unconventional. It’s about whether our choices reflect the deepest desires of our hearts. My life has appeared highly erratic. I have switched jobs, moved locations and lived in three dozen different houses in my life. But, despite appearances the one consistent thread has been, “This is what makes my heart sing! This is what allows my soul to soar!”
Sit quietly. Breathe deeply. Review the choices you have made in your life. Think about your current circumstances. Ponder these questions:
What do you most desire? Have you been able to satisfy those desires sufficiently?
What barriers would you need to remove to follow your heart’s desires?
If you are feeling like much of your life is out of your control, what small decisions can you make to protect and nurture what your heart most desires?
How well do you want to play the “instrument of your heart”? As a hobby or as a virtuoso!