“What is running your life...is your soul. Not external circumstances, not your thoughts, not your intentions, not even your feelings.” -Dallas Willard
Just one week ago I was gathered with over 2000 professional counselors in Colorado Springs for a two day conference through the theme of “Restoration of the Heart”. The lion’s share of teaching and processing was specifically related to “care of the soul”. John Eldridge drove home a simple point that, "taking soul care seriously is the most important thing we can do."
Our work at The SoulCare Project is dedicated to this. We love to link arms with other likeminded men and women whose lives echo this enduring commitment to soul care.
Voices throughout the ages have faithfully reminded us that our souls matter.
“You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” —C.S. Lewis
“When soul is neglected, it doesn't just go away; it appears symptomatically in obsessions, addictions, violence, and loss of meaning.” ―Thomas Moore
“One thing in the world, of value, is the active soul.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The human soul hungers for transformation, for wholeness and holiness, is sick and dying without it.” —Dallas Willard
Nations do not have a soul. But the people who inhabit those nations most certainly do. And if this round of presidential candidates is any litmus test for the state of our souls as those who make up this great nation, then we may be collectively deeply sick of soul.
“Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office seeking." —Rutherford Birchard Hayes
The state of American politics right now, while deeply frightening and upsetting, only emboldens the need for this most important and often hidden work - the slow and deliberate investment of care for the souls of highly leveraged leaders.
SOUL SICKNESS - HURT, HATE AND HOPELESSNESS
The protocol for American politics seems to require repeatedly attacking the core of your opponent in an effort to smear and undermine their image. Lately we are witnessing even more disturbing attacks on the image of anyone who opposes a candidate, to the point of inciting violence.
When the soul is sick, it leaves a wake of hurt, hate, and hopelessness. Just like the book title declares, “Hurt People Hurt People.” Here is a fantastic blog worth referencing that outlines 14 reasons hurting people hurt people.
Hurt people often transfer their inner anger onto others.
Hurt people interpret every word spoken to them through the prism of their pain.
Hurt people interpret every action through the prism of their pain.
Hurt people often portray themselves as victims and carry a “victim spirit”.
Hurt people often alienate others and wonder why no one is there for them.
Hurt people have the emotional maturity of the age they received their (un-dealt with) hurt.
Hurt people are often frustrated and depressed because past pain continually spills over into their present consciousness.
Hurt people often erupt with inappropriate emotion because particular words, actions, or circumstances “touch” and “trigger” past woundedness.
Hurt people often occupy themselves with busyness, work, performance, and/or accomplishments as a way of compensating for low self-esteem.
Hurt people often attempt to medicate themselves with excessive entertainment, drugs, alcohol, pornography, sexual relationships, or hobbies as a way to forget their pain and run from reality.
Hurt people have learned to accommodate their private “false self” or “dark side” which causes them to be duplicitous and lack integrity.
Hurt people are often self-absorbed with their own pain and are unaware that they are hurting other people.
Hurt people are susceptible to demonic deception.
God often purposely surfaces pain so hurt people can face reality.
Hurt people need to forgive to be released and restored to freedom.
Is there a Presidential candidate that comes to mind as you read through this list? I wonder what our country and world would be like if leaders we are following and forming possessed a well care for soul.
8 GIFTS OF A WELL CARED FOR SOUL
When the soul is well cared for, it leaves a much different kind of wake...a wake of gifts.
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.” Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG)
Willingness to stick with things
Not needing to force our way
Ability to marshal energies wisely
As you begin to bring your own soul underneath the benevolent care of God, may you find the many nations within you responding with a renewed sense of healing and hope. May the influence of your own well cared for soul leave a similar wake of blessing in a sea of deeply disturbed and desperate souls. Lastly, may the “8 Gifts” be a new kind of litmus test for any leader you might consider following or electing.
Blog reference: ”Why Hurting People Hurt People” by Joseph Mattera
