I am grateful that you have given us such a personal and wise podcast, Peter. It reaffirms my sense of you that there are great depths and braveries inherent to you. It reaffirms my intuitive sense that there is wonderful magnificence in you. I think God will use you wisely.
For highly analytical people such as yourself, one challenge is trying to figure out what God is asking of you. Your analytical mind tries to figure it out rationally. That doesn’t work. Prayer does, because you calm your mind enough to hear the small, still voice within you that is your intuition, the guidance from God. The good news is that, if you are humble before God and truly want to be lead, it becomes easier to hear your intuition as you get older and wiser.
Your intellectual mind may tell you that, because of your bravery, sense of duty, and other attributes - including your determination to take a leap of faith - you should be ‘on the battlefield’ of a possible coming conflict. But you also have great skill in writing and communicating wise guidance to people, which will be desperately needed in an ‘aftermath’. So keep listening to your intuition, Peter. The leaps of faith that you may be lead to take may be different from what your analytical mind is saying.
I know that I have been lead by God to interact with you. I literally have prayed that God gives me the right words to say to you, to write what you need to hear at this time. My sense is that you need to open yourself up to people again, after withdrawing from most personal interaction for an extended time. Listen, and God will speak to you.
It’s 7:40 pm and I’m still concerned about your tornado situation. I’m hoping that you’ve lost nothing but electricity.
I just listened to your podcast for the third time today, because it is so personal, and I am happy to be able to feel that I know you a little better. I have repeatedly seen in your columns your determination to be better - to eliminate all bad thoughts, actions, and habits. Your desire to be an improved person is admirable, of course, but you are quite hard on yourself, and trying to will yourself to be perfect is likely to only result in a stroke or heart attack. God doesn’t require us to be perfect, but just to stay on the path to God. It’s ‘allowing’ God to work through you, versus trying to ‘force’ Godliness. I’m trying to walk a fine line here between giving you advice that you haven’t requested (sorry) and giving you some drop of comfort and reassurance in your life’s struggle. I care about you very much, Peter. I hope all is well.
All is well. The storms blew through last night with nothing much but rain and a little thunder.
And I do appreciate the concern. I know that I am not perfect, but I also know that if I accept imperfection there will be if not no growth, then certainly less growth. That is not acceptable to me.
The body does not get strong without lots and lots of strenuous exercise. The mind does not get strong without lots and lots of challenging reading. The soul does not get strong without lots and lots of prayer, meditation, and constant disciplining of self.
I will never be perfect. But I will be better. I will be more than I am today.
I am grateful that you have given us such a personal and wise podcast, Peter. It reaffirms my sense of you that there are great depths and braveries inherent to you. It reaffirms my intuitive sense that there is wonderful magnificence in you. I think God will use you wisely.
For highly analytical people such as yourself, one challenge is trying to figure out what God is asking of you. Your analytical mind tries to figure it out rationally. That doesn’t work. Prayer does, because you calm your mind enough to hear the small, still voice within you that is your intuition, the guidance from God. The good news is that, if you are humble before God and truly want to be lead, it becomes easier to hear your intuition as you get older and wiser.
Your intellectual mind may tell you that, because of your bravery, sense of duty, and other attributes - including your determination to take a leap of faith - you should be ‘on the battlefield’ of a possible coming conflict. But you also have great skill in writing and communicating wise guidance to people, which will be desperately needed in an ‘aftermath’. So keep listening to your intuition, Peter. The leaps of faith that you may be lead to take may be different from what your analytical mind is saying.
I know that I have been lead by God to interact with you. I literally have prayed that God gives me the right words to say to you, to write what you need to hear at this time. My sense is that you need to open yourself up to people again, after withdrawing from most personal interaction for an extended time. Listen, and God will speak to you.
Thank you for your always kind words.
I am smart enough to know that God is speaking to me, and I have learned just enough humility to know that my challenge is being willing to listen.
And that also is easy to write, easy to say, and hard to do. But that is part of the challenge before me.
It’s 7:40 pm and I’m still concerned about your tornado situation. I’m hoping that you’ve lost nothing but electricity.
I just listened to your podcast for the third time today, because it is so personal, and I am happy to be able to feel that I know you a little better. I have repeatedly seen in your columns your determination to be better - to eliminate all bad thoughts, actions, and habits. Your desire to be an improved person is admirable, of course, but you are quite hard on yourself, and trying to will yourself to be perfect is likely to only result in a stroke or heart attack. God doesn’t require us to be perfect, but just to stay on the path to God. It’s ‘allowing’ God to work through you, versus trying to ‘force’ Godliness. I’m trying to walk a fine line here between giving you advice that you haven’t requested (sorry) and giving you some drop of comfort and reassurance in your life’s struggle. I care about you very much, Peter. I hope all is well.
All is well. The storms blew through last night with nothing much but rain and a little thunder.
And I do appreciate the concern. I know that I am not perfect, but I also know that if I accept imperfection there will be if not no growth, then certainly less growth. That is not acceptable to me.
The body does not get strong without lots and lots of strenuous exercise. The mind does not get strong without lots and lots of challenging reading. The soul does not get strong without lots and lots of prayer, meditation, and constant disciplining of self.
I will never be perfect. But I will be better. I will be more than I am today.