I am smiling as these thoughts are brewing in my mind. They are just about ready to be served. They make me a little teary-eyed. One of the goals in counseling, as it should be a goal in life, is to find yourself living in the moment in a congruent way. Your thoughts are free and spontaneous, and your feelings are “on board” with your thoughts. And like a river that’s ever-flowing, you present this “music” to those around you.
Little children are congruent. They live in the moment, presenting immediately what they are thinking and feeling. Then change comes. Then confusion comes. Then mixed messages come. Then congruency goes. . .and the mind and the heart are out of sync. But we human creatures are survivors, so we keep singing. . . mostly the songs others want us to sing and we gradually lose our freedom to be ourselves.
Back in the day, when 8mm sound movies were a big deal, there’s a portion of one of the movies where Rachel and Jessie were singing their ABC’s. I am smiling again. We would just fawn over their great achievements 🙂 “A B C D E F G H I K K (one of them would always repeat K). . . .” They knew their alphabet, and they knew who the source of life in each letter of need. They were almost totally dependent on us. Their songs, their thoughts, their words, their ways were such a wonder to behold. . .music to the eyes and ears of our heart.
Thirty years ago, I heard this song for the first time and I fell in love with it. “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, sings the Lord; Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come. I am the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 Alpha, the first letter of the Greek Alphabet. Omega, the last letter of the alphabet. It includes every letter in between. He is the Alphabet. When God attributes something to Himself, He is always totally and completely eliminating man. He is saying, “Only Me.”
That is Great News to anyone who is failing, who is lame and has no strength. The sick know that they are the lower case alphabet. Small s not only in the spelling (strength), but in its reality. We are taught to continue to tap in to a resource that is finite. It has limits. It comes to an end. He is Strength. Capital S, Infinite in its Power, limitless as a Resource. Our kids are cute when they begin to feel their “muscles” and become determined to do things for themselves. Some of us (not me), have a greater capacity than others, held in reserve, that enable them to continue in their own strength (little s).
It’s music to the ears to those little Dumbo sheep who have reached the empty well of their patience, or their kindness, or their self-control. When those wells dry up, the soul then taps in to what seems like a unlimited resource. . .anger, frustration. . .and the black hole of misery, drawing the heart like metal to a magnet. Then the soul hears the Voice of God. . .”I am the Alpha and Omega.” I am Capital P, and K, and S. I am PATIENCE and KINDNESS and SELF-CONTROL.”
When the Lilies lose their fragrance, and they always do. . .and they try to follow the rules of the road of life, “You can do it. . .Try harder. . .Don’t give up;” or worse yet, “God helps those who help themselves. . .You do your best and God will do the rest.”. . .the wilted, little Lilies just despair and say, “We have no strength and our eyes are upon You, Lord.”
When the eagles that soar over the Rainbow get their wings clipped, and they use every resource of their own that they possess, looking for might, looking for wisdom, looking for the peace that has flown away from them. . .they hear the song, “He gives Strength to the weary, and to those who have no might, He gives Power and Wisdom. . .they will soar on wings like eagles.” Isaiah 40:29-31.
What is your need at the moment? To be the best father you can? You are only little f. To be the best mother? Only little m. Is it self-control little compulsive sheep? Only little s. He is Father. He is Mother. He is Self-control. He has not come to help those who continue to rely on themselves as a resource, but for those who are not well and are in need of the Divine, Infinite Source of all.
I just can’t get enough of this song. The Savior”s Voice is Medicine for what ails you. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has furnished Me for you; to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; to provide deliverance to those held captive to their difficulties; to give sight to the blind and set at liberty those who are bruised and hammered like wrought iron. . .this day, in this Good Moment, this scripture is fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:18, 21.
Music to the ears. The Divine Alphabet is yours. What is your A today? What is your B? What is your Need. I love it when God sings, “A B C D E F G, H I J K L M N O P, Q R S, T U V, W X and Y and Z”. Now I know my ABC’s. Next time won’t you sing with me?
A Good Moment 