Protecting the core from decay

During  a light windy shower, this branch got broken away from the tree trunk. With the  stem having become  hollow with disease and decay, the branch could not survive even a trivial swaying. I have seen this sight often, but this time it engaged my attention. 

Externally the branch looked like any other branch and it bore leaves normally. The outer appearance concealed the decay inside.

As humans we are good at  putting up an appearance socially, behaviourally and emotionally. We try being cheerful, communicative, and relational, even when, we carry heaviness of heart or are hurt or burning inside with anger.

How do we pay attention to our inner self to stay strong, content and be the resource for our well being!

We need to do this at three levels.

At the volitional level, we can upbuild our consciousness of God as the source of our being. A child who damaged his car while playing, told his friends, that his father would be able to put it back to use. God is the 'guardian' of our well being which is not  a myth or proposition, but a reality. That is why, in Psalm.23: David said affirmatively, 'The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want'. This god-consciousness creates a cognitive awakening within us.

At the emotional level, we need freedom to be ourself as much as possible. We tend to get subdued or elated by the circumstances. Our being and expressiveness are conditioned by the way others receive, welcome and accept us. Thus our emotional state is a reaction to what we perceive from people around us and our circumstances. A seven year old girl, whose food was often eaten by other children, even before the lunch time, decided to bring an extra packet of food for her friends. She acted sympathetically and not reactively. She refused to be provoked. Our emotional state can be fluctuant, but its well spring is in knowing, 'I am what I am, by the grace of God', which enables us to act rather than react.

At the relational level, we get swayed by the behaviour of others. Somehow what people do or do not do affect us that our responses are conditioned by what we receive from others. The reason Jesus of Nazareth went about 'doing good' is because, He wanted to be a good news messenger of love and service. He created a new ambience of responding to provocations with love. Our acts of kindness can be like a mustard seek, which would grow in due season. We need encouragement not to become weary in well-doing. 

All these three areas, can grow within us through spiritual discipline of internal silence and meditation of the scripture. Silence leads us to communion with God and meditation upbuilds our inner self to be centred.   

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)