“Pay attention: if it feels like you’re dragging your soul along behind you, take notice. Maye . . . it means you’re asking it to move too quickly through the myriad challenges of your life, with no transition. . . . It might just need to lie on its back and put its paws in the air for a few moments.”- John Eldredge
“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me — everything you heard from me and saw me doing. The the God of peace will be with you.”- Philippians 4:9 (NLT)
John Eldredge concludes Chapter 14 of Get Your Life Back as he talks about a dog walker in his neighborhood. As John observed, while the owner clearly wants to get some exercise, his dog moseys at his own pace behind the owner. Thus, the dog’s simply out to enjoy the world. But one day, with the dog walker’s arm and leash fully extended, the mutt rolled on his back on the sidewalk. Paws up in the air in playful protest.
Perhaps, John suggests, that describes you and your soul. You’re trying to get your soul to come along in a way of life it’s reticent to cooperate with. However, as God restores your soul, it fits less and less into the madness of daily life. In truth, you’re being healed.
Yet, no matter how much of God we partake in during the day, one surprising ‘aha’ exists. Tomorrow we need more of God again! Like a tree in the forest, our life is a beautifully dependent existence. Therefore, we simply come and ask God to give us our daily bread (Matthew 6:11).
Consequently, more of God = our greatest need and joy, our only rescue. This represents our only viable option. Because God provides the strength and resiliency we need in this world. That Life allows us to enjoy everything else in life.
Finally, John offers these words of hope:
“Keep putting into practice. It’s not about perfection; it’s not about being amazing. God is nowhere in the pressure to be amazing. He’s waiting in the simple dailies. Just keep putting into practice the things that heal your soul and bring you more of Jesus. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Today’s question: When do you find yourself dragging your soul along behind you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Intellectual analysis = spiritual paralysis?”
