“We are able to live out of the best part of our Striving Adam selves because we are not afraid to pursue actions that involve risk and possible failure. We also live out of the best part of our Soulful Adam selves as we seek to deepen our relationship with God and the people around us.”- Ken Shigematsu
“Come to me, all you who are weary and and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”- Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)
In his Epilogue (“The Yoke of God’s Love”) to Survival Guide for the Soul, Ken Shigematsu observes the following. None of us wants to go through life feeling like we need to posture ourselves. To present a persona of someone we’re not to gain acceptance. Rather, we want to present our real selves.
Therefore, regardless of what wearies or burdens us, Jesus wants to place His yoke on us. The yoke of His Father’s love. As a result, life’s burdens feel lighter when we wear the yoke of God’s love. And when we sense God’s love, we show up in the world with more of our whole selves.
Furthermore, employ practices such as silent prayer, Sabbath keeping, and serving. Through these spiritual practices, we become much more aware of God’s love for us. Yet — out of a deep sense of love, reverence, and gratitude — we want to do our best for God.
Finally, Ken closes with these words of blessing:
“May you become fully present, confident, and engaged in your life as you take on the yoke of God’s love and lay down the exhausting burden of living as an insecure facsimile of yourself. May you . . . come to be loved and to love more and more fully and more and more abundantly.
Today’s question: What’s the best part of your Striving and Soulful Adams? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the annotated bibliography of Survival Guide for the Soul
