Weekly Musing

A musing from our group book discussion:

We are coming to the end of our group book discussion of Strong Like Water. Last week, Bonnie, our discussion leader, summarized our chapter dialogue and had some great insight:

Some things from yesterday that I am remembering:

• Stephanie talking about the balloon being tethered and experiencing freedom in the open sky.

• Marti saying God isn’t subtracting from us but adding.

• Sharon saying, “What if interactions are about connecting and showing Love rather than changing?”

• Jessica sharing the beautiful and fierce experience of expressing and growing into deeply knowing Unconditional Love.

This morning, I read Ephesians 4:30-32: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”

It caught my eye that the “get rid of” verb in Greek is in the passive voice. What a difference this makes! I don’t have to try to get rid of these feelings and behaviors but instead can be with them and let the Holy Spirit sort it all out. Then, the “be kind” and “forgiving” verbs in verse 32 are in the middle/passive voice, meaning that I as the subject am receiving or benefiting from the action expressed by the verb (which, of course, means I can then be kind and forgiving out of my having already received those). So, perhaps one way of “not grieving the Holy Spirit” is to not strive to do things that are His/Her responsibility and instead do what is our responsibility:

Receiving what’s been given and implanted in us and letting the Spirit express.

Selah!