This month, Karen has given us the prompt; what do we bind ourselves to, in this journey of Spirit? You can read her post here.
To bind oneself to someone, something implies a conscious action, a decision to connect, a reason for that attachment. It is a one-sided undertaking, when you think about it; whatever it is you are binding yourself to may or may not even be aware, or capable of awareness...it is a decision that is yours, and yours alone.
Karen's prompt immediately made me think of personal values. Discerning one's values and aligning actions to them have been topics in several books I'm reading for personal growth. The process is both enlightening and humbling, as I catch myself several times a day acting in ways that truly do not align with what I profess to be my values. Fortunately (or not), those foibles only impact myself directly. For example--I say that I value health of body and mind, but my eating and sleeping habits do not support my binding to that value.
Perhaps it is time I focus on binding myself to a Power that is greater than my weak will.
"Today I gird myself
with threefold power,
invocation of the Trinity,
belief in the threeness,
profession of the oneness,
in union with the Creator."
--St Patrick's Breastplate
Chris, thank you for this offering. I like your insight, that to bind is a one-sided decision. I think we share similar journeys...the declaration and the humbling ability to follow.
ReplyDeleteIt is a constant dance, isn't it, Karen? The re-committing oneself to what is important and necessary.
DeleteI admire and adore your insight here - that to bind "is a one-sided undertaking"...involving conviction, trust, hope, I think. What a strong outcome:
ReplyDelete"Perhaps it is time I focus on binding myself to a Power that is greater than my weak will."
Thank you, Maureen. "Bind" is such a strong word, to me--and I think your comment of "conviction, trust, hope" describes that strength beautifully.
DeleteVital insights, Chris, about the voicing of values vs. the actual living of them. "Binding myself to a Power that is greater than my weak will" - that is the very foundation of the faith. We learned about it as children, did we not? "Little ones to Him belong/ They [we] are weak but He is strong." It is a life lesson, a lifelong journey. In light of our weak will... I rejoice that the Power does the binding.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder at the connections my brain makes, Fran, so I'm glad they make sense to others as well! The juxtaposition of binding with faith--the former seems almost forceful, the latter gentle, but the connection stands. A lifelong journey, indeed, given our free will and the use of it.
DeleteChris, thanks for your honest assessment here of what binding is and how it is not easy to hold on to the values we profess with our words. Yes, indeed, and amen! Like you, today I am binding myself to a Power "greater than my weak will."
ReplyDeleteYes! That power that is greater than we are!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post -- I finally wrote mine today!