When I think about life, I think about its fluidity and its dynamic state; always in constant motion. The continuity of change never stops. This fascinates me greatly. It helps me to think that my being is never really an absolute substance but is a part of what is kept in constant motion. Life breathes constancy in change. I ponder on this thought for a while.
For when one may think it to go in one direction, life exerts his force tugging that one in the completely opposite direction. How does one think to do one thing, yet has been tugged or pulled away to find himself doing the exact opposite? Isn’t life ironic? Isn’t it funny that one receives the things he most dreads? In this, I have found life’s inverse relationship. It must mean that there is the existence of two parts, that is, two forces that are constantly at play with each other. For these forces, they seem to go in equal and exact opposition.
I read from the book of Sirach Chapter 42:
24 All things are in pairs, one opposite the other, and nothing he makes is in any way deficient.
25 One thing emphasizes the excellence of the other; who could ever weary of admiring his glory?
Additionally, taken from the book of Sirach Chapter 33:
14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life of death, and the sinner is the opposite of the upright.
15 Consider all the works of the Most High and you will see how they in pairs, by opposites.
Life comes in pairs.
For every action, there is equal and opposite reaction.
This is the balance of life.
But now I question, what are these invisible forces at play?
Even if one forces the eye to look, evidence of such forces escapes him. For this one, he is left in much confusion.
I greatly highlight this concept of inverse relations because it helps me to better understand my own relationship with faith. Sometimes one may think that they are doing really horribly in the exact moments when on the outside, all seems to be going very well. Sometimes, under the greatest pressure, one is able to accomplish his greatest achievement. Sometimes, one cries his blessing away because of his very thought of rejection.
By using this thought of inverse relation, coupled with the concept of reversibility, it is easier for me to see more clearly how one may readily swing from moment of fear to moment of faith back to moment of fear.
I now realize that fear is inversely related to faith.
And that faith is inversely related to fear.
They are like exact opposites.
I provoke a further thought. For man, without fear, it is impossible to have faith. For they come in pairs. One would not be possible without the other. Humans actually need fear in order to build faith. Do you see that? Fear is therefore the fuel or ‘earthly’ resource material, from which faith may be propagated.
I then reconsidered my prayer request. Fear was the raw material given to me in order to start building my faith. My prayers were, indeed, being answered. I wanted to grow my faith and I was given the raw material to do just that. Clearly, I had very little understanding of heavenly things for earthly purposes. This highlights a salient point. Sometimes one prays, but may easily miss his answer as a result of a lack in understanding or presence of miscommunication between the sender and the recipient. Communication plays a very important role when praying.
But wait! It must mean something further. The element of work is involved. In order for faith to build or grow, one must exert some type of effort towards fear in order to bring about faith. But what type of work is involved? What would the effort required to bring about this change look like?
I can now say with confidence that faith requires of me certain things, some of which include understanding that:
_Great importance is placed on developing a relationship with whom I am praying to, such that an effective and adequate communication system is established and maintained.
_Usually, one starts off with the raw resource that is equal and opposite to the desired object or outcome.
_When one asks for something, it is expected that he works for it. Man works for his reward. Man works for his faith.
When I review my past, I was wasting away so much of my fuel, being the most fearful to do practically anything in this life. Fear plagued me greatly. Totally risk averse was I. Though afraid, and hoping to find myself in ‘safe’ situations, it seemed to me like I was thrown much into the deep end, always finding myself alone in the riskiest places and having to figure out how to get out of such places in speedy timing. It seems as though risk was my breeding ground and I was the attractant for challenge. Little did I know that there was so much potential inside of me to promote faith. I sit in wonderment!
Deuteronomy 31: 6 Be valiant and strong, do not fear or tremble before them for Yahweh, your God is with you; He will not leave You or abandon You
Deuteronomy 31: 8 Yahweh shall go before You. He shall be with you; He shall not leave you or abandon you. Do not fear, then, or be discouraged.
By Moses telling them not to fear, he was also implying to have faith.
Very well! It must mean then, that further effort must be applied to overcome the force of fear such that faith stands.
By the simple order of fear being in inverse relation to faith, it is then possible to convert fear into faith. Work is being carried out to convert fear into faith.
Fear= the inhibiting self
Faith= the promoting self
This must mean, then, that fear must be inhibited in order that faith be disinhibited. Some type of effort or work is needed in order to inhibit the inhibiting nature of fear.
But how is one able to truly convert fear into faith?
The study of fear is therefore necessary before one may progress in the study of faith.
For when one may think it to go in one direction, life exerts his force tugging that one in the completely opposite direction. How does one think to do one thing, yet has been tugged or pulled away to find himself doing the exact opposite? Isn’t life ironic? Isn’t it funny that one receives the things he most dreads? In this, I have found life’s inverse relationship. It must mean that there is the existence of two parts, that is, two forces that are constantly at play with each other. For these forces, they seem to go in equal and exact opposition.
I read from the book of Sirach Chapter 42:
24 All things are in pairs, one opposite the other, and nothing he makes is in any way deficient.
25 One thing emphasizes the excellence of the other; who could ever weary of admiring his glory?
Additionally, taken from the book of Sirach Chapter 33:
14 Good is the opposite of evil, and life of death, and the sinner is the opposite of the upright.
15 Consider all the works of the Most High and you will see how they in pairs, by opposites.
Life comes in pairs.
For every action, there is equal and opposite reaction.
This is the balance of life.
But now I question, what are these invisible forces at play?
Even if one forces the eye to look, evidence of such forces escapes him. For this one, he is left in much confusion.
I greatly highlight this concept of inverse relations because it helps me to better understand my own relationship with faith. Sometimes one may think that they are doing really horribly in the exact moments when on the outside, all seems to be going very well. Sometimes, under the greatest pressure, one is able to accomplish his greatest achievement. Sometimes, one cries his blessing away because of his very thought of rejection.
By using this thought of inverse relation, coupled with the concept of reversibility, it is easier for me to see more clearly how one may readily swing from moment of fear to moment of faith back to moment of fear.
I now realize that fear is inversely related to faith.
And that faith is inversely related to fear.
They are like exact opposites.
I provoke a further thought. For man, without fear, it is impossible to have faith. For they come in pairs. One would not be possible without the other. Humans actually need fear in order to build faith. Do you see that? Fear is therefore the fuel or ‘earthly’ resource material, from which faith may be propagated.
I then reconsidered my prayer request. Fear was the raw material given to me in order to start building my faith. My prayers were, indeed, being answered. I wanted to grow my faith and I was given the raw material to do just that. Clearly, I had very little understanding of heavenly things for earthly purposes. This highlights a salient point. Sometimes one prays, but may easily miss his answer as a result of a lack in understanding or presence of miscommunication between the sender and the recipient. Communication plays a very important role when praying.
But wait! It must mean something further. The element of work is involved. In order for faith to build or grow, one must exert some type of effort towards fear in order to bring about faith. But what type of work is involved? What would the effort required to bring about this change look like?
I can now say with confidence that faith requires of me certain things, some of which include understanding that:
_Great importance is placed on developing a relationship with whom I am praying to, such that an effective and adequate communication system is established and maintained.
_Usually, one starts off with the raw resource that is equal and opposite to the desired object or outcome.
_When one asks for something, it is expected that he works for it. Man works for his reward. Man works for his faith.
When I review my past, I was wasting away so much of my fuel, being the most fearful to do practically anything in this life. Fear plagued me greatly. Totally risk averse was I. Though afraid, and hoping to find myself in ‘safe’ situations, it seemed to me like I was thrown much into the deep end, always finding myself alone in the riskiest places and having to figure out how to get out of such places in speedy timing. It seems as though risk was my breeding ground and I was the attractant for challenge. Little did I know that there was so much potential inside of me to promote faith. I sit in wonderment!
Deuteronomy 31: 6 Be valiant and strong, do not fear or tremble before them for Yahweh, your God is with you; He will not leave You or abandon You
Deuteronomy 31: 8 Yahweh shall go before You. He shall be with you; He shall not leave you or abandon you. Do not fear, then, or be discouraged.
By Moses telling them not to fear, he was also implying to have faith.
Very well! It must mean then, that further effort must be applied to overcome the force of fear such that faith stands.
By the simple order of fear being in inverse relation to faith, it is then possible to convert fear into faith. Work is being carried out to convert fear into faith.
Fear= the inhibiting self
Faith= the promoting self
This must mean, then, that fear must be inhibited in order that faith be disinhibited. Some type of effort or work is needed in order to inhibit the inhibiting nature of fear.
But how is one able to truly convert fear into faith?
The study of fear is therefore necessary before one may progress in the study of faith.
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