We are encouraged and given permission to take care of ourselves physically. We are told to eat the right things, to stay away from certain foods, to exercise regularly, to not smoke, to not over drink, and we are encouraged to regularly see a doctor for a physical check-up. Sad to say, we are not encouraged nor given permission to tend to our souls with the same priority. I'm sure your boss would be quite understanding if you asked to take off from work to go see your doctor. However, you might get a different response if you asked off from work to go visit with your spiritual director. Most employers provide a certain number of "sick" days per year. I imagine that about half of "sick" days are taken just because the person needs a break. So they are forced to lie and say they are sick just to get the break.
Since the culture does not encourage us, nor is there any infrastructure in place to facilitate it, it's up to us as individuals to tend to our own souls. The sadder commentary is that very little of what goes on in and with church has anything to do with taking care of our souls. Heaven, Hell, doctrine, moral codes, budgets, programs, and the institution pretty much consume much of the focus. As a matter of fact, church can actually be a place were one's soul might shrivel rather than soar. To be perfectly honest and transparent, I've become quite allergic to a lot of things "church".
We have to become the alchemist of our own souls. It is imperative that we give ourselves permission to arrange and structure our lives so that our soul will soar rather than shrivel. Holy Wisdom is deep within you; a deep intuitive voice to guide you into what your soul needs and craves. Because we are all wired a little different, what the soul needs may differ. It is up to you to discover the alchemy that works for you. It is your work to uncover the things, places, settings, atmospheres, and people that expand your soul - and, give yourself permission to live primarily in that environment. It is your work to be conscious and aware of the things, places, settings, atmospheres, and people that constrict your soul - and give yourself permission to stay away from that environment. Sadly, our lives are structured around almost everything else - work, money, taking care of our stuff, responsibilities, maybe even family or church - rather than caring for our souls.
One of the gifts of tragedy is that it shakes us free from all that that binds us. It is unfortunate that it usually requires tragedy before we give ourselves permission to structure our lives in the way that we need to. Jesus said, what good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul in the process". What I'm about to say will sound very dangerous and may not even make good sense but I'm going to say it anyway. Find the courage and will to structure your life so that your soul can soar. If your job is killing you - find a new one. If you are burdened by too much stuff - get rid if it. If your in a relationship that is killing you - get out of it - life is too short. If you're not getting anything from your church - go to another one. If you hate where your live - move. If you have a friend that drives you crazy - you don't have to be mean about it, but stop hanging out with them. Find the power to just say "NO" to that that which constricts your soul. Find the courage to say "YES" to that which brings you bliss. Say "YES" to that which intoxicates you. We only live once (that we know of) and life is short. Today is all we've got so let's not waste it.
__________________________
TIRED OF SPEAKING SWEETLY
Love wants to reach out and manhandle us,
Break all our teacup talk of God.
If you had the courage and
Could give the Beloved His choice, some nights,
He would just drag you around the room
By your hair,
Ripping from your grip all those toys in the world
That bring you no joy.
Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly
And wants to rip to shreds
All your erroneous notions of truth
That make you fight within yourself, dear one,
And with others,
Causing the world to weep
On too many fine days.
God wants to manhandle us,
Lock us inside of a tiny room with Himself
And practice His dropkick.
The Beloved sometimes wants
To do us a great favor:
Hold us upside down
And shake all the nonsense out.
But when we hear
He is in such a “playful drunken mood”
Most everyone I know
Quickly packs their bags and hightails it
Out of town.
~ Hafiz ~
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