Soul Blessings
Photo by Susan Izard February 9, 2012
Dear Soul Friends,
We’ve been in a deep freeze in Connecticut. Life seems to stand still when it is so cold. Everything is quiet and moves in slow motion. It’s hard to get motivated to do anything outside, but yesterday it was a bit warmer. The sun reflected brilliant bright light off the snow. I couldn’t wait to be outside. I noticed a few mallard ducks were swimming in a nearby brook and I wondered what else was waking up. I needed to find out. As I walked, I was greeted with a chorus of chirping birds. In the ancient Celtic Lands, February 1 was the beginning of spring—the beginning of the greening of the earth. We are weeks away from our greening, but yesterday the birds were singing the overture of their spring symphony. They were paying attention to something hidden and intuitive, and it delighted them.
Our souls are like that too. They can often feel hidden and inaccessible, but when we pay attention, they have a bounty of wisdom that guides us and fills us with delight.
This past weekend, I attended the Celebration of Life for one of my mentors. I met him when I was in my fifties when he joined our church. As a retired seminary professor, theologian, Jungian scholar, and author, he surprised me when he started attending the Monday book study I led. I wondered if he would be bored and I felt a bit intimidated. I quickly realized that his humble, loving presence was a gift for our circle. His knowledge and genuine interest in sharing the joy and love of our faith with others enriched each of us. I began an email correspondence with him whenever I had a question about the Greek or Hebrew text I was studying. I have a file of his fascinating emails saved on my computer.
When Covid hit and we were isolated from each other, I lost touch with him. I learned a few years later that he was in a memory ward at his retirement home. As I sat in church at his memorial service and listened to the remarkable tributes his sons offered, I recalled my own memories of our friendship. His soul sparkled with inner knowing of Holy Love. That knowing radiated toward everyone he talked to. He had a manner of leaning down toward you in conversation, eager to hear whatever you had to say. His lifelong quest to encounter and know his soul’s knowledge and wisdom was a blessing.
It’s not always easy to listen to our souls, but it is worth the effort. We were born to be kind, caring souls. In my faith tradition, kindness and caring are gifts of the Spirit. I once thought the gifts of the Spirit were given to us from an energy somewhere out in the universe. I now know we are born with those gifts, and they dwell deep within us. Life can cover them up, but if we listen and trust them, we will become the souls we were born to be.
Pick one quality of your soul that you’re curious about. Maybe you’d like to be more patient or compassionate. Maybe you’d like to focus on being grateful or hopeful. Try practicing being compassionate to the next person who needs a listening ear. Try being patient with a neighbor or co-worker who usually drives you crazy. Try jotting down something you are grateful for before going to bed each night. Try being hopeful when you are tempted to despair over the news of the day or an event in your life. All of these qualities are soul voices within you. Over time, you’ll discover those qualities will begin to guide you throughout your day.
Soul has a way of showing up when you pay attention. As we cultivate our soul qualities, we become a loving presence and a guide for others. That’s what my mentor did for me. He listened. He responded. He guided and he shared his love for The Holy. His encouragement and kindness were a gift for my soul.
May you be blessed by the delight of your soul’s inner symphony and may you bless others with your tender attentiveness.
Deep peace to you,
Susan
