Comments on: Running on Empty

By: Points of Interest, #31 « Mind, Soul, and Body

Points of Interest, #31 « Mind, Soul, and Body — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:05:32 +0000

[...] Mormon Matters, Stephen Marsh shares some beautiful insights about the highs and lows we all run into spiritually, along with some tips for getting through the lows and help for us to have more compassion for [...]

By: Points of Interest, #30 « Mind, Soul, and Body

Points of Interest, #30 « Mind, Soul, and Body — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:58:55 +0000

By: Ray

Ray — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:12:34 +0000

To echo what Howard said so well, I have found myself being refilled in an amazing way as I have focused almost single-mindedly this year simply on becoming more Christlike. As I have tackled one characteristic at a time, for only one month at a time, I actually have been shocked at how “filling” the process has been.

Wonderful post, Stephen – simply wonderful. I also agree with Howard that you are an inspiration to many of us who only have a slight understanding of what you’ve been through.

By: Stephen Marsh

Stephen Marsh — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:12:42 +0000

Howard, you are too kind. Thank you.

By: Howard

Howard — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:22:23 +0000

My own state has waxed and waned. I’m afraid that just as much of the last fifteen years has really drained me physically and emotionally, those years have also drained my Spiritually.

Stephen, given what you have been through it is a miracle that you are able to function at all. You have been severely tested and survived which speaks to the strength of the spiritual reserve you must have begun this journey with. I think of you often and my prayers are with you and yours.

Relying on, seeking, finding and responding to the Spirit…

Yes, it requires work but he is always there available for us. The Spirit respects agency. That is why he speaks in such a still small voice; the small voice preserves agency by creating a form of plausible deniability. Was that a prompting…or not? Did I actually feel/hear something…or not?

Release the Spirit from his obligation to respect your agency and his voice will grow louder, much louder. We can do this by following Christ’s example; not my will but thine be done. We can turn our agency over to the Lord by laying our will down in prayer and dedicating ourselves to acting as his servant. Fasten your seat belt if you haven’t tried this, it’s quite a ride.

By: Stephen M (Ethesis)

Stephen M (Ethesis) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:37:54 +0000

I’m sure that most of us are running on empty more than we know. I’ll get to seeing through a glass darkly next (just finished the rough draft on it), and probably some more on this series of how we interact with the Spirit.

You’ve hit it though, patience with others, self awareness of our own limits first.

By: Neal Davis

Neal Davis — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:10:16 +0000

By your symptoms, I have to wonder if most of us are running on empty almost all of the time. As far as recognizing when others are running on empty, I must admit that I always judge and then get to know them and then rethink my original judgment–but I do try to avoid strife first, anyway. I’m just wired jealously.