For whatever reason of late I’ve been pondering “soul”. I find myself talking with those who come for counsel about their soul & heart. Yet, as I do I question what I actually know about them. A few years ago I purchased the book, The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee. In it he defines nicely the difference between spirit and soul. Spirit, he defines is our conscience, intuition and communion. Soul includes our self-consciousness, intellect, ideals, love, emotions, discernment, choice, and more. All of this helps me see that The Holy Spirit we receive when Jesus is invited into our lives helps our soul to live more holy.

So now, take all of that and put flesh around it and give it your name. This is what God knit in our mother’s womb as stated in Psalms 139:13. As I am writing this I see more clearly my communion with God when I worship Him. If my conscience is clear and I’ve heeded to His Spirit’s voice (my intuition) I worship so easily and lovingly. However, if I am troubled with decisions or desires that are selfish I don’t have the same freedom of worship (communion).

I know when I went for my own counsel I’d sometimes be told that in helping me or others, the counselor got help for themselves. Now, all these years later I’m beginning to see just what they meant. When I fully retired a couple years ago from my 50 years in education I said I would be a much better teacher/administrator if I could take all I now know to my career’s beginning I would have been a much better educator. This truth doesn’t change no matter what career path we follow. God always desires to grow us. I do love being a learner and with the learning, develop into a better man God knit in my mother’s womb so many years ago.