connecting with your spirit 153
Rumi, choose one of your favorite poems and memorize it today.
Similar to actively singing or playing a musical instrument, recit-
ing a poem can be more healing than simply reading it. When we
memorize a poem or know it by heart, we own the poem ’ s truth in
a deeper place; then, when we recite it to others and pay it forward,
it takes us deeper yet. Check out your local paper for poetry read-
ings in your area and attend or participate in one this month.
Poetry has been enjoyed as a conduit for change, a translator for
grace, a way to express the soul ’ s deepest longings. From David ’ s
psalms to the many New Testament miracles, anointed words have
inspired our pursuit of the mystery and our understanding of why
we struggle to do what we really want to do but often don ’ t.
Sin, a Wake - Up Call to Consciousness
“ For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want
to do — this I keep on doing ” (Romans 7:18 – 19).
Many who recoil from the word sin may choose to replace it with
a less loaded and more easily understood description for “ uncon-
scious, ignorant responses based on erroneous thinking. ” In other
words, sin or erroneous thoughts, feelings, intentions, and beliefs
cause us to miss the mark or disable us from achieving our highest
calling. Given this defi nition, who would really want to wallow in
it or, frankly, even want to go there? Although unconscious actions
can often create disease, this can effectively catapult us into an
awareness to become more conscious of our health and other life
priorities. One of the redemptive mysteries about sin and uncon-
scious, error - based thinking and action is that they can be a huge
wake - up call and can inspire us toward consciousness and truth
faster and more effectively than anything I know!
Although certain Judaic and Christian scriptures support the
belief that sin can be the root cause of illness and disease ( John
5:2 – 14), there is also scripture that says this is not true in all cases.
The book of Job and many of Christ ’ s teachings emphasize that there