Where am I

There are some books I read for fun, some to learn something, and some to digest and ponder. I am currently getting my butt kicked by Dallas Willard’s “Hearing God”. Pretty much anything I read by Dallas Willard kicks my butt and I generally have to read them one page at a time.

One of the early challenges in this particular book is to remember the people in the Bible were experiencing emotions and reactions and behaviors not unlike what we might in a similar situation. Asking “who or what do I identify with in this passage” and “why” helps illuminate not only the passage but for me, also where I am at this particular moment.

The Bible passage used to illustrate this approach is I King’s 19:2-18, which tells of Elijah’s flight after his confrontation with Queen Jezebel and the priests of Baal. There are both explicit and implicit characters and objects to consider when choosing or considering who/what you identify with: Elijah, the ministering angel, God, the bread the angel prepares, the fire the angel uses to prepare the bread, Jezebel. When I went through this exercise, I discovered something deep in myself that I’m had not recognized and that helped me understand the space in which I currently find myself.

I continue to use this approach in my reading. It’s not always as illuminating but it does help me remember to consider what others might be feeling in situations in which I find myself.

Illumination.