Your Spiritual Journey
Heart, Soul and Mind
Heart, Soul and Mind
As a kid, I watched a sci-fi show where the characters explored the galaxy searching for new life and new civilizations. One of the alien races were very intelligent and learned to suppress all emotions. I thought these fictional aliens were fascinating. I wanted to be like them for a couple of reasons. One, I wanted to be super smart. Two, I wanted to be able to control my emotions so I wouldn’t have to deal with the pain and anger we so often experience in this life. As you might imagine, I was unsuccessful in learning to suppress my emotions. Now that I’m older, I think it was a good thing I didn’t attain that goal for a couple of reasons.
From a worldly perspective, without emotions how would we truly learn how to love and value our family? Without passion, how would we strive to do better? There would be little or no competition to drive us just simple intellectual pursuit. From a spiritual view, what would encourage and drive us to Jesus if we couldn’t sympathize or empathize with His plight? We would not feel sorrow at his death, nor would we feel shame for the reason for it. If we pursued eternal life, it would be simply following orders. We would be little more than soldiers or computer programs; just doing what we’re told to do. This is not what God wanted when we were created.
Jesus taught us to love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind” Matt. 22:37 because God wants to have a partnership with us – to have a relationship with us. God loves us and wants us to love him back. The brain can’t feel love, but we do need the brain to learn and understand God so that our heart and soul know why we love God and how we are to display that love. In order to love God like Jesus taught, we need to learn God’s word then feel it in our heart and soul. I’m glad I was not able to abolish feelings. Without them, I would not know the joy that awaits me in heaven.
James P.
