ronschnarr @ 2009-12-22T14:07:00

2009-12-22T19:07:58Z

"I asked Swedenborg whether... it was worth while to pay attention to our dreams; upon which he answered that the Lord no longer at the present day makes revelations by dreams, but that nevertheless it may happen that one who understands correspondences may derive advantage from his dreams: just as a person who is awake may examine his own state by comparing his own will with God's commandments." ~Spirits and Men, Odhner p. 142

I just found this quote looking over my college senior project entitled "Brains, Minds and the Sacred Silence." In the past I have definitely had a curios spirit within me which would search the universe for curiosities, but over the years love and simplicity is winning my heart over. Partially because you get burned when you leave you front doorstep.

I think of Bilbo's words "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door." I think I am a Hobbit at heart. I know that my innate curiosity will carry me out my front door again, but I wonder if it will carry me as far as it used to. There are so many wonders to be found in your own home and it took me a long time to realize this.

I found a neat passage the other day that has been really effecting my life.

"Moreover, those who are governed by the Lord are passive, and have no power of themselves; they are impotent to act and feel anything of themselves, and they know it. With them there is only a passive force. These are called "poor" and also "needy" and they are so esteemed by those who suppose that they themselves are strong. Those weak ones who can do nothing of themselves are governed by the Lord. He Himself takes care of them. But, on the other hand, those who suppose that they live from themselves and govern themselves are called the "strong", and they possess active powers, whilst those just spoken of only passive powers. Those who possess active powers of themselves, are they who arouse evil thoughts and affections with the others; so that the evils which they think and to which they are aroused are from the active powers of such spirits who breathe forth like things." (Spiritual Diary 620, Emmanuel Swedenborg)

And another further speaks about this,

"The man who would live in peace must be in a passive and never in an active state, except by re-action and the concurrence of action, which also come from the Lord; so the state is still a passive one - resisting or following. Such is the state of the angels who live in peace. But others who suppose that they govern themselves are continually disquieted; for they lead themselves into various cupidities, thus into anxieties, and although they are excited by others, indeed by very many, still each and every one supposes that it is his own, or from himself. Therefore, this remains with him and is inrooted as his, or as his proprium, and hence is imputed to him. The belief that the Lord governs heaven and earth, because it is the truth, is given to the faithful and to the angels; but to those who are not in saving faith it cannot be given, although they suppose that they are willing so to think, because they know it. But this is impossible unless they are in saving faith, and so are governed by the Lord. That this is so, I can testify from long and daily experience, concerning which subject I have quite often talked with spirits, so that nothing has been made more familiar to me." (Spiritual Diary 635, Emmanuel Swedenborg)

Ooooooooooooooo... What a peaceful passage. I guess it is alright to live in your hobbit hole and know that occasionally the spirit of curiosity will carry you away on an adventure as it does, but this makes your home that much more valuable when you have known a life without it.

Reminds me of how the Lord said, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luke 9:58)

Thank you Lord for the place of rest you have left us.

ronschnarr @ 2009-12-22T13:40:00

2009-12-22T18:40:55Z

Tell me anyone how do you delete the goat?