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Our compass
Fiona Keller • September 14, 2020
Operating on a moral compass that is not Spirit led.
Welcome dear one. I’m so glad you are here!
As I was out walking around my neighbourhood today, I was reflecting on some of the personal challenges that I have found myself facing lately and how I’ve been handling them. Did my intent come through in my actions and words? Was my intention pure and God-focussed? I was thinking about how we’re living in a time when everyone has an opinion about everything and we all think we are right. How we, as people, are so capable of taking a stance on something and digging our heels in, often to the bitter end. Of unilaterally deciding that we’re right. Discussion over. I was pondering how, in my own life, I have been guilty of this. How ungracious this is. How unloving. How unkind it can be. How it can lead to pride and arrogance.
I definitely think there are times when our moral compasses, mine included, can operate from a place of simple humanity. Simply put, there isn’t any Spirit leading involved at all. I have set my mind that something is right or wrong, based on some form of self-created criteria, and I move through life from that position. Making decisions from that place. This is a problem. It isn’t glorifying to God and it probably has even more potential to cause a wave of unintended damage along the way.
I think one of the things I have been learning in this most recent of seasons is the art of listening and the art of humility. I am fully convinced they are both art forms within their own rights. There is skill in listening well. With ears to hear, not just waiting for a turn to interject my ‘point.’ It requires patience, a willing spirit and a heart that is tuned to something - someone - beyond itself. It walks hand in hand with humility, because learning to listen well, and I’m still learning, needs a humble heart. An attitude that says loving this other person is done through listening and serving. Hearing this other person is more important than hearing my own voice. Establishing dialogue and communication is more important than my ‘rightness.’
I have also seen the trap - and no doubt fallen into it at least a time or two - of believing myself to be in the right about something. Even many times of feeling a Spirit-led discernment about things, following this, acting accordingly. BUT I have put my blinkers on to a creeping sense of self-righteousness, which, if I’m honest, has the amazing ability of showing up even in situations where I feel I have surrendered to God and to His leading. What started out as obedience to the Spirit, conviction, a desire to do what is right and to follow Him, turns into something about me. Suddenly my moral compass that has its north rooted in Christ, reliant on the magnetic pull of the Spirit has turned into a moral compass that is not Spirit led. Oh the danger of that subtle shift. That slightly holier than thou attitude. Superiority. It plays so well to our fallen nature of self-service and self- gratification.
It’s something that I think has plagued humanity since the beginning. I am reminded of a sermon I was listening to about the book of Acts and the struggle that Peter faced when he was called to set aside some Jewish tradition as the gospel was to be shared with the gentiles (Acts 10.) How his ‘right way of doing things’ may have been in the way of furthering the message of the gospel. But his mind wasn’t changed by himself, it shifted because his moral compass was Spirit-led, because his life-compass was governed by the magnetic pull of the Spirit. He was walking in tune with the Spirit and was listening to His voice. God spoke. He listened. He walked in obedience. He grew in serving all sorts of people, with all sorts of ideas and views on things and as a result, many people heard about Jesus, because his spirit was rooted in listening to the voice of the Spirit. His work for the kingdom was huge. Am I saying that we’re all going to do work for the kingdom that rivals Peter’s? No. But I am saying that a moral and life compass that is aligned with the Spirit can produce fruit. Big and small.
So in pondering these things, I find myself asking how I cultivate a life that has it’s ‘north’ set to the Spirit? How do I avoid functioning with a moral compass that is not Spirit-led? How humility and listening skills can continue to grow within me? How these changes within will be reflected on the outside? I think about how our world desperately needs a people who love like God loves and serve like Jesus serves.
My mind turns back to thinking about how the art of humility requires me to serve others before myself and in order to do that I need the art of listening. In order to hear well, I need the art of gentle humility. They are so intertwined. In growing these skills, through prayer, practise, patience, studying, accountability, worship, I gain ground in recognising needs and hurts and passions in others. I gain ground in being able to set aside my views in order to understand another’s, ( I am not saying that you have to agree with their view. You can love well, listen well, serve well, without sharing the same viewpoint.) And I gain ground in being able to extend grace to others that is more than I could humanly muster, as the God who pours out His infinite grace upon me, replenishes me and grows my capacity so that it overflows to others. Through this, I believe we can build bridges, forge relationships and bring healing. People drawn back to Him, united through His Spirit. As the only source of being saved from ourselves.
Father, I thank You for these man-made shells, which become our homes as they fill with noise and laughter, silence and tears, memories and hopes. I thank You for their protection, for the safety found within. I thank You for the life that grows surrounded by these walls; a place we make our own. Amen
When complaints often come easier than thanksgiving - I thank you Father for these dishes, which signify food and drink aplenty. I thank You for each mouth that partook of meals together. Amen
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Jude 1:2 Most gracious and loving Heavenly Father, I thank You for You have sustained me through this school year. I thank You for Your provision of strength and energy even on the hardest of days. I thank You for walking with me on the mountain tops: the moments of joy, the times of bonding and fellowship, the times when the learning and the teaching came easily. I thank You for journeying with me through the valleys. On the days I wanted to give up. During times of frustration and grumblings. On the days when learning was hard and teaching even harder. I thank You that I never left the shadow of Your wings and that You have seen me, valued me and noticed me as I have sought to lead and serve my family in this way. Lord, we are nearing the end of this season and oftentimes feel the increasing need for rest, for reprieve and refueling. Some days Lord, it feels like summer will never come. And yet some days time flies and I become aware again of the limited time I have with these dear ones whom I am not only tasked with teaching, but also with parenting and loving. Father, it is my desire to finish well. That we will not succumb to wishing away the time together, nor give in to half-hearted efforts put forth. Help us to find balance between being present in the here and now and thinking ahead to plans for the summer and next school year May You continue to be the source of my daily strength and joy. Remind me of my calling to teach during this season and equip me each day to face challenges with grace, love, humor and humility. Renew my spirit and uplift me as I seek to lead these children towards You, keeping my mind focused and my heart seeking You above all else. In Jesus' name Amen