Wednesday, February 01, 2006

The Wisdom of the Heart and Jessie

The mind has become so dominant in running the business of people’s days and their lives, the heart’s wisdom seems to have been forgotten and made irrelevant.

God has said to me, "You will be surprised, but that very lack in people’s lives, (ignoring the heart’s wisdom) was the mission I gave my son more than 2000 years ago. God said, "I said to Jesus, "Help the people find harmony in their lives. Teach them about love. Teach people how to live their lives not only with the wisdom of the mind, but also with the wisdom of the heart. The heart is the source of compassion and love. "

The mind may have barred the door to the heart. The mind doesn’t ask, "What is the opinion of the heart in regard to this situation?" People in the work-a-day world THINK ABOUT solutions to problems. They may not consider the sorrow that the mind’s solution to problems may bring.

Now I find myself baffled, as Jesus may have been baffled, as well, wondering "How does one reach a person’s heart to talk to it?" The mind says, "I am the lawgiver. I am the judge. The heart’s wisdom doesn’t exist. Only I know what is right! After all, the 10 commandments were laid down as absolutes, with no allowance for compassion."

But Jesus told of angry men who sought to stone to death a woman taken in adultery. The Law required that punishment for such an act. Jesus, called on the men to hold their stones and to reflect about their own lives. He wanted the men to feel kinship with the woman, a human being like themselves. Jesus said, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone."

Jesus hoped his words and his way of living would teach people how to love others. He said, "Love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) Jesus may have used parables and stories to outwit the mind and to reach the heart. After all, a story is something to be enjoyed. A story isn’t a misdeed to be judged.

A story of my own might help us learn how one heart lived its days. Although the incident happened to me years ago, my memory holds it fast. After my husband’s death, nineteen years ago. friends explained to me why they hadn’t called about visiting me soon after the death. One friend said, "I thought: After I say, "I’m sorry, then what? I didn’t want to say something that would make you cry, so I said to myself, "I think I'd better wait to visit."

A day after my husband’s funeral, however, one neighbor came to visit me. She was six year old, Jessie. Jessie came often to see George and me, At the door Jessie said, "My mother said to ask you if it’s all right to come in. Is it?” I answered, "Yes, come in." Jessie said, "I thought you might be lonely. Are you lonely?" I said, "I am, Jessie, but I have to keep on with my life." Jessie put her hand over mine, and said, in a consoling voice, "I know."

Next, Jessie had a visit with Thumper, the family rabbit. She took him from the cage and sat down to hold him and to talk to him. A bit later, Jessie returned Thumper to his "condo" and said, in a cheery voice, "Well, I have to go now, My mother said, ‘Don’t stay long."

Jessie opened the front door and closed it behind her, but then she popped back inside. She said, "Now don’t be lonely! I’ll be back tomorrow. She waved and was gone. True to her word, she came back on other days. Jessie’s compassion brought tears, but not of sadness.

A few weeks later, Thumper died suddenly. Because Jessie was such a special friend to Thumper, I called her. Children can accept a loss if they are certain a mistake hasn’t been made I wanted Jessie to verify his death. I expected also that Jessie would want to help with the burial.

Jessie came right away. She looked at the rabbit lying in the cage. She said, "Now,Thumper is just like Mr. Armour. He’s deader than a doornail! " I laughed and said, "Jessie, you are something else."

Jessie seemed surprised at my remark and said. "I am?" I said, "A good something else." She said, "Oh." And smiled. The burial came next, and soon was finished. Jessie walked away a little, but ran back for a hug. Heading home again, Jessie turned back, "Don't forget. I'll be back tomorrow, "
marylee manson armour October 10, 2002. July 21,2003 6/l6/04

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