The Right to Change ~ What You Say to Yourself

Greetings Dear Reader,

There is a great deal of talk about self-talk.  It is true that what we say inside determines who we are outside.  As one thinks internally, this is what one becomes.  We are the culmination of our thoughts turned to actions, habits, and lifestyle.

We can change anything that we do that is unwise or unhealthy.  We cannot do it unless we first change how we talk to and how we talk about ourselves.  Whether it is negative self-doubt or arrogant pride, the things we think about ourselves determine who we become.   Either way, an honest view of who we are can be elusive.

The choices we make about our self-talk can change.  We have to begin to ignore how we think we are and see what we really are.  We cannot lie to ourselves and see the world properly.  If we are not true to who we are then we cannot hope to be genuine with others. 

This, of course, begs the question of who we are.  Beginning with a clear understanding of this is the key to mapping the path of the right to change.  We are creations loved by the Father.  He wants good for us that is beyond our ken.  He wishes for us to know him deeply and richly in every aspect of life.

No matter where I stand in my mind, the journey to loving and knowing the Father begins with the choice to do so.  It is mapped and accomplished by following his Son, Jesus.  To begin, we start each day with this:  The Father wishes for us to love him and each other.  We can only accomplish this in faith.  Our following in faith gives us somewhere to stand and get an accurate view of who we are.

What we say to ourselves determines who we are.  Why then would we not align our thinking with the thinking of one who loves us enough to give everything for our sake Dear Reader?  As we journey perhaps our inner dialogue should change into a moment-by-moment consideration of who we are in the eyes of the Father and how we can best live it out in that moment.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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The Right to Change ~ What You Say About Others

Greetings Dear Reader,

More than once I have had my information about someone I have yet to meet tainted by people telling me something negative about her or him.  They usually think that they mean well even if they are engaging in simple gossip.  When I try to change the subject, they do not always get it.  When I am forced to be more direct, they often take offense.

The idea that we talk about others in a negative way at all is wrong.  Further, if we say negative things to people that do not know them, we deny them the right to change.  Further still, if we are murmuring about someone else, we are not loving or kind.  We may even convince ourselves that we are doing good by “warning” someone.  We are preloading a denial of someone’s right to change.

It is the talk that does the damage.  It damages the future encounter between two people.  It hinders the efforts of others to do better.  It harms the one murmuring about others.  When we gossip, we light a fire that burns us, the guilty, and the innocent.  It is not in keeping with the love that is to be our benchmark and our lead. 

I must thread that careful eye of hearing what I need to hear to show love and compassion but never telling negative tales.  I must not listen when others say that which is unkind or quarrelsome about people.  I must always take people as they are in the moment and never preload an opinion based on what others say.  My disposition must be to love and grace Dear Reader.  Everyone deserves the opportunity to be better today than he or she was yesterday.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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The Right to Change ~ Ruts and Habits

Greetings Dear Reader,

We all have habits we wish to drop or change.  They are not all bad but they are not what we wish to do or become as our journey progresses.  We resolve to change or be different.  We determine that we are going to change and perhaps we tell people close to us our plans.

There will be supporters and detractors.  We will have friends who encourage us as we work at change and becoming our better selves.  They will cheer our victories and some will even gently hold us accountable as we work at change.  Then there are those who will not believe that we can change our habits.

We all know those who excel at offering doubt and unbelief when we wish to change.  They offer their negative opinion and are ready to bet against us.  They may even point out why we will fail and what failures of the past prove it.  They see our past as a determinate of our future.

Now that we have a clear picture of the problem, we need a mirror.  We need to look and see if we give people encouragement and room to change.  I need to be sure that even those who have the worst habits have dry ground to change in my eyes.  There must always be a space for them to grow and improve.  If I have forgiven and am treating others with love and grace, I will give them space to change.

That, however, is not enough.  I must be always willing to cheer them on and be supportive of their desire to change.  This does not mean that I try to change others.  It does mean that I pray, support, and believe that through the Father anyone can improve and become better.

The habit of seeing the negative habits of others as immutable denies the power and love of the Father to guide others into being their better selves.  It is the very reason for love and grace as a foundation.  We must make room for others to change.  I must see the need in others and create space for them to grow.  It must be one of my acts of love to see the potential and nurture it.  I have had to change habits to perfect this Dear Reader.  It is worth it.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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The Right to Change ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

My Grandfather grew his tomatoes from seeds.  In early Spring he would set up small pots of earth and put four seeds in each one.  The first two to sprout in each pot were the ones he kept.  He would transfer these to their own planting pots made of compressed peat.  He started out with sixty of them and the thirty strongest would make it to the garden.  Those the made the cut were those that grew the strongest and showed the most change.

One of his instructions, as he would explain his process, was that you had to patiently allow for change.  You had to watch for growth and changes to see where a plant showed its potential and coax it along to the realization of that potential.  We have all heard the false adage, “people never change.”  This is a lie.  We remember the failures of others and revisit them on their heads the moment that we think they are hoeing the same row again.

I was listening to some talk radio as I drove yesterday and the host was talking about reserving the right to change.  She made it clear that people can and do change when they encounter or grow more deeply engaged with Jesus.  I have seen lives changed and even made richer by an encounter with Christ.  I have seen people who follow him become the full potential of their ability.

We, however, practice denying others the right to change.  We decide what someone is like and put them safely in a box.  We put a lid on the box and occasionally poke holes in it for holidays and birthdays.  We judge others based on past failures and assume that this is all they are.  After years of failure, we refuse to believe that there is potential for redemption.

I intend to ponder this for a bit as we approach the season of love and giving.  Souls, gratitude, and giving require love.  We cannot be honest and deny others the right to change.  I would invite you to walk with me as we determine what we must avoid and include to allow others the right to change.  As always, your thoughts and questions are welcome. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

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Fat Souls ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We need fatter souls in so many ways.  Everything we give ourselves to should enhance the character and timbre of our souls.  When it sends leanness our way we should question if it really worth our effort.

It seems that we have become too attached to the things that drain our souls of life and health.  We are also seeking to fulfill the hunger this creates with things that cannot and will not nourish us. The world is not designed for us to long endure the false nourishment it offers instead of the good we find when following Christ.  We must remember that we do not belong here.  There is nothing in this world that will fatten our souls.  In truth, anything we embrace that limits our consumption of Christ as our only portion leaves us starving for the reality of enjoying him in each moment.

As I continue to seek this, I want to do it wholly and fully Dear Reader.  It is the blessings of loving others and dispensing kindness, grace, and mercy that fill our souls with power and endurance. We need fat souls.  We need to be gluttons for the love of the Father and wish for everyone to find it as deeply and fully as well.  We can consume it all and there will still be just as much left for everyone that seeks it.  Join me as we move on toward the Hallows and the inevitable turn toward the closing of the year.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Fat Souls ~ Heart Conditions

Greetings Dear Reader,

We all know that our physical diets must be heart-healthy.  We have to avoid the things in our physical diet that make us fat or damage our health.  I do ponder that we rarely make sure that our emotional and spiritual diets are the same.  

We often fail to feed our mind, soul, and spirit things that properly fatten them up.  The quest for fat souls must include doling the good things as well as avoiding the things that make them lean.  What we think, feel, and love determines the fat content of our souls.  In considering this there are things I must indulge in daily.

I spend time daily with the one I follow.  I align as best I can my thoughts with his and try to follow more closely.  I do not always succeed.  Sometimes I am distracted ty the things that make my soul lean.  I do not focus on the things that I should and give too much focus to the things that harm me.

Gluttony is wrong.  I can, however, gorge on the things that make my soul fat.  The idea is to fill up on the things that are good, kind, loving, holy, and righteous.  The choice is to be so fat-souled that we do not have time for the things that make it lean.  I must devote my time to fattening-up that which is eternal and not that which will not last.

As we walk together Dear Reader, we can share our soul-fattening experiences.  We can encourage each other to become fat-souled in all that we do together.  As we focus on Christ and journey home, we will be healthier and less burdened by those things that make us lean.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

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Fat Souls ~ Body of Evidence

Greetings Dear Reader,

Last week I wrote about a gym and how much I respected the owners and their philosophy.  This in no way detracts from that.  As with all things, however,  there can be excesses.  Whilst that couple has balance and good priorities in fitness, many do not.  This extends to all areas of our appearance.

It does very little good for us to put an extreme focus on our appearance.  Whether it is fitness, clothing, or our current hairstyle, we gain little that is genuinely valuable when we put the attention to sharply on our appearance.  The fashion industry is designed to keep our souls lean.  If we are not dissatisfied with our current appearance then they do not make more money.

Someone mentioned recently that some of my clothing is way out of style.  My response was that I was not naked and the clothing still worked.  It forced me to ponder what makes my soul fat when it comes to my appearance.  I do not give a great deal of thought as to what I will wear and once I find something comfortable, I stick with it.  I still feel that I have too much clothing to travel as lightly as I wish. 

It is not wrong to like fine clothes and to have a good fashion sense.  What harms us is when we focus on our appearance over the things that matter.  If I delay or neglect others because I am making sure I look perfect, I am surely starving my soul.  I may be indulging pride and vanity over love and consideration.

I cannot tell anyone else how to dress or what to wear.  It is not my place.  I know that our culture often pressures us to look a certain way.  It may also be that the subcultures in which we travel demand levels of conformity when it comes to our appearance.  What we are supposed to consider, however, what draws us closer to Christ when we prepare to go out.  I would rather spend my time and resources on things that make me more available to you Dear Reader.  It is not a nice look that creates a lean soul.  It is those things we buy or do to excess for the sake of our appearance that keep our souls from being fat and our hearts from being focused.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Fat Souls ~ Cheap Impatience

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday I needed gift bags for the gifts I had for my Grandsons.  I went to one of those stores where everything costs a dollar because I knew that I could get two of the right size bags for a dollar.   As it turned out, the store I chose had an adventure for me

I quickly found my gift bags and perused the aisles for something to fill out the bags as what I had was small.  Then I proceeded to the checkout.  There was a line.  It was at least twenty people deep. Apparently, there was only one employee in the store.   As I settled in to await my turn to check out, the entertainment arrived in line three people behind me.

This lady had a single birthday card   She immediately assessed that she was going to have to wait to pay for her card.  Her next thought, expressed loudly was to complain to God about how she did not have time to wait in such a long line.  As the line grew behind me she included another lady in her complaint.  As the ladies and God conversed about the terrible inconvenience, I met eyes with the lady directly behind me with two baskets filled with glassware.  She quietly rolled her eyes as if to wish away the complaints without complaining herself.  I could tell that her baskets were heavy and offered her my trolley.  My three small items were easy to hold and she gratefully accepted

She expressed a little concern over the wait so I introduced her to my waiting in line math.  I had counted the people between me and the register.  It was 23.  Of that 23, there were three adults with children; 2, 1, and 3 respectively.  This meant I could subtract 6 from the 23, leaving 17.  The young lady smiled as she realized what I was doing.

She added to the distraction from the waiting by offering that she was getting wine glasses for a wedding rehearsal dinner and that she had been to three other stores to get enough of them.  We talked about the menu and her concern over getting the meal just right.  The line kept moving as we enjoyed our single-serving friendship.

The two ladies behind us kept trying to get God to complain about the line with them.  As I paid for my items, I thank the clerk for being so speedy and consistent.  The nice lady with the wine glasses approached the clerk as I was leaving.  She explained that she would need each of the glasses wrapped for protection.  The prayer ladies behind her became sure that God was not listening and prayed louder, or were they swearing and including God?  I could not be sure.

What I was certain of was that I got to use kindness and love to make someone a little more comfortable and put a little fat into my soul.  That alone, Dear Reader, was worth the wait.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Fat Souls ~ Feasts of Famine

Greetings Dear Reader,

For a brief period in my younger life, I was fit, strong, and worked hard to be that way.  Then due to choices and circumstances,  The imbalance left me pursuing food and not considering that I was leaving out part of my pursuit of Christ in the effort.

I gained much weight and was quite unhealthy.

In later years I determined to become more vigilant over what I sought and why I sought it.  The why of it was difficult and still challenges me.  The weight loss was significant and I learned the value of enjoying good food without over-indulging.  I also put things in perspective as to what is genuinely satisfying when it comes to eating.

Having recently been in the situation where my lack of resources required me to meter food consumption carefully, I have developed a better aspect of this.  When it comes to food, I think the need for fat souls is greater than we realize.  The problem we fail to address is gratitude for what we have.

We pursue more experiences or become slaves to eating or not eating.  The aspect is supposed to be gratitude for what we are given by the Father.  Instead, we chase after food or misuse it.  We love the food and not faithful following as our priority.  Then we wonder why we are dissatisfied with what we have obtained.  This is just what the Father is getting at in Psalm 106 when he sends leanness to their souls 

In every interaction about food, Jesus reminds us to depend on the Father to provide and to be thankful.  We are to seek the Father and allow him to provide for our needs.  That is what fattens our souls Dear Reader.  When we pursue the food, we will always hunger for closeness to Christ.  When we follow Christ, he promises that we will never lack anything that we need.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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Fat Souls ~ Possessions

Greetings Dear Reader,

I spent the day helping my younger Son move.  By that, I mean that I drove a pickup truck filled with his stuff 800 miles to his new abode.  It was a good trip and went without incident.   What impressed me was how little stuff he had.  Some furniture is what required the truck.  The point is that he has surrounded himself with people and not possessions.

This caused me to ponder my continuing journey to possess less.  It also made me think about just how much stuff we have that we have little or no use for beyond possessing and storing it.  The things we have though, somehow become the owners and we are imprisoned by them.  I wonder then, how often we seek something from the Father and he looks at our storage and closets then gives us the “dad look”.

You all know that look when the parent looks at you without having to say a word.  We know what is being communicated and immedicably know the response.   I wonder how much of our stuff makes our souls lean in the eyes of the Father.  There are things that we have that weigh us down but starve us at the same time.  We have so much that we have no room for what we need.

As I work at becoming mobile and less burdened by this world, I know that there are still things I no longer need.  I also know that there are things that I need to acquire.  In seeking a fat soul, I want to be certain that I choose wisely.  What do you need to get rid of Dear Reader?  Let us agree to work toward lightening our load and fattening our souls.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

Support Page on Patreon: www.patreon.com/aramisthorn

Novels on Amazon           

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