You are not your thoughts

You are not your thoughts.

When I was teaching, I would write that sentence on the board on the first day of class. I would say nothing about it at all and yet, invariably, as the semester went on, students would gradually reach a point where they understood what it meant, and they would realize just how true it is.

Have you reached that point yet in your own spiritual development—the point where you understand that thoughts are things that enter into your mind and then pass through you if you let them.

You are not your thoughts. You are the one who has thoughts.

Here is another challenge to accept or reject: your thoughts are not necessarily true. All you need to is look at the current political drama being played out in our country right now to see what harm and chaos results when people who have thoughts assume their thoughts are true.

Humility requires that we place our thoughts on “hold.” Humility guides us to ask questions, “What if these thoughts I’m thinking aren’t necessarily true?” “What if others hold thoughts that are different from mine—might it be that their thoughts are closer to the truth than mine are?”

Humility requires us to hold our thoughts up to the light of faith, to the thoughts and teachings of our God and his Christ, to see if there be anything in our thoughts which need to be corrected, or challenged or purified? Remember that the Lord has said,

“My thoughts are not your thoughts. My ways are not your ways.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Don’t let one of your thoughts, particularly if it be troublesome, take hold of you and drag you away from yourself and your peace. Look at the things you are most passionate about, and examine your thoughts. You might be surprised what this will lead you to.

And, for what they’re worth, those are my thoughts on this subject.

This reflection is a continuation of the one I posted on August 14. You can find it on my blog or on my facebook page.