Sometimes it feels like my eyes are closed even when they are open. My mind and body fighting for control. My body wants to awaken but my mind, well not so much. I must explain that I am a skilled master in the art of sleeping. A few of my friends used to call me “The Dreamer” when we were young. Yes, I love the many places I visit while in a state of slumber.
But the name of this article is “Wake up”, not “Goodnight”, and shit gets done in the conscious world. That is where the action is.
“Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song!
Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.” – Judges 5:12
Deborah ranks among the most famous women of the bible. She was a warrior as well as a judge. In Judges 4, Deborah instructs Barack to “Go take with you ten thousand men of Naptali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor”, and God would deliver Sisera and his army into Barak’s hands. Barak’s reply was “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go. This is an indication of Barak’s high regard for Deborah.
Deborah agrees to go along saying “Certainly I will go with you. But because of the course, you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” This prophesy proves to be true, as Sisera was eventually assassinated by a widow named Jael. Deborah’s courage and wisdom brought about 40 years of peace for the Israelites.
I want to be like Deborah! Don’t you? Well, the first thing we must do: Wake up! Then we suit up and show up for life. Are you lingering in the dream-world today? It’s an honest question. What are your dreams? What actions can you take today toward achieving those dreams? I asked myself this earlier this year. The answer was always, “It’s just not the right time.” So at 1:00 AM on a Saturday, I purchased my URL and started LivingElysian.com!
Then I made a commitment to write three times a week, with exceptions for vacations or work-related events. Just doing this has started the wheels in motion. I am not always happy with what I write, but I do it because this is what I love to do. I love to share my heart, to lift others up.
Isaiah 60 is a powerful promise. One of which I love most, being the vain woman I am (just keeping it real):
“Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;” – IS 60:5a
This promise is better than any miracle skin serum I have heard of! But seriously, Isaiah 60 encompasses God’s mercy and our redemption. Mercy that which we have not earned. Redemption from our old bad behaviors and selfishness. Directing us from shame, ridicule and violence into joy, calm and peace. I think we can all identify with shame and low self-esteem at some point in our lives. I also know that most of us just want to be happy and to be at peace with all of God’s creation. Hard to imagine the possibility with all the negativity on TV and social media. But it is attainable. We can get there.
Again, we first must WAKE UP!! Did you know that the word Buddha means “Awakened one” or “Enlightened one”? Enlightenment is compared to waking up because we suddenly experience a complete transformation of body and mind when we wake up. Are you ready to be transformed?
Any kind of transformation will do? Maybe a new hobby, a better diet, a new career, a vacation or retreat to plan. Wake up! And Go!
Stay Blissful My Friends – E
Living Elysian 