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MY SUNDAY JOURNAL
By Dalton Roberts
IPS Features
7-14-02
TOMARANU KOKORO
Among samurai warriors this means "developing a mind that knows no
stopping." I recall when Jesus was heading into Jerusalem for his
final showdown with the religious powers of His day, it said, "He
set his face toward Jerusalem." It gave me a mental picture of
concrete because we speak of concrete setting – getting hard.
Back in ‘84 I was studying samurai warriors as models for success in
life. I liked "tomaranu kokoro." It has a ring to it. And it
delivered a mental picture to me of Jesus setting his face like concrete
toward the accomplishment of his mission.
We operate more often than not unconsciously in our mental images. Like
once I knew a mother who was always telling her brilliant son,
"You'll never amount to anything. You'll be just like your uncle
and waste your life catfishing down on the river." Know what?
That's exactly what he did and I am positive he had a mental picture of
his uncle that propelled him in that direction.
Another image I have of developing a mind that knows no stopping (tomaranu
kokoro) is a mule at the sorghum mill. This one helps me with those
plodding, necessary tasks of life. The mule just keeps plodding forward,
grinding the juice out of the sugar cane.
Even though plodding isn't an exciting picture, making sugar juice is.
In every necessary task of life we are making something sweet from our
hard work. Keeping our mind on that "juice" keeps us moving.
It's our "tomaranu kokoro."
RESTORING LOCUST-EATEN YEARS
Back in ‘88 I was writing in my journal, "Our lives are our
picture shows." As I meditated on that thought today, I remembered
a verse from Joel that used to baffle me: "I will restore unto you
the years the locust has eaten."
How is that possible? The same way we would edit a picture show.
A friend said, "Oh Brother Where Art Thou would have been perfect
if it wasn't for that scene where the thief beats the two stars up
mercilessly." Well, I can't edit that one without buying the film
and copying it without that scene. But we can edit out much of our own
lives.
How? One way is forgiveness. When we make peace with an old enemy, it's
like the years of enmity are erased. Another way is reframing old scenes
on the basis of what we have learned since they happened. Ever notice
how many things that almost kill us, like losing a lover, are later
viewed as great blessings?
Take back your life from the locusts. Edit your picture show. It's not
denial. It is using the creative powers of your own mind.
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