Our fellowship has been quiet here on the forum and in other forms of communication. There's nothing wrong with that; it's not necessarily a bad sign. Oddly, I'm not feeling lonely, either. What I'm feeling is that this is the calm before a big storm.

(01-07-2020, 09:26 PM)Ed Hurst Wrote: Our fellowship has been quiet here on the forum and in other forms of communication. There's nothing wrong with that; it's not necessarily a bad sign. Oddly, I'm not feeling lonely, either. What I'm feeling is that this is the calm before a big storm.

I noticed this the past few weeks as well. I have no bad feelings on the matter since it's something I expected. These things ebb and flow. What matters, as you point out, is that we are prepared for things when they come and accept whatever results from things. Mission matters more than outcome.

I've been troubled lately and I don't know why. All the tools that I have used throughout my life have come up short. For whatever purposes God has, He ain't talking. Perhaps, I'm not hearing? 
  I gave up on looking for "signs of the times" years ago when I realized that the times have been the same since Jesus' ascension, it could be today or 1000 years. So The only signs that I see are ones that point to bad news for the US and changes are on the way. But, change is constant. 
  I don't like January, it puts me in a funk until I start seeing the first signs of spring so, I stay busy as much as possible. Many times, I've started a post only to say bleh and close the window. I don't have anything to add, it seems that I must wait and being patient takes effort, more so than doing. 
  We are never as important as we like to think we are and we often confuse our will as God's. He requires submission but, rather than submit we focus on ritual. The ritual was to point our hearts to God but, the ritual became God and people are heavily invested in the ritual. There is no more ritual, there is God and you. He can touch you anywhere and at anytime but, for that to happen you must submit and to be able to submit, you must be broken. I resist being broken. I'm not sure whether that is part of my conditioning as an American man, "suck it up, buttercup" the rugged individual John Wayne thing or just my own stubbornness. I do know it's not helpful but, hey I'm trying not to try, if that makes any sense at all.

Oh, it makes plenty of sense, Iain!  I know I have been trapping my own self lately with my own self and i am pretty sure all of you know what I mean.  Of course, I am way back at the beginning of the path and probably my stumbling is more often than some.  And may I again point out I am my own obstacle.  

I think we are all in deep contemplation of current events.  Not in shock or awe, just as "watchers" as silent observers of what is coming.  Not that we know what is coming, but certain of its coming.  

It isn't something one can plan for in the wordly sense but certainly something we can be prepared for in our heart sense.

Know that you all are in my heart.  We are together always in Father.

To the day when we all can meet in the flesh.  In this world.......   or His!

Trying not to try -- I get that. There's nothing we can do right now but hang on and wait.