Turning from Despondence to Joy and Hope

Like everyone else I go through times of feeling low. I heard an inner negative voice of condemnation and shame and allowed that thought to take me further down the pit of despondence and despair.  These things are common to many people. I sometimes tell my clients that they have jumped on a negative thought train which takes them to a negative place. We then practice becoming observers of our thoughts by standing on an inner imaginary train platform and letting thought trains go past without agreeing with them.  This observation of thoughts is another part of a mindful stance. Today I want to give an example of thoughts which help and thoughts which hinder.

I had one of these days a few months ago when I jumped on a negative thought train. I walked up my bush track talked to God and told him how terrible my circumstances had become. I cried out and asked God to intervene and change things for the better. I couldn’t see a way out of my difficulty.

So I waited and listened for God’s voice as I walked. I heard “Sit here at this tree.” It was a big tree with rough bark growing beside the bush track at a bend. I thought if God is speaking I will sit here and maybe he will teach me something. Even if God is not speaking I can sit still for a moment.

Into my mind came a story from the Bible, when the prophet Jonah had preached in a Gentile city called Nineveh.  He was a reluctant preacher because he wanted God to punish the people of Nineveh. While he watched Nineveh from a distance, Jonah got relief from the hot sun when a vine provided some shade.  However a small caterpillar bit the vine and it withered. Jonah was so sad about the plant dying that he wished he could die. He despaired because God had decided to save Nineveh rather than punish them.  God used the plant as an object lesson –revealing how Jonah was more concerned about the plant than the people of Nineveh who didn’t know their right hand from their left.  This story was in my mind and I wondered if God was about to give me an object lesson.

It wasn’t too long before I noticed a flock of small birds about 50 metres away. They were hopping on the path and seemed to be following some insects. There were about 20 birds in this flock. From my observation I could see a fairy wren family, red-browed wrens, striated pardalotes and tree hoppers.  They hopped close to where I sat beside the tree.

I thought to myself- I wonder if they will fly away when they see me. I was wearing a bright yellow shirt so I definitely not camouflaged.  But the birds came closer and closer.  Within minutes they were flying all around me. They hopped up and down the tree trunk I was leaning against. They jumped over my outstretched legs.  One even sat down in front of my legs and looked me in the eyes.  I could feel the wind from their wings as they flew beside my head.

It was an exhilarating moment. I have often liked to visit places where birds are so familiar with people that they will take food from your hand.  I like the idea of wild animals which are not afraid to be touched.  I think that Eden was like this- people and animals without any fear.   So this was a moment that brought a lot of joy to me.

I asked God as I walked back down the track- what this meant. I heard these words.

“I care about the sparrows. I care about the hairs on your head. I care that you don’t stay in self-pity or despair.”

The big thing I heard was that God cares about me.  God cares about me.  I couldn’t stay in despondency or despair. God cares about me. My circumstances hadn’t shifted but I had changed in how I thought about them.

I skipped down the track. Joy had returned. Hope was awakened. There was a way through my circumstances and God cares about me.

How quickly things turn from negativity to joy and hope?  Remembering that God loves me and is waiting to tell me things is life affirming and brings hope for a different future to the one I had imagined before my walk.

The Christian mindful journey is about knowing that at any moment God is waiting to speak to me. His words bring joy peace hope love and faith.  These God thoughts are alternatives to the negative thoughts that had been whirling in my mind not long before.  If God could ask the small birds to bring me joy then I will receive these moments with gratitude. I will remember this day always.

But at any moment a negative thought train can derail my joy – only if I decide to hop on that train. Instead if I notice a negative thought I can let that thought just go past without agreeing with it. I can wave that thought good bye.  I can turn instead to what God might be sharing with me. These God thoughts are inspiring higher ways of thinking.

Philippians 4:4-9 The Good News Bible

4 May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!

5 Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. 7 And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

8 In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. 9 Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

#challengingthoughts #christianmindfulness #encounterswithwildbirds