The thesis at the door of my life
The anniversary of the Reformation, which is being celebrated in many places, is a good opportunity to reflect on what Reformation could look like in our own lives.
Luther used his theories to oppose beliefs that did not promote a relaxed life (of faith), but rather hindered it. And he loudly proclaimed his opposing theories to these restrictive beliefs. The fact that the stone that he set rolling in this way also swept away one or two structures was probably unintentional, but that's another story.
My thesis
95 theses are a bit too much of a good thing for me. Simplify and a minimalist lifestyle are in. In my head too. So I've limited myself to one sentence that restricts my life.
„You have to make it!“
This sentence is as comprehensive as it is relentless. It says: „You have to manage everything that comes onto your desk, into your house, into your thoughts, into encounters in your life!“ How cruel. How merciless. How ungracious.
My question is not: „How do I find a merciful God?“ Thanks to Luther, that has already been sorted: Through what Christ has done, we receive God's grace as a gift.
My question is much more: „How do I get a gracious me!“
Reflect
It helps me to think about it first. I learnt this phrase from my parents. They lived on a farm. You had to get the work done in order to stay fed and survive: The animals had to be fed, otherwise they would die. The harvest had to be brought in, otherwise it would spoil.
The phrase was and is useful in situations where survival is threatened. If you're running for your life or a storm is threatening the harvest, the phrase „You have to make it or you'll die!“ can help activate your last reserves of energy. And to save your life.
The difference to today is that labour was actually limited back then - by the size of the fields and the number of animals. In those days, people couldn't just give other people tasks that took time and effort with a few clicks on a keyboard.
Emails are to-dos that others write for you. - Christine Carter
Unlike in the past, tasks today have almost no limits. To think that you should or could manage everything that is somehow thrown at you is presumption and hubris.
In the sentence „You have to make it!“ However, the same threat to life that previous generations felt when they said it still resonates inwardly.
We think: „You have to make it, otherwise your life is in danger!“ And often don't even realise that all this „having to manage“ robs us of strength, health and life.
Empathise
Negative sentences are not only stored in our minds, but also in our entire body via hormones and physical reactions. The sentence „You have to make it!“ triggers stress and anxiety.
Because I know this, I first took the time to feel where in my body and soul I feel this sentence. Clearly in the back of my neck. Something in my stomach too. And then I neutralised the physical stress associated with this sentence through targeted right-left movements, which I know from coaching. (More on this in the Quadro „Release blockages„)
That was good.
Finding the opposite - new thesis
The phrase „I have to make it!“ will probably pop up in my mind from time to time. I thought about what I needed as a counter-thesis to this. It was very clear to me: I didn't want to be bossed around by the „it“. It doesn't decide, but I want to decide whether I do it.
So my new phrase is now in line with the fact that I see myself as the regent of my life:
I decide what I do now!
And I'd also like to add some wise advice to myself.
Don't take on more to-dos than you can get rid of.
With these two sentences, I think I have found a more gracious regent of life than the old one with her stupid „must“!
That is a real reformation.
P. S: Oh yes...whenever I think of Luther's theses, it reminds me of something a child once wrote in a school essay: „Then Luther nailed his theses to the door.“ There's something about the idea.
