It is autumn in my corner of the world, and we are blessed here in the northeastern U.S. by dramatic seasonal changes that show off nature’s beauty in all its phases. The fall trees, in their reds, burnt oranges, and golden leaves, are magnificent. The changing seasons always highlight how quickly time moves along and how frequently change occurs.
As much as I love fall, I am always wistful to see the passing of warmth and outdoor weather. And at the same time, I know that the changing of external states mirrors the changing of spiritual states. Not all parts of the world experiences these seasonal changes as distinctly, but we all experience changes of states in a day: we always come to night. We human beings are not designed to remain in one state forever, even a very happy one.
This reality is in part on my mind because I was appreciating the especially sweet and tender reconnection with my husband after a tense week. It’s not that we must have disagreements or misunderstandings in order to be close, but rather that overcoming those misunderstandings—and seeking to find each other again after disconnection—brings a special intimacy.
I am reminded that we are told that even angels in heaven experience state changes:
“…the delight of life and of heaven that angels enjoy because of the love and wisdom given them by the Lord would gradually pall if they were constantly engaged in it, the way it happens for people who are involved in pleasures and enjoyments without variety… Further, by these alternations of delight and discomfort, their perception of and sensitivity to what is good become more and more delicate.” Heaven and Hell 158
It is helpful for me to remember that if we were constantly suspended in summer perfection–externally and internally–we would actually grow bored, or at least unappreciative. When we don’t have to work to improve our connections with others we can start to take them for granted, and miss out on the special closeness that comes after struggle. We can experience greater delight when we have walked through discomfort.
I was recently asked to share some of my favorite passages from the Word. I’ve been appreciating how the ones that came to mind this time include both old favorites and others that occurred to me in the moment. The Word is, of course, written to reach us in all of our states, and I am drawn to those that speak to where I am—and what I need from the Lord—right now. My understanding is that this is why the Word includes some of the very ugly and difficult stories: the whole breadth of the human experience, in all its states and struggles, is known by the Lord, and He seeks to speak to us and lead us through each of them.
I wanted to end by sharing the passages that are speaking to me in this season and moment, in this state. If you are inspired, I would love to hear yours too!
“Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Mark 5:41
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:1-2
“Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
“So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6:16
Lovely reflections, Tania. Internal seasons are so important to our human experience and spiritual growth. Here is a passage that has been on my heart in this season:
AC 5052. The heaven through which the Lord imparts conjugial love is the inmost one, whose inhabitants enjoy greater peace than all others. Peace in the heavens may be compared to spring in the world which makes everything delightful; for in origin peace is something utterly heavenly. The angels inhabiting that inmost heaven are the wisest of all, and because of their innocence they are seen by others as young children. They themselves also love young children far more than even their forebears and mothers do. They are present with infants in the womb, and through them the Lord takes care of the nourishment and proper development of infants in the womb. Thus angels from that heaven are placed in charge of those who are pregnant.
Wow. That’s perfection. So beautiful.
Hi Tania.
You are an old soul. A wise young old soul. I find myself objecting that I would not be unappreciative or bored if my state stayed even and happy a long time. Haha. With humility I take the hand that’s leading my up and down—holding me as I plunge up and down.
Thank you for this beautifully written reminder.
I love this idea of having a more exquisite enjoyment of what is good and beautiful once we see the contrast with its opposite! It is a comfort when going through tough things to realize that there can be this amazing gift hidden within them. And I like how you have tied this to watching the seasons change, something that makes you stop to notice life changing. We were just reading about this idea in Heaven and Hell class two days ago, about why it is allowed that angels go through changes of state, so that at some times they are in light and love, and other times a little less so: “First, the delight of life and of heaven which they have from the love and wisdom that are from the Lord, would gradually become worthless if they were in it continually, as is the case with those who are in delights and pleasures without variety. A second reason is that angels as well as men, have a proprium, and this consists in loving self. All in heaven are withheld from their proprium, and in so far as they are withheld from it by the Lord, to that extent they are in love and wisdom. But so far as they are not withheld they are in the love of self, and because everyone loves his proprium and it draws him, 1 they have changes of state or successive alternations. A third reason is that they are in this way perfected, for they thus establish a habit of being held in love to the Lord and of being withheld from the love of self. Also by alternations between delight and lack of delight, the perception and sensation of good becomes more exquisite.” HH 158
A lovely thought to keep in mind – ” The Word is, of course, written to reach us in all of our states, and I am drawn to those that speak to where I am—and what I need from the Lord—right now.”
I also love “Those that be with us are more than those that be with them.”
Another favorite of mine is “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10. I picture this being mentally still and staying focused on what the Lord is doing for us all.
Blessings of this season of harvest in your part of the world,
Kathy
….Are you *sure* that we can’t stay in that constant summer perfection? 🫤 (Jk; I know that you’re right! I just wish it weren’t so, sometimes.) Thanks for this perspective & reminder. ..And anyway, I remind myself that everything happens for a reason,…. x