Reflections: a Spiritual Anthology on Human Wholeness

By Jean Benson

In her book Reflections, author Jean Benson conveys spiritual wisdom gleaned from her own life experiences. She does so in a way that invites the reader to personal meditation and growth. Through devotional essays, poems, and letters, the author shares from the depth of her own personal spiritual journey. Abundant grace and compassion emanate from these pages, drawing the reader in and encouraging the reader to make his or her own soulful connections to the divine. You will want to read these reflections again and again, as you will gain newer and deeper self awareness with each reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468502107

Jean Benson

Jean Benson holds dual Masters Degrees in Counseling Psychology Special Education, and is a retired State Certified School Psychologist for the State of Oklahoma. She worked extensively with children and adults during her professional career of over 30 years. Additionally, she served as adjunct faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma from 1992-2001. The essays gathered in this collection come from monthly articles she writes for the Southern Hills Christian Church congregation in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she is a member. Mrs. Benson held the position of School Psychologist, for Westminster Day School during the years from 1967-2002. She served in an advisory capacity to both parents and teachers in working with children's adjustment to a school environment. She served as Associate Head for the Lower School Division from 1973-76. During her years at the school, she was admired by the faculty and loved by both parents and pupils. Her perceptive mind, her gentle spirit and her loving kindness helped establish an atmosphere of intellectual honesty, personal integrity and true mental growth. All who came in contact with Mrs. Benson knew of her patience and willingness to understand all sides, not only with expertise, but with love. Mrs. Benson has three grown daughters and five grandchildren. During her retirement she lives with a small and active poodle, another recipient of great patience and love. Charlotte Gibbens Retired Headmistress of Westminster School

Book preview

Reflections:

A Spiritual Anthology on Human Wholeness

Jean Benson

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© 2012 by Jean Benson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 12/17/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4685-0212-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-0211-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-0210-7 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011960394

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Embraced By Light

Gifts of Love and Peace

Who are the Peacemakers?

Instrument of Love

A Heart Full of Beauty

Breath of Life

A Face That Changes

Holy Moments

A Rare and Precious Gift

Paths Into The Unknown

The Spirit of Truth

Path of Freedom

Path of Becoming

An Empty Vessel

An Odd Man or An Odd Faith?

A Search for Vision

Receiving Light and Grace

Living In The Light

Father of Lights

The Rhythm of Grace

A Sign of God’s Covenant

Circle of Spiritual Belonging

Symbols of Comfort

Turning Points—Change

Turning Points

Pride or Vanity?

A Horizon of Significance

Sacrifice or Service?

Steadfast or Stubborn?

The Power of Delay

Radical Change—Radical Claim?

Uncertainty or Faith?

Spiritual Inspiration or Aspiration?

A Walk in the Wilderness

Courage—Living Without Fear

A Contradictory Christ

Transcendence or Eminence?

A Man of Deeds & Dreams

The Narrow Gate

Where Is Your Safe Place?

Stop, Yield and Rest

Serendipity—Ultimate Freedom

Repentance

Crossroads of a Centurion

Echoes of Acceptance

Tickets of Life

Just as man lives in the realm of nature and is subject to its laws, so does he find himself in the Holy Dimension. All existence stands in the dimension of the holy and nothing can be conceived of as living outside of it.

Abraham Joshua Heschel

I Asked for Wonder

Embraced By Light

Seen through the light of our modern consciousness we have grown accustomed to bright, even glaringly controversial news. Nothing is approached gently or reverently, especially those who are involved in public office. Even extending beyond the public domain, we as a culture now believe we are entitled to know the facts about everyone. Full disclosure is expected. All of us may need to prepare ourselves for full disclosure in every detail of our lives, which leaves little space for entertaining mystery. When everything is exposed as factual proof even though it is not, there arises the common human tendency to review and judge every detailed aspect of other’s lives regardless of our own abilities to discern truth. We are a culture that judges. An approach of factual discovery is beneficial for science, but for the discovery of the human factors such as self, and soul, it is inappropriate. For gaining greater human understanding an authoritarian approach which many writers take, is filled with premature conclusions.

One way of discerning one’s own personal path, is an approach which allows a little more time for discovery and disclosure in small increments. Such an approach promotes an uncovering of personal values, of clarifying one’s own ethical standards, and allows us a glimmer of who we are becoming. Then we integrate the information that is revealed into our conscious psyche as one pauses and reflects. All of this leaves our imagination and minds intact, less pressured and more receptive to knowing our inner self. This process I call a candle-light approach; one that allows discovery at one’s own pace, rather than under high levels of stress and anxiety.

I find myself, my heart drawn to this candle light approach, where the mystery of living is slowly unveiled and the charm and dignity of an individual life is found through thought-provoking reason, meaningful experiences and unpressured freedom of recall. Since none of our personal journeys can be predicted, or controlled at any point, we are left to unfold the compelling nature of our own life story in many unique ways. I am now retrieving from times that are reminiscent of those times when the highest moments of human living were found in silence, when language was useless. These highlighted moments often have not had words assigned to them, but they remain in my interior as a resource for the future. They are in all of us, in our souls, hearts and memories. And the energy and warmth that accompanies this approach, is not usually found in today’s authoritarian journalistic style which gives us five quick steps to understanding anything.

I digress now with a few lines to explain the ordinariness of my life and writings. I’ve had no formal training either as a writer, or as a teacher of religion, nor have I pursued either as a career. Now in older mature years, I am unable the resist the impulse to write down that which comes to me knowingly as truth. So I write now like a stuttering child who is attempting to say something complex yet is fearful of how it might come out. These pieces are no longer fragments of thought as they may have once been; I feel an assured confidence that these are messages that need to be heard in today’s culture of extreme change. I confess that for many decades I didn’t realize who I was to become. My life pursuits were simple like many others, dedicated to child raising, and practicing my work as a school psychologist. Yet, the one constant pursuit, that of understanding the divine, continued throughout my life, from early teens to mid seventies.

So the essays in this collection are simply one person’s search for a life that is filled with a pursuit of truth and meaning, and a search of understanding God’s role in the human enlightenment process. In trying to evolve a personal philosophy that comes from both experience and education, I have grown to believe that the world of our soul is largely secret, filled with mystery, waxing and waning in availability with no logical explanation. Much of the world of the soul is secret and may only be uncovered with patience and a clear respect for the sacred direction of the divine. Thus my writings may seem vague at times, and may reflect only a dim light, a candlelight perspective, but the search remains for the essence of my soul. What is it? What is my relationship with it?

Each of us is different not only in outward shape, but in interior design. There is depth to be discovered in any soul for those who choose to pursue this. It comes as a revelation, through an opening in a veil of destiny that is never permanently open or closed; but one which rarely allows public access. Each of our destinies must find its own path and direction, and our personality differences serve as a gateway into the interior soul that lies within. Candle light allows the darkness to