The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.
We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
~ Albert Einstein
Whether you turn to the right or to the left,
Your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,
“This is the way; walk in it.” ~ Isaiah 30:21
All set to go. The house has been selected for the week of July 4th. We’ll land on Ocracoke in time for the fireworks celebration and the parade. Not to mention the sunset sail and pirate cruise with Blackbeard – or Captain Rob, who owns and skippers the schooner WINDFALL.
An authority on Blackbeard, he is renowned for his nautical tales and was featured in the two-hour History Channel documentary True Caribbean Pirates. National Geographic also produced an audio-visual of Capt. Rob reciting his poem, A Pirate’s Tale, about the only member of Blackbeard's crew to be spared execution in 1718.
The trip to Ocracoke seems settled. Except for one thing. I can find no inner peace about it. Despite all our plans to vacation on the island, something seems amiss. Going away at this time just doesn’t feel quite right to me.
But how to explain that my gut is saying this is not good timing… Postpone the trip? My daughter Abi is so excited about visiting her friend Emmet, Captain Rob’s son and first mate, and has already told him we’ll be there on July 4th for the celebration.
But after much prayer and contemplation I make a final decision.
I tell Abi that we shouldn’t go because Uncle Hayes, who’s recently been diagnosed with cancer, might die while we’re away. For indeed it isn’t a hopeful scene, the cancer already having spread to his bones. And so we stay home.
Then, on the morning of July 4th we learn that a fireworks truck has exploded on Ocracoke Island and all ferry service has been suspended to public travel and limited to emergency personnel only. So we couldn’t have made it onto the island anyway.
As it turns out, Uncle Hayes does die before the end of that week. Which means we’d have had to cut the vacation short to get back home even if the island had been open to tourists.
And after the fire a still small voice saying, I told you so.
What is your most reliable compass in personal guidance?
Trusting your instincts or “inner knowing,” or the “still small voice within?”
amazing story! thought provoking question ... sometimes my intuition speaks to me through dreams or when i read the tarot cards. or if i'm wondering which direction to turn in life, sometimes i close my eyes and just open the bible at random and receive a message through the stories there. i've also noticed when things come in 3's it means god, or the universe or whatever you want to call it, is trying to tell me something important.
ReplyDeleteYour inner voice served you well and provided the answers as needed, sorry about the loss of Uncle Hayes. It's interesting how some folks possess an internal guidance system in times of need and you certainly have that inner voice.
ReplyDeleteAs I wander through life it's probably a combination of faith and God that nudge me in the right direction while I reach out to deceased loved ones for guidance from above. Love the Einstein quote, he is most certainly right!!
Linda, oh yes, dreams. I’ve had precognitive dreams that have come unbidden, when I was least seeking guidance but they turned out to be instructional. Some have said, “Leave this place.” Others have said, “Be forewarned of a tidal wave.” And still others have said, “Not to worry, you’ll be just fine.” Amazing stuff, dreams. This random scripture opening, I’ve done that too. Three is a significant number, one I pay attention to as well.
ReplyDeleteAmazing story! I have been through some experiences... where I have been unsure if it were the right step to take.... before I could analyze the after effect of the situation a sign would appear be it in a form of a quote or a person and that would change my inner struggle or help strengthen the decision.....
ReplyDeleteDavid, I am attuned to the still small voice of God because I have this treasure in this earthen vessel, just as you do. But to discern his voice I have to be still and listen. It’s a discipline I’ve practiced for years now. And I do gauge decision making on the measure of inner peace I feel at any given moment. I read somewhere – I believe it was Fenelon – that we should never engage in activities where there is fear or an absence of peace. And I’ve never forgotten this sage advice.
ReplyDeleteSavira, and what a blessing to see such outward signs confirming which direction to take after you’ve been seeking guidance. Solutions always seem to materialize somehow, and often they don’t take long in coming… sometimes they come in a flash: in one of those “Ah ha” moments. And sometimes you’ll land on a quote or find a wealth of wisdom through a friend.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how God can speak through to us, changing our plans, steering us on a course that guides us an a more steady path. That's if we decide to listen. I think there's intuition that we all have but oftentimes we can mistake intuition for what is God's gentle and delicate whisper, trying to direct us. Too often I've chosen what makes sense in my head and not what my heart is directing me to. And then I learn the hard way that I should have listened to the direction God was trying to give.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about the loss of your uncle. I'm glad that you listened to that voice within you that allowed you to be near him during his last days.
Great, reflective post :)
Jessica, exactly - God can and will speak to us if we decide to listen. That’s the key: being still long enough to listen. I know what you mean by “Too often I've chosen what makes sense in my head and not what my heart is directing me to.” This is a cultural problem Jess. The world takes the analytical approach to decision making, whereas God speaks mainly through the heart because that’s where he dwells. So glad to have you back, and I trust that your trip was a refreshing and joyful experience.
ReplyDeleteDebra you are tuned in to your inner self and god that it comes as no surprise that you have these intuitions or premonitions. Once I had this uneasy feeling about a friend going for a picnic but I brushed it off think I was probably being selfish and it so happened, he drowned. I could never forgive myself for that. So now whenever I feel uneasy about something I try to act upon it. Love coming back to your posts.
ReplyDeletehttp://rimlybezbaruah.blogspot.com/2011/07/darkness-in-her.html
Rimly, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. But please don’t blame yourself because how could you have known what would happen? Even though you brushed it off when you felt the uneasiness, what could you have done to avoid it? I’d accept it, like you do, as a lesson for future reference to act on your gut feelings.
ReplyDeleteCall it God, or just an inner voice/intuition but it sure does work, if we allow it to.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debra.
Debra - that was powerful indeed. I happen to ignore that inner voice a lot and invariably land up regretting it. Time for change I think. Really good post!
ReplyDeleteDebra, you are gifted..I do get these flashes of events about to happen, sometimes. your inner voice saved you a lot of trouble and you were able to be with Uncle Hayes too. If someone hurts my feelings, god teaches them a lesson, I never wish anybody any harm but things happen :)Am I cursed or blessed?
ReplyDeleteFrom your posts Debra, I get the feeling how strong your intuitions are. You're so in tuned with your "inner voice" and that makes for obedience... It could really be incomprehensible most of the times, but when we look at the results we will be really surprised...
ReplyDeleteI only get to read such stories in the book of saints... wow! Truly amazing :)
Debra, this is chilling. I have 'those feelings' that if I ignore turn in themselves into loud grumbles throughout my body. I don't always listen because I sometimes WANT to do what I am being warned not to do (yes the fines are high).. You are naturally empathic and in tune with your world - it seems. Still a chilling story ( in a good way)..
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing, Debra. I know sometimes I get those little feelings inside me and know I should listen to them more. One time we lost most of our saving because I didn't listen to that voice inside me. I turn we lost our home and have to rent. Have never done that before. So all listen to that voice inside your hand, most of the time it is right!
ReplyDeleteDebra, hope you don't mind you have given me something to blog about tomorrow. That little inner voice. Let me know if it is a problem.
ReplyDeletethanks
@ Jim – There are plenty of inner voices that aren’t God speaking, but I am blessed to know his voice, and I don’t listen to any others.
ReplyDeleteToo many are critical and deceptive.
@ Kriti – It’s never too late :)
@ sulekkha – You are blessed.
@ Melissa – I’m writing my own book; my truth being stranger than most fiction.
@ Brenda – I can’t imagine you not listening :) For a long time I didn’t pay attention to my gut and have paid many a fine. “Loud grumbles” is a good way of describing what happens when you ignore your gut feelings or hunches, which, in my case, would result in internal warfare
@ Debi – It sounds like your story of losing your life savings and your home will be quite a life lesson to share. Hopefully it’ll help others avoid making poor decisions as a result of not listening or paying attention to the voice of wisdom. How much needless heartache we suffer from following our own finite understanding - or even those voices outside us that influence our choices. By all means do write your own story Debi, you never know how many will be helped by it.
ReplyDeleteOH Debra, I'm so sorry to hear your news. Sometimes the best decisions we make are the ones that make us go in the opposite direction at the last minute. My grandad always trusted his inner compass and it never failed him. Love to you all at this time x
ReplyDeletei here that voice, and some times it a shove a persistent push to go somewhere or even write on my blog. there is a saying " when the spirit move you" every time i have listen and did what i have been compelled to do. i have found someone in need of help. i don't want my blog to be a spiritual blog. i am no saint or priest or are am i school to be one. but i do listen to that voice, dog bless my prayers are for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteGod bless sorry for the typo.
ReplyDeleteSarah Jane – the news is recent history now, but I’m so grateful for the experience of learning how important it is to heed the hunches and gut feelings. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Bless you girl!
ReplyDeleteRoy – you are God’s son too, that much I know, because you are led by the spirit. (Romans 8:14). What an adventure to be on this same road with you! Never a dull moment is there?
Debra, I'm so sorry for your loss. It's a good thing you listened to the inner voice that spoke to you and stayed put. We should all be so emotionally intelligent. Often times we ignore the whisper that informs us what to do or where to be and in the process, put ourselves at risk or suffer disappointment. I definitely have to start listening to mine more. Now if only I could be silent enough to hear it. I'm working on this! Thank God for the sound of ocean waves that make this process all that much easier!
ReplyDeleteI too am sorry for your loss. Listening to that small inner voice and then heeding can be very difficult when we doubt ourselves and our own judgement. God will always speak to us, but is it God or ourselves getting in the way, or a counterfeit? What you said hit the nail on the head. Where there is peace, that is where God and His words (whether heard or felt) are. Thank you for another insightful and thought provoking post.
ReplyDeleteDebra - I just feel this shows how much you are tuned in to the deepest part of you. You inspire me to look deeper in to myself. God truly speaks to us in that still small voice - some of us, like you, make the time to hear Him speak. Love you....
ReplyDelete@ Bella – Ah, the sound of the ocean I could use right now. Aren’t you the lucky one to be there; what a perfect spot on earth to attend to the moment. The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea. Thank you mon ami – BTW, seen any French folks on your walks lately? Serendipitous moments never cease to amaze me!
ReplyDelete@ Kimly – Pondering John 10:27 has made all the difference for me in discernment of voices. I think doubting our own judgment is the key to tuning out voices that might not be His. Of course one would have to know Him to know his voice, because as you said, there are myriad counterfeits out there (and even within ourselves, the heart being deceitful above all else). Thank you for your encouraging words. So I see you have not one, but three blogs – you must stay busy!
@ Corinne – you must have snuck up on me while I was responding to someone else. Okay, I’ll tell you my secret since you’re my BBFF. I do take lots of time to listen. Hours a day. Because I’m more of a Mary than a Martha. I know – I know I need to be more of both, but I’m ever so content to linger in my ‘closet’ and do nothing else. That’s just how I roll. Sometimes my inner life seems more real than the outer world, as crazy as that may sound to some. But it’s rich.
ReplyDeleteI've learned to listen now the hard way. I didn't listen in February for a ski trip and I ended up with a badly broken leg. Hard way to learn, but I do see the blessing that it has brought.
ReplyDeleteYes, the still small voice is who guides me each step of the way, and I am so thankful He does!
ReplyDeleteCathy, I hope your leg is healed now. That is a hard way to learn. Just curious – were you having apprehension about going on the ski trip?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I wouldn’t trade that still small voice for the world. And I’m so thankful too!
ReplyDeleteHi Debra, thank you very much for your comment. I love quotes that offer encouragement, they give me the push I constantly need and I need it in my current time of chaos.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah's quote is very apt, I like that. I believe we are equipped with instincts but we don't always follow them correctly or heed them when we need to. God gives a nudge now and then.
I'm trying to practise listening to mine in a conscious way. Hard!
Your instincts served you well.
I'm happy to know you.
B
Thank you Debra, for sharing this powerful story of understanding and obedience to God's whispers on your heart. I've had more than a few of these "Spiritual Nudges" myself; some obvious, others far more subtle. However as I open myself to God's Voice each day, I can proceed in confidence knowing that His desire for me is always for my growth in His Kingdom, be it obvious to me or not.
ReplyDeleteHave a Blessed Day!
Being Me, about those rocks…
ReplyDeleteBob Munford tells of a certain Italian harbor that can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted in the harbor on three huge poles. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger.
Mumford goes on to say that God has also provided three beacons to guide us. The same rules of navigation apply – the three lights must be lined up before it is safe for us to proceed. The three harbor lights of guidance are 1. The Word of God (objective standard) 2. The Holy Spirit (subjective witness) 3. Circumstances (divine providence)
Together, notes Mumford, they assure us that the directions we’ve received are from God and will lead us safely along His way.
Phil, when I read your messages it’s clear to me that you do indeed hear God’s Voice each day. That your ears are tuned in to His frequency and you catch the signals and pass them along to your radio audience. He is always communicating with us, and it is a two-way communiqué. And yes, it is always for our growth in His kingdom. Have a blessed day.
ReplyDeleteFirst let me extend my condolences for your loss. I learned a long long time ago that your gut, instinct, intuition whatever you want to call it is always right. It's when you ignore it and second guess yourself that you later feel regret for doing so. In my case I would ignore myself for the sake of my family's happiness and love even though every bit of me was saying this person should not be trusted. After my family getting hurt by that particular person I never allowed them to make me doubt myself again. I have never in my life been as in-tune with my gift than I am right now. I know it must have disappointed your daughter but, you were right in calling the vacation off. Be at peace with that wise decision.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say "the still small voice within" which I believe is God's voice speaking to me. It has pretty much always worked. I'm sorry to hear of your Uncle's passing.
ReplyDeleteJenn, thank you for your sweet words of encouragement. On following your instinct: sometimes we do learn the hard way, all too often in fact; and this is most likely how we learn in the first place: through our many faux pas. When it comes to family and those we trust - without good cause - the only solution is to back off and put some space between ourselves and the offender. I know you must be grateful to now be in tune with your gift – this attunement saves us so much grief.
ReplyDeleteMari, you are a kind soul. I have a quote on my wall: The arts are a reflection of God’s creativity, an evidence that we are made in the image of God.” Just came back from viewing your images and thought of said quote. God truly does speak to you - and through you as well. Those images are clear evidence of his inspiration working through you.
ReplyDeleteWonderful illustration of the value of listening to those hunches and gut feelings. They are there for a reason. I could tell you a story from about 30 years ago when I didn't listen to my sense of panic about leaving the house, and nearly got creamed by a tractor-trailer. Knowing what I know now, I never would have set foot outside, feeling as I did that day.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Orea
http://orea-highervoice.blogspot.com/
Great story! I try to trust my inner voice, but I have been known to rebel against it in the past. LOL
ReplyDeleteOrea, what a dreadful experience, nearly getting creamed by a tractor trailer :( You’ve got your own cautionary tale, one that would benefit others I’m sure. I wonder why you left the house when you felt such a sense of panic. Oh well, hindsight is one of the best teachers.
ReplyDeleteRachel, what happens in life is that we stop listening and we no longer have access to this extraordinary ability to create poetry. So you’ve stopped rebelling I see :)
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ReplyDeleteas for me – I heart the still small voice. There are those times when I get something just right – just on the nose – spiritually, and I get a special feeling – a special confirmation. But that's almost always only on matters of theology. For the regular decisions – and without a still small voice – it's love – just love – how does it line up against love. An amazing story Debra – thank you – and an awesome question at the end. God bless you!him
ReplyDeleteCraig, I heart the still small voice too. Today I spent a good amount of time at your treasure house, pondering your thoughts and meditations, and found a wealth of wisdom and insight that triggered a long-winded discussion. And I enjoyed my Sunday feast of “soul food” while there. I binged though, and lingered long over your words. Which just lets me know how much you do heart the still small voice - which apparently speaks to you 24:7 - even in those few moments of sleep you must manage to snatch once in a while:)
ReplyDeleteJust catching up now after my own trip to an island : )
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing gift you have Debra. I'm not familiar with the "still small voice", but assume it's something similar to intuition? Divine intervention? It seems these interventions really play out in your life when you need them - a sign that you are truly connected to a spiritual source.
I learned to follow my intuition through trial and error - always suffering when I don't listen and act. When I really listen, though, the most amazing things come to the surface - my job, my partner, even a book I believe I'm meant to read. I believe it is one of the most important gifts we have.
Kristen, I’m looking forward to hearing about your sacred pause, your retreat from the norm.
ReplyDeleteThe still small voice is, to me, inner promptings by the Spirit, be it in the form of intuitive flashes, a check in the spirit, or even quiet words of wisdom. And you’re right, Divine Intervention as well. Uneasiness, lack of peace, any prompting within that warns or sends bad vibes about a situation... and sometimes just the opposite: joy and absolute peace that seems to move me in a certain direction. Either way, I’m grateful for Divine Guidance and for the spiritual gifts that lead us where we need to go.
Wow, that is an incredible story! I do believe in intuition as I have seen it at work in others' and my own life. But I don't always trust mine, because often my fears get in the way of my personal growth. Lately, I have been willing myself to do things even though my "gut" feeling tells me to back off. My life is much fuller now that I don't always give in to my inner voice. I know I'm all over the place here and your situation is more concrete than what I'm talking about. Not to contradict myself, but sometimes what we call intuition can be attributed to keen, razor sharp observation. Ok, where am I? Lol!
ReplyDeleteSweepy Jean, I think I know what you mean about your gut often getting in the way of your personal growth. In the past I felt dreadful fear over singing in public – stage fright. But I never listened to my gut saying, “Don’t do it! You’ll make a fool of yourself!” It wasn’t quite that bad at poetry readings, but still there was the voice of fear involved in public speaking. Whenever I’ve been in the limelight I’ve experienced the same feelings of dread. Not sure if this is what you mean when you speak of getting in the way of personal growth. Most often it’s just a matter of discernment in knowing which voice or instinct you’re hearing, don’t you think?
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I was on a plane bound for Hawaii. It was to be a 14 day trip and the first "adult" vacation of my young life. As the flight attendants finished their informational speech and we began to taxi down the runway, I felt in my bones that that plane would go down. I didn't do anything, because I could tell it wouldn't happen that day, but I knew it would happen. Three weeks later, that very plane did crash in Denver and there were multiple fatalities. This type of experience has happened to me my whole life, and I have learned to pay attention to the nuances, interpret and do my best to read the clues I receive correctly.
ReplyDeleteEven after all these years, I am haunted by the fact that perhaps if I had said something to someone, that plane would have been inspected more closely and the subsequent crash weeks later might have been averted. Lives might have been saved. I know now that nothing I could have said at the time would have made much of an impact, and certainly not enough of one to ground that plane from business as usual, but I do still feel guilt that I doubt I'll ever completely resolve.
I was blessed to be raised by a wonderful, supportive, understanding Mom who never, ever told me I was "crazy", or overly imaginative when it came to my intuitive abilities. She listened and she always took me at my word if I felt we needed to avoid an area, or cancel a trip. Because of this support, I learned to trust my instincts and hone the abilities. Am I super accurate? No. I wish I was. But the abilities I do have are sufficient to keep myself and those I love, quite often, from coming to grief. For that, I'm grateful and appreciative, both for having the abilities and for being allowed to express them and embrace them freely.