Managing internal and external noise …intimacy with the Holy Spirit

By Judy Joseph McSween

Time Out Specialist – Emotional Intelligence, Conversational Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence Coach

The pace of life has certainly been hectic over the last few months—SEA exams, general elections, Easter, the death of Pope Francis, the selection of a new pope, Pope Leo XIV, and our Eucharistic Congress.

We have experienced death, resurrection, ascension. We felt a myriad of emotions—each carrying a message that influenced how we thought and acted. All good reasons, to begin reading this blog in our usual manner. Let’s PAUSE and become fully present to this moment. Become aware of your breathing…take a deep BREATH in and out. Repeat three more times. Have your Bible nearby, as we set the context for this reflection in Romans 7:15-20.

In this passage we read of Paul’s internal struggle to act in accordance with what he knew was right.

As you PAUSE and reflect on the period April 1 to today, consider what you may have read, written on any of the named topics. Perhaps we can narrow the focus to the selection of leaders—political and religious, our Prime Minister and our Pope.

To say that social media has been active (lit) during this period, would be an understatement. News—whether good, bad, or fake—competed for delivery speed. Do you recall the emotions you experienced from the content and volume of these exchanges?

Our emotional state was in turmoil, like a body tossed in the waves of a stormy sea. Some of us may have become aware of it and moved more stealthily, managing our online time, or switching off completely.

Others may have been drawn into the vortex of voices—competing to be heard—often becoming increasingly demeaning, aggressive and divisive. Yet others may have simply been the conveyor of news as received, without fact checking. How did you contribute—by action or inaction?

PAUSE. Name the emotions that stirred in you: anxiety, fear, anger, uncertainty, hope… How did they lead you to think and act? Did you discern the voice of the Holy Spirit amidst the cacophony of sounds and emotions?

When our emotions are high, our ability to listen is low. Our interpersonal relationships suffer and so too our relationship with God. Remember St Dorotheos de Gaza? Like the desert monks and nuns, we become aware that even when offline, we are filled with internal noise and chatter: What should they have said or done to get a different result? What happened in the past? What will happen in the future? People are human—they make mistakes.

And then we have moments like the Eucharistic Congress, which cause us to PAUSE and remind ourselves that we are sons and daughters of God. We become more conscious of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Pentecost reminds us of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—people from every tongue, race, and nation brought together in Jesus Christ. Through our intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, we manifest the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Our emotions are better managed. How intimate is your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

In Scripture, we are encouraged to manage our emotions: John 20:19— “Peace be with you…, Ps 46:10—“Be still and know that I am God”…, Philippians 4:6—“Do not be anxious about anything…”, Ephesians 4:29— “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” (or your social media exchanges).

We know the texts, yet like Paul, we flounder: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. …Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Rom 7:15, 20).

Be intentional

As we draw towards Pentecost, let us be intentional:

• Grow in intimacy with the Holy Spirit (many know God, know Jesus, but are strangers to the Holy Spirit) — Ps 46:10
• PAUSE, examine your choices and their consequences
• Discern the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit — 1 Samuel 3:9
• Choose to align with God’s will — John 2:5

Contact Judy Joseph Mc Sween to schedule a personal or a group Time Out session to enhance your self-awareness and self-management competencies.

judy@timeoutspecialist.com

Mobile: 1 868 684 9827

Visit www.timeoutspecialist.com