The Alma Matters

 Learning a new language can be a difficult thing, trust me I know first hand of this.  Having received the call to move my family to Guatemala to serve and work has been a wild adventure.  Throw in the aspect of not fully comprehending the language and you have a memorable experience.  Little by little we are picking up the language, the expressions, and the understanding of why things are said the way that they are here.

One word that has truly stuck to me is Alma, or Soul.  All through the Scriptures, the authors mention the presence of our soul.  Yet, looking at our world today, we do not spend much time thinking or dwelling on our soul.  Our heart can lead us into some crazy fun places.  Our mind can make us think critically and deeply.  Yet, the third aspect of what Christ says is the greatest commandment (see Matthew 22:34-40), is often not carried out.  I believe that we do not fully engage the soul out of defiance, rather out of ignorance.  To truly know what it means to love the lord our God with all of our soul, means we need to know that our soul is a part of us.  Our soul….that part of us which will never be buried below the ground.  Our soul, the link we have between the here and now, and the eternal.  Our soul.  That fire in our chest, that inner peace, that spirit within.  We need to care for our soul, but way too quickly, we try to simply cure the soul.  There is a difference.  To care for the soul means we are not looking for a quick fix.  Care for the soul is time consuming.  When we are not familiar with the language of the soul, we try what we think is best.  Good intentions, poor results. Like learning a new language, we need to take the time to examine, we need to surround ourselves with people that are familiar with its ways, and we need to want to learn and grow.

How is your soul?  Does it even matter to you?  Proverbs talks about guarding our hearts, because it is the wellspring of our life (Proverbs 4:23).  In Romans, it talks about how our mind, when renewed will reveal the way and will of God (Romans 12:1-2).  Yet, in Hebrews, it mentions that Hope is what exists as the anchor for our soul (Hebrews 6:19).  At its very core, our souls long for hope in a land and time where it is hard to find.  When we live with Hope, we find that the Alma is alive and it matters.  May your hope be in the Hope of all Hopes…..Jesus Christ.  Take the time to care for your soul, not cure it.  Surround your self with people who are familiar with its ways.  In doing so, we will then be able to love the lord our God will all of our heart, with all of our mind, AND all of our soul.  Learn the language of the Creator and find that your Alma will be well and all things will be well with your soul.

~Justin