The Lies I Tell Myself
Our true foundation lies at the bottom of layers of lived experiences
Stairs; Skellig Michael, Ireland
Our true foundation lies at the bottom of layers of lived experiences. Each layer becomes a truth to us as the once delicate dirt of moments passed coalesce into packed earth. If the memory of past lived experience is allowed to remain, the layer of packed earth becomes so compacted that it forms a pseudo foundation - one from which we form our reference point - one that begins to define our identity.
Lived experiences have the potential to reconfirm our identity, or they have the potential to redefine our identity, burying who we are under layers of lies. To begin the process of finding (and then reclaiming) our foundation, we must dig through many layers of packed earth to reveal truth and reveal lies. The process of unearthing is difficult and often painful as we come to the realization that a piece of our self has been built on untruths. We do this work not to condemn that which came before, but to cleanse the unnecessary so as to stand on the foundational columns of Goodness, Beauty and Truth.
We must approach each exercise of excavation with a posture of humility and forgiveness, as the enemy of Truth will attempt to stall our efforts through the emotional surges of anger, resentfulness and despair. In moments of anger we must pray for peace; in moments of resentfulness we must forgive; in moments of despair we must have hope that the Spirit comes to cleanse us and set us free from the shackles of dejection.
Not everything we discover during deep excavation will be lies. There will be many moments of confirmation and consolation as we uncover a past lived experience that speaks truth, one that resonates through our entire being - touching the foundation of who we are. These are moments of reclamation and should be recorded so as to become a strong reference point moving forward. I recommend you set aside a journal or other writing space (perhaps naming it Finding Foundation Journal) so that you can record your thoughts as they arise, no matter what the revelations expose. It may be helpful to make two columns on your page and have one column read: Truth and another read: Lies.
We will excavate through the layers in chronological order, starting with the first movements of self-persception: My Inheritance, and ending with the last layer: My Spiritual Core. The Spiritual Core is the effect of all the lies we have collected over the years and how they may have distorted our foundational personhood. Each exercise in excavation will be in a separate post so as to be easily referenced going forward and easy to return to at a later date. It is recommended that you have your Finding Foundation Journal and a writing utensil with you each time you engage with a piece of the Finding Foundations Series so as to record the promptings of the Spirit in real-time.
Old Ruin Wall; Glendalough, Ireland
Dear Excavator,
May you begin your journey to greater self-knowledge by engaging in the process of unearthing. Have courage to remember. Look at yourself and your lived experiences with love and kindness. You are not defined by your memories, you have a foundation of greatness given to you by our most gracious Creator. You are a gift to the world and you have an important mission grounded in purpose and Truth. May you move with grace, be filled with peace and look with the eyes of compassion on all of your past lived experiences to learn the lesson you are ready to receive this day. You are loved. You deserve love. You are made for love.
Yours Truly,
Michelle
