To ponder is to reflect.  Deeply.  Honestly.  Courageously.

It is looking into all the dark corners and hidey-holes of ego.  Bringing to light those aspects of self & my past-actions that shame would have me use as a weapon.  A weapon against myself, others, and in my relationships.

It is also to embrace & own those strengths and areas of growth, improvement, and awesomeness about me that are no less true.  Not in a way that makes me better than others; but in a way that acknowledges those truths about me among & with others who have similar truths!  

We all have our stuff – great and grimy.  I’ll not shy away from seeing & owning mine!  

Nor will I retreat from acknowledging & owning its impact on self, with those I know & love – and if I’m really getting gritty with it, with those I don’t know.  For their humanity dares me to acknowledge my impact on them.  The store clerk, that other driver, my child’s teacher, etc.!   Am I willing to consider the impact of my “stuff” on them?

So for what it’s worth, to ponder is to humble myself.  And for me, this involves two things:

From my dissertation:  humility invites “an earnest and non-defensive willingness to see oneself and others as accurately as possible, and a willingness to respond accordingly.”  [click here for that light reading ;-)]

From my faith:  Christ invites “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for it they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).

That’s what pondering invites – even requires – of me.  To humble myself by way of that earnest and non-defensive willingness to look and to see, to respond, and to look to Him who helps me see clearly – see true – and respond well.

What about you?  What does pondering invite from and of you?  Once you’ve paused to look, are you ready & willing to see?  Am I?  Let’s go for it!

Take care,

Teejer