[blox_column width=”1/1″][/blox_column][blox_heading title=”Think of a ‘Doctor of the Core’…” size=”h3″ style=”style5″ animation=”none”][/blox_heading][blox_text animation=”none”]
During a recent Leadership Design Group Workshop, they gave me an assignment:
“If I visited a ‘Doctor of the Core’ for a ‘core check-up’
What would I tell the doctor about the health of my core –
Its values, integrity, and character?
I would compare it to: ____________???
Before reading my response, think about your core and see if a picture pops into your mind. Ask yourself…
- Is my core healthy?
- What does a healthy core look and feel like and generate in the eight dimensions of my life?
- Where am I aligned with my values, and where have I gotten off track?
- Am I truly living with my insides and outsides in connection and agreement?
- Are my nature, personality, and disposition reflecting what I believe to be true about me and my purpose?
So, do you have a picture in mind to describe your core health?
My comparison revealed itself in a picture of rocks. As I explored what those rocks represented, I was encouraged, inspired, and challenged.
The story of the rocks from the core…
My dad brought home a set of bookends that were actually core samples taken from many thousand feet down in the earth brought out by an oilfield drilling rig. They were cut and polished; a love message carved on the bottom, and sat on our bookshelf all my growing up years. We always called them “rocks from the core”, although that was just our way of naming them. Technically they were not from the “core of the earth” but were from a place deep down, that couldn’t be seen. They were used as core samples to provide information for drilling in the area. He made these bookends as a gift to my mother on their 16th wedding anniversary on April 2, 1965 when I was nine years old.
They were so very interesting, and in our home we felt they displayed the beauty of the earth, even in places we couldn’t see. I love that God creates beauty in places sometimes never seen… because it makes me believe that surely he is able to create beauty (and provision) in places we see the need for it.
Contemplating this picture in association with the question in the assignment helped reveal what I believe to be true of myself: Even though these bookends seemed to be “rock solid”, they are natural and still change, although this type of transformation is done very slowly and in obscurity. These core rocks yielded a heavy-duty, built-to-last, beautiful example of God’s handiwork and my parent’s marriage. They demonstrate both beauty and function. More precisely, they are a great example of art and utility – the combination of which is one of my dearest values. Personally, it’s a good gauge for examining who I am and what I do, therefore “how am I”?
For our purpose, examining the core of who we are to determine our overall health, and then seeing “my core” in these “rocks from the core” certainly demonstrates my personality – a tad zany sometimes, creatively using words together to say more than what is on the surface. No wonder this is what came to mind! I’m not a very “surface-y” person. The realization that I’m pretty solid on my values, beliefs, purpose, etc. was somewhat encouraging entering the Third3rd this month! But, as these rocks are natural substances and are able to change, I am too! Participating in this LDG workshop helped me realize some areas in the eight dimensions – maybe even some core beliefs – that need to change. Substances like these rocks (possibly millions of years old) require a lot of time and pressure to change. That could be said of me, most certainly with two thirds of my life already lived. Changes don’t come quickly or without effort these days, but they do come.
The fact that these were extracted from way down deep, is probably telling. The best work, the most valuable core strengthening I engage in seems to be in a rather deep place…in my soul. And it is best done in private. I’ve noticed when I engage in “soul care”, my healthier core is then able to put more effort into the areas needing time, focus, and energy. After the core sample was brought to the surface, it was cleaned, cut for use, and polished, much like we prepare ourselves to be of use publicly. What inspires me about this is that I have discovered I can still make deep changes which will transform every dimension of my life. The same is true of you, no matter what 3rd you’re in. And, we are all in need of some clean-up, trimming to fit in the right places/times/purposes, and our rough edges most certainly can be smoothed out!
Encouragement came to me as I realized I’m a “heavy duty” person just like these bookends. Nothing short of an Apocalypse will remove these babies from existence! I believe I’m an eternal being, but my work here on earth is important and valuable. Of course I am a bit more active than these core rocks, but I do need some “shelf” time. Some seasons are for that exactly…as I have needed to regroup, engage in examination, and then be re-deployed on the next leg of the journey. Regardless of my core strength, I need to be occasionally shelved, my soul cared for, or I will lose that strength. This workshop was an excellent place to gain strength! Leadership Design Group provided a wonderful “shelf” – the time, space, and tools – to dive into the core and at least scratch the surface of our eight dimensions. It was a discovery mission for what otherwise would have stayed beneath the surface, unchanged, and not nearly as useful for the future.
Living a purpose-driven life brings joy and peace into the otherwise drain of day-after-day-after-day. Staying in touch with my core health and the balance of all eight dimensions increases my ability to live confidently, with strength. In order to be who I was made to be, doing what I was made to do (sharing God’s heart with others through prayer, friendship, and quilting) I must stay aligned within myself, but it requires time, energy, focus, and help! Mentoring is not just helpful, it is crucial. Engagement, intentionality, and answerability are all in the toolbox of the mentor. As a quilter, I love tools…and as a person whose core needs strengthening, I need my mentor’s toolbox stocked. I would be well-served to stay on course with a mentor who helps cleanse away the debris, chisel me into shape, and carve into my life the message of love I am meant to share with the world…much like the message carved sweetly on the bottom of the “rocks from the core”.
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