Kasey Hitt, MDiv, CSD
  • Home
  • About
  • Offerings
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Dreamwork
    • Reiki
    • Silent Retreats
    • Groups & Seminars
  • Schedule/Pay
  • Events
    • Sign up for E-news
    • Register & Pay for Events
  • Writing
    • Blog
    • Prayers
    • Liturgical Year >
      • Advent Audio Divina
      • Advent Guided Prayer
      • Longest Night Service
      • Lent
    • Video & Audio
    • Retreatants Only
  • Resources
    • Quotes
    • Links
    • Recommended Reading
  • More
    • What Others Are Saying
    • Spiritual Direction Disclosure Form
    • Reiki Client Information Form
    • Common Questions & Answers
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

A Six-Year-Old's Insight into the Ego

2/14/2017

 
Picture
"What's the ego?" my 6-year-old son asked me one day.

"Oh good question," I said, "We need the ego. It's important because it helps us survive. It's the part of us that makes choices and decisions based on looking out for ourselves."  

We talked a little about some of these choices and decisions helping us survive and better ourselves.  Then I asked him a question in return, curious as to his answer. "What happens if we only live from our ego, the part whose only concern is protecting and looking out for ourselves?" 

His answer was immediate, "We don't ever love."

"That is exactly right! " I exclaimed surprised and humbled with how clearly he could see, "That's exactly what Jesus told people."

In Matthew 16:25, Jesus says, "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."

The life Jesus is talking about losing is the one built, shaped and ruled by our ego.  While safety precautions, preferences, expectations, demands, aspirations, goals, knowledge, social acceptance, emotional reactions, and such are necessary for survival, none lead to the "way of Jesus."   And Jesus reminds us that we find this way or "Kingdom" by becoming like a child.   

For apparently a child knows that unless we let these go, "We don't ever love."   

  • Looking at Jesus' words in the context of the ego, how does it speak to you/your life today?
  • Any thoughts or insights into why children are able to see deep truths so clearly?


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Kasey is a scarf, ball and club juggling spiritual director just outside of Nashville, TN.  Play helps her Type-A, Enneagram 1 personality relax, creating space for poetry and other words to emerge. She also likes playing with theological ideas like perichoresis, and all the ways we're invited into this Triune dance.  

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

    Categories

    All
    Advent
    Anger
    Atonement
    Awareness Examen
    Beauty
    Body Of Christ
    Centering Prayer
    Children
    Community
    Conscious Breathing
    Conversation
    Creation
    Darkness
    Discernment
    Easter
    Epiphany
    Faith Development
    Freedom
    Holy Spirit
    Image Of God
    Intercession
    Jesus
    Juggling
    Justice
    Lament
    Laying On Of Hands
    Lectio Divina
    Lent
    Love
    Meditation
    New Year
    Pain
    Perfectionism
    Play
    Poetry
    Prayer
    Presence
    Saints & Mystics
    Scripture
    Shame
    Silence
    Spiritual Direction
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Practices
    Suffering
    Surrender
    Thanksgiving
    Theology
    Vocation & Calling
    Wisdom
    Worship Music

    RSS Feed

Schedule your own session or read What Others Are Saying!
Picture
Book an appointment using SetMore
Sign up for E-News
Picture

By clicking “Sign up for E-News” I consent to the collection and secure storage of this data as described in the Privacy Policy. The information provided on this form will be used to provide me with updates and marketing. I understand that I may modify or delete my data at any time.
  • Home
  • About
  • Offerings
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Dreamwork
    • Reiki
    • Silent Retreats
    • Groups & Seminars
  • Schedule/Pay
  • Events
    • Sign up for E-news
    • Register & Pay for Events
  • Writing
    • Blog
    • Prayers
    • Liturgical Year >
      • Advent Audio Divina
      • Advent Guided Prayer
      • Longest Night Service
      • Lent
    • Video & Audio
    • Retreatants Only
  • Resources
    • Quotes
    • Links
    • Recommended Reading
  • More
    • What Others Are Saying
    • Spiritual Direction Disclosure Form
    • Reiki Client Information Form
    • Common Questions & Answers
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact