BODY, FLESH, SPIRIT, SOUL, HEART, MIND
The
concepts "body", "flesh",
"spirit", "soul", "heart",
and "mind" should be defined and understood so
that communication regarding such concepts is truly
possible. I have found that using the metaphor of a
balloon helps explain the differences.
Ones body is like a balloon. This balloon may be filled,
or unfilled and limp. It may be big or small and may be
of any color. It may be knotted or unknotted, it may even
be popped with pieces scattered about. It may be filled
with air, it may be filled with helium and floating. It
may be tied to a string.
When one talks about the color of a balloon or the
material that it is made of, rubber, then this is the
same as talking about the flesh of ones body. Again, one
may talk about the color and composition of a balloon
regardless of whether or not the balloon is filled or
empty. We can look at the materials which make up a
balloon and identify the elements and molecules and know
for sure that the rubber has in fact come from the earth.
If a balloon is empty, it is not full. Further, a balloon
does not fill itself. Someone has to come along and blow
it up and tie a knot in it if someone wants to have a
full balloon. When one blows up a balloon, this is like
the spirit of God whose breath fills up a body and makes
it alive. Where there is no spirit, there is no life.
A balloon is a balloon whether it is full or not, but
when a balloon is full, which is the way one normally
thinks of balloons, this is like the concept of the soul.
One would not normally use the word soul unless they were
talking about a body filled with the spirit, or breath of
life, a full balloon.
Just as many people working together, alive and filled
with the spirit of God brings the greatest joy to God.
Bunches of balloons of many colors and sizes usually
brings the greatest joy to a child. Big balloons and
bunches of balloons can lift weights just as people who
are filled with the spirit of God can lift the weight of
the world.
One might think of the heart as the knot on the balloon.
Spiritually, the heart, is often described as the center
of ones soul in which it is thought that the choice to be
filled with God's spirit is made. People have for eons
associated life with the beating of a heart and the
breath which one breathes in and out. Even today,
paramedics look for these all important signs first in
determining whether someone is alive or dead. This in
mind, it is no surprise that these concepts are used so
often in describing spiritual life. The word
"spirit" itself means breath.
If a balloon is knotted before one tries to blow air into
it, how can it be filled? One should allow ones heart to
be open to accept God's love. If a balloon is filled, but
no knot is tied, the air will escape. Likewise, when one
is filled with God's love, one must allow God's love to
be sealed inside ones heart just as a ballon is knotted
to keep the air from escaping.
Today, many people believe that the decision to accept
God takes place in ones mind. This doesn't mean that
people's spiritual beliefs have necessarily changed from
long ago, only that the word "mind" is the
modern day concept for the spiritual concept
"heart" and implys that the choices and
decisions one makes take place in ones brain rather than
ones actual flesh heart. Nevertheless, as ever elementary
student knows on Valentine's day, the heart is still the
most recognizable symbol of love.
