January 5. Which Side of the Brain Do You Favor?

Which side of the brain do you use the most? Is it the limbic system or the neocortex? Is it the creative side or the logical side? The feelings and creative side do not seem to use much of the “ it all adds up side.”

It seems to use a process that flows into the feelings. Those feelings can be tricky things. Feelings are not necessarily true and trustworthy. Surely, we can get caught into errors, fall easier into the area of judgment of others and fall into bad practices using this side of the brain.

But the logical side is just as easily swayed. If two plus two is four, and four plus four is eight, then four plus eight is twelve. But who asked the question of what is four plus eight? We can very easily insert our own then statements.

Then statements in the real world with people are not necessarily true. I am not convinced that they are true most of the time. Our brain works down neural pathways for speed and those pathways miss millions of signals and pieces of information. It has many automatic assumptions.

We have so much going on when it comes to information coming into our brains that it must filter some of it out. That is why magic works. We cannot pay attention to all the information that is being made available.

Our brains look for some key indicators to help us move quickly towards a solution. When a person is frustrated an interruption to frustration can be valuable. Any interruptions can begin the change process and often an effective interruption is to ask what assumptions are being made.

Curiosity interrupts the path. Where might your team benefit by using an interruption?

Which side of our brains does God use the most? Maybe the answer to my question is that God is not using our brain at all, we are. Whose brain is it? It is our brain. It is our free will. It is us that uses one side or the other.

We read, “Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.” Jeremiah 20:12 NIV.  I think where I find God most is when I use both sides. Blending both sides, so that my heart might have a say as well.

Can I figure a way through my thoughts in my mind so as to share what my heart knows? Our broken world and selfishness can become top priority. Do you remember when Abram in the Bible told his wife Sarai, that he would call her his sister.

It was out of fear of himself being killed that he asked such a thing. You can find it in Genesis 12. It was a very logical thing to do but I do not know how Sarai might have felt about it. I suspect that she might have been offended. Do you see the logic and feelings connecting here?

I believe that what the heart knows is that it wants to know love, to share love and to be loved. Today, maybe we can focus on the heart. Consider taking the focus off sin if that is where you are at. Take the focus off what is not loving and off judgment.

I am asking that we consider that we leave logic behind sometimes. Let us think with our heart some today. What is the first thing on your calendar in the next seven days that could use more of your heart than your head?

Perhaps there is someone on your calendar that needs more of your heart than your head?

Let us pray, Father, your love is so great. You make the dew on the grass and the heatwaves that arise from the sand. You send to us the feelings of love through your Son, Jesus and it touches us.

May we connect our hearts to your love so that we might forgive faster, love better and grow towards excellence today. When our brain is thinking, or worrying too much, may we simply return to you and your love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,