In the early days of data processing, I decided to take a computerized assessment of my natural abilities, hoping to find “the” answer to what I should do with my life. After a four-hour appointment consisting of keying answers into a processor, I received a very short list of possibilities, one of which was “curator.” I didn’t have a clue what a curator was or what one might do.
It turns out that a curator is someone who selects, organizes, and looks after valuable items such as those in a museum. Hmmm…
Recently I have stumbled across an awareness of what it means to be a curator of the heart in the book You Are What You Love by James A.K. Smith. In the opening pages of this book, Smith refers to Proverbs 4:23 as one of the foundational truths for the concepts discussed in his work.
In this verse, we are told that we are to be guardians (or curators) of our hearts because everything else in our lives comes from what is selected and treasured there.
Most of us think of the heart as being this non-physical organ of our body that generates emotions. During my studies of addiction from a spiritual standpoint, I learned that there is actually a physical source for what the Bible calls the “heart.” It is housed in the center of our brain in a system known as the “limbic brain.” I also learned through the Grace Life, International training that this is also known as our “soul.” As a three-part being, man is at his or her core a spirit who has a soul and lives in a body. Our soul or heart is the center of our thoughts, feelings, personality, and will.
At salvation, our spirit which was dead to God was made alive. We were given a new identity – that of Christ Jesus. Our spirit is now perfect and has the power to rise above any temptation that comes our way. If that’s true, then why do I do the things I don’t want to do – as Paul wrestled with in Romans 7?
There is so much to say about this question, and the answers are unique to each of us. But one of the keys to answering the question is to honestly assess and understand what is “curated” in my heart (soul).
But how do I know what is in my heart?
For most of us, it’s a matter of examining what comes out of it. Counselors’ and pastors’ offices are full of people who are there because they don’t like the way they feel or they don’t understand why they act a certain way. In a very oversimplified way of looking at this approach, it would be like determining the value of the relics in a museum based on the facial expressions of the people exiting the building. Much of what is housed in our hearts was placed there in our precognition years. We may need to do some housekeeping to determine if these ideas are useful and valuable after all.
If what I love and treasure in my heart is more important than what I know, why do I spend so much time trying to learn more and yet not in examining what is in my heart? Smith points to Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9-11 as one of the keys to being formed more into the image of Christ. If we look closely at this prayer, we see that Paul asks that their love would produce the knowledge and discernment needed for a fruitful life. Listening to Jesus’ words as he walked on earth, how many times did he ask those who sought to follow him or to be healed by him what they wanted or desired?
I have a feeling this is a big deal!
I’ve got a lot to process yet in reading this book and meditating on its message and I will share more over the next few weeks. But in the meantime, here are some of the questions I’ve asked myself. Maybe they will be helpful for you too.
Why does what I love (desire) matter?
How do I know what I love (desire) the most?
Try this exercise of the imagination: Envision your heart as a museum. What departments or sections would be housed there? If you took an inventory of what is currently on display in each department, what would you discover? NOTE: This is meant to be a “noticing” exercise, not a judging, shaming or condemning session. Take what you notice to God and ask him to discuss it with you.
Sometimes we need another person to help process these concepts. Please reach out to me if you’d like to discuss these concepts.