I am a seeking teacher

I was reading something today. It was called “My 30-Day Promise to Myself.” Below those six words was a list of eight things. Several things jumped out at me in this list of eight items. They were things that prolly oughta have been common sense ‘no duh’ kind of things, but I suppose I have forgotten them over the last several years. I believe that my commitment to a period of introspection is “just what the doctor ordered.” Here are some of the things which caught my eye (and I’m paraphrasing):
1. I can see that the way I’ve been choosing to behave is not good for me. I have to be the change I want to see in myself.
2. I can totally be my own worst enemy. I gotta stop that stuff!
3. I am responsible for myself, whether I do right or wrong.
4. I have to forgive myself for the past.
5. I have to be patient with myself.
6. I have to be willing to ask for help if I need it. I am not—as Simon and Garfunkel sing—an island. I cannot do it all myself.
Anyway, part of what was interesting about this paper I read today was that it was easy to see that a person could be both their own worst enemy AND their own rescuer. As I read this paper, I had my headphones on and was listening to my I-tunes library. Dolly Parton was singing her song ‘The Seeker’ was playing in my ears. I was struck with the similarities between what I was reading and what Dolly was singing to me.
In school, I was always the kind of student who—if I took notes and listened—could pass classes without too much extra studying. Today--as I was reading the paper and listening to Dolly—I was struck with how important this journey of introspection and—hopefully—growth NEEDS to be to me. I am both the problem and the solution in this current situation. I can be the one who continues to bring me down or I can be the one who hauls me right up out of the rabbit hole and into the sunshine.
So, anyway, all of that to say that Dolly’s words really made me understand how HUGE my part in any project needs to be. I need to own my faults. I need to forgive myself. I need to be my own hero. I must be both my own seeker and my own teacher. And so that y’all understand a bit more clearly—Sing on, Dolly:

I am a seeker
A poor sinful creature
There is no weaker than I am
I am a seeker

You are a teacher
You are a reacher
So reach down
Won't you reach out and lead me
Guide me and keep me
In the shelter of your care each day
'Cause I am a seeker
You are a keeper
You are the leader
Won't you show me the way

I am a vessel that's empty and useless
I am a bad seed that fell by the way
I am a loser that wants to be a winner
And you are my last hope
Don't turn me away

I am a seeker
A poor sinful creature
There is no weaker than I am
I am a seeker
You are a teacher
You are a reacher
So reach down
Won't you reach out and lead me
Guide me and keep me
In the shelter of your care each day
'Cause I am a seeker
You are a keeper
You are the leader
Won't you show me the way

Oh, I know you are a mountain
From which there flows a fountain
So let it's water wash my sins away
'Cause I am a seeker
You are a keeper
You are the leader
Won't you show me the way

I want to post script here and make sure y’all know that I understand this song was written as a praise to God, originally. I didn’t when I first heard it today as I was reading. I heard it at face value—just by the words Dolly was singing.
I know that I can be and do nothing worthwhile without God’s help. But I also know that if I depend on Him and pray to Him that I can help Him help me. I think we all need to be willing and open to helping Him help us.