HOW TO DE-STING OUR NEMESIS

The key to living a complete and fulfilled life lies in the realization that there is a mystical, transcendental Presence within us that has already provided our infinite supply unto eternity, that contains within itself our companionship unto eternity, and that has within Itself the power of fulfillment. -- Joel Goldsmith, "A Parenthesis In Eternity," p. 269

I've watched some people lose almost everything and everyone in order to hang on to what a friend called their 'triumphant unhappiness.' - Anonymous 

I have those two quotes tacked to my bulletin board where they have been for at least twenty years...I seldom read them. Then, when the time comes, when my seeing-life-sideways is upon me, almost cosmically my eyes are drawn to them. I reread, remember and know peace.

I know peace because I have learned the name and the cause of my "triumphant unhappiness." It is fear, my nemesis, and I know how to de-sting it. I kiss it on the lips, call its name "Blessed," and remember: The key to living a complete and fulfilled life lies in the realization that there is a mystical, transcendental Presence within us that has already provided our infinite supply unto eternity, that contains within itself our companionship unto eternity, and that has within Itself the power of fulfillment. Thank you, Joel Goldsmith.

Thank you.

THE HIGHER POWER CHOOSES US

As I walked through our lobby this morning, I saw that it is decorated for Christmas...and then I noticed the menorah. That's a first, I thought...and my thought was not smiling. Which caused me pause. I really had to think on that...why am I a tish peeved at a menorah amongst the Christmas decorations? 

I am half pleased and half embarrassed to admit I realized it was jealousy not bigotry that perturbed me. Christmas is for Christmas decorations and a menorah is not a Christmas decoration. Then I realized that for all I know this season is also the time of a Jewish holiday. Oh. Okay, then.

That line of thought led me to consider what I've observed but never put into words. For whatever reason, many of us seem to be borderline petrified of the word "Jesus." If the word is even said, some shrink in distaste, others shrug dismissively. However, the word "Buddha" is accepted, welcomed even, and the Buddha is quoted often.

We must needs beware: The day will come (and is probably closer than we think) when someone will walk in and simply say, "Allahu Akbar" and too many of us will go up in our own smoke.

We claim "live and let live" in defense of our own beliefs, but refuse to budge for another's...and why? To protect our shutdown mind?

Still more spiritual growth is all about living from a raised consciousness. Not to put too fine a point on it, but living from a raised consciousness is living for others. Which cannot be done from the reasoning mind...or, can only be done through a power greater than our own self, by whatever name that chooses us.

Mazel Tov. Allahu Akbar. Thank you, Christ Jesus.

Thank you.

THANK YOU IS THE COSMIC LINK

Life is comprised of "Uh-ohs" and "Oh wows!" (Not to mention, "Ho-hums.")

It's the uh-ohs in life that turn out to be our pearls...they are what teach us to view down as up. When what we're perceiving looks less than wonderful and has a hurt about it that causes us pause, we come to inside-know, this, too, is of God. 

Our problem in getting through these storms with our God-belief intact is that we tend to hold to our belief in our own idea of what God needs to do in order for our perceived problem to be fixed. 

When we hold to our idea of what fixing our problem means, self-convinced our want must be "God's will," our worst fear often comes true, i.e., we don't get our want. So we give up believing in God.

To believe as we breathe in a loving God who can and will intervene in our life on our behalf is to, first, stay focused on Now which is perfect Now; second, accept whatever is appearing as God's will for us; third, do our best with what we are given...and our best is a heartfelt "thank you." Good or not so good, our thank you will suffice.

Ah, and there's our gift: Our thank you is the cosmic link to that which goes before us to make the crooked places straight. 

Thank you.

MORE WILL BE REVEALED

Just as a fire is covered by smoke and a mirror is obscured by dust, just as the embryo rests deep within the womb, wisdom is hidden by selfish desire.  -- Sri Krishna (Bhagavad Gita)

I wonder if "selfish desire" isn't all our  wants. A want by its very nature is for self even if its object seems to be for another.

We start out wanting our way***we find we are not happy when we are selfish, so we begin to make allowances for other peoples' wills***this again does not give us full happiness, and we begin to see that the only way to be truly happy is to try to do God's will. -- Anonymous

The meat on the bone is that period of time when we are sincerely trying to give over to others...and, who's kidding whom, rarely feeling all that good about the results. So we try harder...does the definition of insanity come to mind?

We are in the process of learning that the meat on the bone is our coming to comprehend the difference between a self-determined objective (no matter how pretty we think it) and the perfect objective which is of God (no matter how un-pretty we think it).

I'm coming to accept that "making allowances for other peoples' wills" is best served not by inserting my agreeing words or works into the other's life, but by holding that person nonjudgmentally in my mind and heart until I can hold them nonjudgmentally in my mind and heart without effort.

That is as near as I have come to feeling an assurance that I have given over to God. And that's close enough to perfect for me...for now. 

Thank you.

GO FORWARD WITH AN OPEN MIND

Do not fear change. Run toward it. Run forward with open arms...or an open mind more like.

I have been feeling very melancholy of late. There are at least ten people who recently have left or are soon leaving my life...through moves to other states or illness or death...and the one, of course, in high dungeon quoting Jesus in the original Aramaic. (The God of my understanding and I still think that is funny, take it up with him.)

Then, this morning I'm reading "God Calling," and there on November 26 are my notes I had written in 1975 and again in 1985,  referencing major changes in and to my life. In 1985 it was that my job was being moved to Connecticut, my apartment was being sold, my car was about to go wheels up and various friends were moving on. Same day in 1987 I noted, "All those 'outers' have been wiped clean."

There it is...life itself written in one sentence in the margin of a book. Whatever is going on in our life, stay with it, run toward it, learn from it...all those "outers" will be wiped clean.

Thank you.

BE PRESENT TO THE PRESENCE

I had a flutter-by revelation this morning: I do believe that I accept that our Father is within, yet when I pray the Our Father I have never considered that I am seeking within. It is a toughie to think right now that that for which I pray, i.e., our daily bread, forgiveness, being led not into temptation is Now being done unto me through the Father within me.

If this be truth, then mine is to know it and to show it. How?

There it is...why we need spiritual teachers. Just a day or so ago this question was answered in a writing by Fr. Richard Rohr:  The great wisdom teachers know that one major change is needed: how we do the moment. *** “Only one thing is necessary,” Jesus says. "If you are present, you will be able to know what you need to know."

Interestingly, this is not new. It may well be the same-old-same-old, but it's the s-o-s-o spelled out...not just words we hope are true, but what to do to prove their truth. Learn, then practice unto doing: Stay in the Now by responding with peace, love and joy especially at 2:00 AM when we awake remembering a perceived unkindness.

Repeat, repeatedly.

Thank you.

FLOW WITH DIVINE ENERGY

We have to find a way to more deeply experience our experiences. *** Whether we realize it or not, the divine energy of God is flowing through each one of us. When we draw upon this Source consciously, our life starts filling with what some call coincidences or synchronicities which we can never explain. -- Fr Richard Rohr, "Daily Meditation," November 24, 2017

We are always in a state of flux...that is the nature of life itself. Back in my day, we called it flowing with the go. Today, I believe the unfortunates are those of us who refuse to go within our flow.

There are several events happening in my life right now...or, to be more exact, unknown endings going on in my mind right now.

I have been blessed with no particular preference for my own result. No feeling of need for this ending or that ending. I feel like the idea borned itself that my input is unnecessary since the perfect ending is already in the mix...I have no itch nor wish to know or to cause my results. So far.

My perfect ending may come looking to my reasoning mind's eye like a bed of lilies of the valley (wonderful) or it may come looking like a pig sty (not so much). The lesson I am learning is to accept either (and anything in between) as exactly what I need for my still more spiritual growth.

I am grateful that I have learned whatever happens is my Father's gift to me...all I must needs do is be willing to see down as up.

Thank you.