Living In Spirit

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Effective Change

Left to our own devices, changing our nature or perhaps more accurately growing beyond it, is problematic. Consider the smoker/addict who decides to quit, yet keeps a pack of cigarettes/drugs handy just in case the craving becomes too great or the alcoholic who swears off but continues to frequent their favorite watering hole because that is where their “friends” are. Now I am sure someone has quit smoking, drugs or drinking in this manner, but it is clear that this path is fraught with impediments to success and more smoking, drug abuse and drinking is usually the outcome. Why do something hard like riding out cravings when relief is a match, drink, pill, line, toke, fix, etc away, and bars are pretty dreary places sober, especially when all your “friends” are having a “good” time.

This type of thinking, though most egregious in the alcoholic/addict, touches virtually everyone. Consider the diets, the exercise pledges or any vow made that was quickly sabotaged by a "deserved" treat, feeling "tired" or overwhelmed or just being uncomfortable with the "desired" new path. Just like the addict/alcoholic, we meant it when we vowed to change, but quickly drifted back into the familiar, comfortable well trod modes of thinking and living.

No person or circumstance can force anyone to permanently change from without. The desire to change must come from within, and it must be desired with fervor. We hold the key to freedom, yet so many desire change, yet sabotage themselves almost before they begin guaranteeing failure. Simple but not easy, a price must be paid, and that price is the surrendering of self. We must be willing to go to any lengths to embrace the new way of living if we truly wish to change, to grow our spirituality, our consciousness raised. Living on the Spiritual Basis, practicing a new set of values and principles we will be set free, free of the bondage of self, free of destructive thinking and actions; our essential nature changed, our consciousness raised, altered, in truth, for all eternity.

#The Secret, #Wayne Dyer, #Serenity, Enlightenment, #Zen, #Emmet Fox, #How To Be Happy, #Golden Key, #Pope Francis, #Chopra, #Jesus, Healing Path Recovery, #Einstein, #AA, McRaven, Sayeh Beheshti,

Friday, February 5, 2016

The Captain Is Still On the Bridge

Certain teachings rise to the level of “sell all the books, everything needed is here.” Emmet Fox provides one of those with: The Captain Is On The Bridge (Around The Year With Emmet Fox pg. 248) for dealing with fear. Consider, when he said this America was gripped by the Great Depression, prohibition creating a whole new class of criminal, millions displaced from America’s dust choked heartland, the drums of war beating with Hitler’s rise to power in the east and Japan's in the west. Yet Dr Fox confidently stated that The Captain Is On The Bridge:

     “The world is not going to the dogs. The human race is not doomed. Civilization is not going to crash. The captain is on the bridge. Humanity is going through a difficult time, but humanity has gone through difficulties many times before in its long history, and has always come through, strengthened and purified.
       Do not worry yourself about the universe collapsing. It is not going to collapse, and anyway that question is none of your business. The captain is on the bridge. If the survival of humanity depended upon you or me, it would be a poor look out for the Great Enterprise, would it not?
        The captain is on the bridge. God is still in business. All that you have to do is to realize the Presence of God where trouble seems to be, to do your nearest duty to the very best of your ability; and to keep an even mind until the storm is over.”

God doesn't need my help in running the Universe, let alone my life, but I certainly need His. Fortunately, The Captain Is (still) On The Bridge.

#The Secret, #Wayne Dyer, #Serenity, Enlightenment, #Zen, #Emmet Fox, #How To Be Happy, #Golden Key, #Pope Francis, #Chopra, #Jesus, Healing Path Recovery, #Einstein, #AA, McRaven, Sayeh Beheshti,

Thursday, February 4, 2016

"Dead from the neck up!"

I can see Archie Bunker in my minds eye as he points at “meathead” with his thumb saying "dead from the neck up!" Vintage TV aside, if you are not a student of history, become one. There truly is nothing new under the sun when it comes to human interaction. Read headlines from 70 years ago and if it were not for some archaic words and the names of the players they are virtually indistinguishable from today’s. Peel back another 100 years and you will find the same. Articles and editorials on health care, immigration, taxes, war, political infighting, politicians attacking one another, protests in the streets, ads for all kinds “miracle” cures, medicines, and diets etc. We are destined to repeat the past when we fail to recognize it. Nothing changes if nothing changes. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

We all know or have met people with closed minds, essentially sleepwalking through life (we typically find them at family gatherings and the workplace). They have little or no interest in any new information or considering a differing point of view. They are “set” in their ways, curiosity long dead. Living on the Spiritual Basis requires us to be open-minded, to be open to fresh winds of thought, considering all points of view dispassionately, curious to learn and grow regardless of our chronological age or circumstances. To be clear: Living in the Light does not mean these fresh winds necessarily blow away our beliefs or change our opinions, though they may, it is a demonstration of open-mindedness, compassion for those we may disagree with for they, like us, are children of the Most High. One of the measures of an individuals spiritual condition is how they treat their fellows, but of these how we treat those we find disagreeable is paramount.

Do not allow yourself to “fall asleep at the switch” mentally. Keep your consciousness switched on by praying and meditating daily to be shown God’s will and how you may be of service to your fellows. Keep your faith lively, your connection to the divine open, for by doing so we grow and gently prod those slumbering around us. Whether they choose to rouse themselves is their demonstration, ours is to serve as a consistent example of Living in the Light, regardless and in spite of any and all criticism.