Never Poke A Tiger In The Eye

In the second act of my life I made my living as a building contractor. One of the lessons the man who sponsored me to become a contractor imparted was “When the workday is over stop working.” At the time it seemed pretty simple, if not downright painfully obvious. Kinda like never poke a tiger in the eye. In time, however, I began to understand what he was really talking about. Working in construction there is always some little task that needs doing. I learned, through painful experience, once I stopped working for the day, having removed my tool belt and bags, not to put them back on. On more than one occasion, unfortunately, I spied a crooked nail, loose board or some other small task which could have easily waited until the next day, choosing instead to address it before going home. Right after the hammer slipped and smacked me on the shin or I hit the nail and heard the unmistakable sound of water rushing from a pierced pipe or missed the nail on the wall, hitting my thumbnail instead, I would then remember, belatedly, his words. 

In time though the deeper meaning behind this admonition began to dawn on me.  Most days long after I had physically left the job site I was still there in my mind, needlessly rehashing the days events or worrying about things I had no control over. Emmet Fox refers to this as “taking the train” mentally. Dr Fox taught, “don’t take the train mentally-let the engine take it" most of the things in my life that I have worried about never came to pass, and I bet yours as well, so "letting the engine take it" today means I let go of manufactured worries, morbid reflection if you like, avoiding needless mental wear and tear and “when the workday is over stop working."  Oh, and I never poke tigers in the eye, that would be foolish, just sayin.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Miracles Of Recovery, The Secret, Wayne Dyer, Recovery, Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Four Agreements, Chopra, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path, Law Of Attraction

Our Spiritual Facelift

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Miracles Of Recovery, The Secret, Wayne Dyer, Recovery, Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Four Agreements, Chopra, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path, Law Of Attraction

Our Spiritual Facelift

What we concentrate on manifests in our lives. When we focus on fear, loss, anger, resentment, worry, envy or any of the whole host of negative thinking morbid reflection engenders, our physical appearance alters. Worry lines on the face, bags under the eyes from lack of or restless sleep, twisted visage from a sour stomach, tight jaw and grinding teeth, well you get the picture. When you look in the mirror what do you see? Anything less than the radiance that emanates from a soul at peace demonstrates that we have strayed from the Spiritual Basis and there is work to do.

Take heart though, the good news is when we see it and feel it in our heart we have a clear set of directions on what to do next. We gently turn to God in prayer and thank Him for knowing Him better, asking to be shown the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love in all areas of life but particularly in the area that is causing us concern. Ask to be shown what action (patience probably the hardest) should be taken and finish with a statement of willingness to be of service in any capacity that He would have us be. Close with “Thy will be done." This is only a suggested path, change or alter the prayer as it best fits you. The key is in the recognition and speed in which we turn to God and choose to trust in infinite wisdom and love instead of our finite selves.

As we embrace this way of living we become more aware of the pain in the faces of those around us. When we see others in pain, we quietly pray for them as we would for ourselves for in so doing not only are they uplifted; the whole world is uplifted as well. All humankind will be raised to the Heavens if each of us adds our inch.

© Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved

Miracles Of Recovery, The Secret, Wayne Dyer, Recovery, Addiction, Zen, Emmet Fox, Opioids, Four Agreements, Chopra, Heroin, Einstein, AA, Healing Path, Law Of Attraction