Spiritual Energy

If you have ever tried to make some wholesale changes in your life, you’ve more than likely experienced an unpleasant phenomenon. It seems as though that when we set out to make improvements in any area of our lives, we invariably upset the apple cart and all of the rotten ones come rolling out to spoil our plans. I’ve often tried to change my habit of complaining; to stop myself before the words leave my mouth. I’ll set my mind to do it and when I feel the feeling to complain rise up in me, I’ll pause. Now you might think that suppressing a complaint may be like capping off a raging hot steam pipe; the result of which can be catastrophic when trapping such energy under pressure. But I can tell you that using that energy to try and think of a new thought and express a new point of view takes much more power and one will exert even more energy. When I have practiced not complaining I see immediate positive results, which of course motivates me to continue the practice.  However, it also appears that when I try to not complain, an increase of irritating events arise in my life. Not only that but I’ve had people tell me that not complaining is bad for my health! So the folks that should be supporting me with positivity are piling on the negativity; another reason to complain.

So what is this; this avalanche negativity that seems to roll over us when we make positive changes? Is it the devil? Some people would say so; Satan, bad karma, punishment for a sorry lifestyle. Or is it simply a phenomenon that occurs when we shine a light on the negative? Those annoyances, those irritating people and situations have always been there; we just accepted them and may have willingly and joyfully relished them! Now, in our desire to separate from them, they seem bigger and badder than ever. 

I see this as a milestone. I see this as a sign that I am on the right path, because quite frankly, when we choose a new path it usually doesn’t come with a roadmap. We don’t always know what to do different to break our old patterns and the only way to gauge if we’re on the right track is to be a little uncomfortable. It’s OK; it will pass. I know it’s just growing pains and I will be better for it. As a matter of fact, I have gotten to the point where I can get myself excited bout these challenges because I know a big breakthrough is coming!

God speed!

Spirituality

It is my nature when looking at things, to break them down in the simplest form. On the surface, many things can look complicated and an impossibility. But when the underlying roots are revealed, it can be seen for what it is, usually just a few main branches holding up the whole enormous tree.  Any issue or situation then, in it’s simplicity, can be managed; sometimes remarkably very easily. 

I believe that my soul is the immortal energy that dwells within me. It’s my core electrical life force that gives me character, drives my personality and enables me to love. I also believe that as it radiates out from my body it becomes my spirit. My spirit connects with the universe and it’s a two way communication. It’s obvious to me that my spirit connects directly to the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, and it also connects with every other living thing. My recognition of this and my wholeheartedness to stay actively cognizant of it is my spirituality. 

If you look up spirituality in the dictionary it will say something like, matters of the spirit, a concept tied to a spirit world, a multidimensional reality and one or more deities. To me, spirituality is simply the essence of our soulful energy. It is the being of our spirit life. I, being in a sensory world, tend to unwittingly ignore what I cannot perceive with my five senses; we are easily distracted aren’t we? Speaking from my own experience, when a conscious decision is made to be more spiritual I tend to try it on like a new set of clothes. Like a dressy shirt, I’ll throw it over my shoulders and slip my arms in the sleeves. I’ll wear it for a few days and then move on to a pair of pants... only to realize I am once again shirtless. It’s the materialistic way of viewing spirituality; yes trying it on. Then a revelation will come and I’ll remember that true spirituality comes from WITHIN. It lives in my soul tucked up right under my heart. Here, where the Holy Spirit waits to greet me, yet again. (And all of this after years of studying spiritual ideology and striving to get close to God. So many good things have come out of my spiritual journey including the knowing that each day is a brand new chance to get it “right”.) This revelation comes from where? From studying the spirit; I am thinking about it, reading about it, listening to spiritual teachings, living it. When I am working at being more spiritual I am living the lifestyle! It cannot be treated as a hobby; to pick up when one is bored or needy and then set aside until the mood strikes again. Yes, as with anything worthwhile, it takes commitment and consistency. Spirituality is a lifestyle, a practice in living.

God speed!

Life Is Short; Too Short

Life is short. I say this all the time to keep myself motivated in an attempt to live in the moment. But like anything, I try to keep it as a mantra and stay focused only to realize days later that it has never once crossed my mind. It is usually realized in passing when talking to someone about some event in their life.

So I have been listening to some teaching by Kenneth Copeland and he was covering the topic of God’s grace. I got digging into the Word and reading passages such as Ephesians 2:7-10 (KJV) that states, 

“7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

I, in my heart of hearts believe this to be true, for as sure as my heart beats I know that I love people with grace. I do not have a level of grace to compare with God, but I do have people in my life that I love no matter what; and they don’t have to do a single thing to earn it. No matter what they do that I may disagree with, I always forgive and give them a free pass and love them whole heartedly anyway, every time. There is nothing they could do that love does not overcome.

As silly as this may sound to some; consider a person that loves their pet. Short of looking cute in one’s perception, that animal can do nothing to perpetuate the feelings a human has towards it. An animal does not go looking for a particular person that they like or find attractive and then try to impress that person so as to initiate a loving relationship. They do not instinctually pursue human relationships and yet once claimed by a person, that pet is wholly loved. That’s grace.

As brother Copeland said, there is nothing a person can do to earn God’s grace. We would all fall short. We would only get a skinny portion of what is abounding toward us. This doesn’t give a us a free pass to be rotten or lazy by any means, for God has a system that we must abide by to enable us to be our best. But thank God that when we are weak, when we fall down and get off the tracks, God’s grace is there to catch us, to forgive us, to dust us off and get us back on track.

I apologize for being so long winded, but I’d like to bring you back to my mantra of “life is short”. I realize that this is a worldly idea since our souls are eternal, but personally, I need to find useful tools or mechanisms that help me cope in the world. With that said, I was watching a movie yesterday with my wife and one of the characters said, “Life is too short.” Gong! Like a bellwether my head started ringing and it occurred to me that once I discovered God’s grace many years ago, that life became too short. It is if you want to do good things for others! We are only here for a short time and there is so much to do; so many people to love, so many lessons to learn, so many lessons to teach, so much to share. My life is so wonderful since living in God’s grace. I am blessed and all I want to do is share it. Won’t you join me?

God speed!