Inspired By Others

I took the entire day off to play with friends visiting from Tucson, a luxury for me. And, it also threw my schedule off. So here it is close to 10 o’clock in the evening, and I’m working on finding a topic to blog about.

When I’m not initially inspired as to what to write about, I have the practice of reading the various daily, weekly, and monthly spiritual messages I subscribe to via email. And since I don’t keep up with them sufficiently, there is always a backlog to read. I always enjoy reading them and find myself feeling closer to God when doing so.

So after a rich day of friendship and a meeting for volunteer work, I find myself a bit spent and not knowing what to blog about. But there’s my cadre of emails sitting in my Inbox with plenty of inspiration and words of wisdom contained therein.

Today’s Daily Word is Comfort: “I am comforted by the love and presence of God.” And, the Daily Guideposts story is about the author’s awareness being raised and thereby stops being indifferent to people and starts praying for them. Another reminds me “...that he does not believe who does not live according to his belief.” Abraham says “Look for good things about where you are, and in your state of appreciation, you lift all self-imposed limitations (and all limitations are self-imposed) and you free yourself for the receiving of wonderful things.”

So while I may not always feel inspired to blog, my commitment to blog daily always gives me an extra boost of connection with Spirit. Today it took the form of taking a break from my own writing (sort of) to read about others’ journey with God and His Ways. And that is always inspiring.

Good night.

God Is...

God is...

Love
Joy
Peace
Strength
Power
Breath
Source
Life
Grace
Gratitude
Guide
Friend
Companion
Comfort
Healer
Consciousness
Presence
Serenity
Security

No matter where my journey takes me, I am not alone - God is.

Comfort

God does not comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforters. - J. H. Jowett

Through my reaching bottom with my eating disorder and then recovering by developing a conscious relationship with the God of my understanding and practicing the 12 Step principles, I came to recognize my life had purpose.

Through my experiences of spiraling downward and then reclaiming myself and my life, I was and am, able to help others on their journey. Through sharing my experience, strength, and hope, I am a comforter.

Just as Spirit comforted me and let me know I was not alone, so too I comfort others and let them know they are never alone. As my soul continues to blossom and wake up, I carry the message that with God all things are possible and heaven is within us, here, right now.

Dear Spirit

Dear Spirit;

Good morning!

Please show me other ways that I can feel Your Presence in the midst of busyness and chaos. Help me to be creative and attuned so that no matter what is going on in the physical, I feel connected to You.

Feeling Your Presence is such a comfort and joy to me, and I cherish it so. I many not always pay sufficient attention to cultivating my relationship with You, but please know that I am aware of that and yearn to spend much more time with You and to be of service to You.

With Your help and Your guidance, I know that I can feel You in the orbit that surrounds me all through the day.

Thank You for the many blessings You have given this daughter of Yours, and the ones to come henceforth. I am open to receiving, I am open to giving.

Amen.

Beyond the World

"Care not what the world thinks, and allow God to protect and nurture you in ways the world cannot comprehend." – The Voice for Love, September 12.

Ah... what a soothing idea.

My ‘handle’ on match.com when I was seeking Roger 5+ years was “Unusual Woman”. Yep, unusual, that’s me. It’s not always an attractive term to others, but thank heaven it was to Rog!

It also means that oftimes I felt like I did not fit in.

I wasn’t comfortable in my family of origin and couldn’t wait to move out on my own. Being an educated woman didn’t always endear me to my lesser-educated male colleagues when I worked at AMTRAK (the railroad), especially when I excelled and became their supervisor. The New York banking world was not a good fit either. Socially, I often felt uncomfortable, not feeling able to connect to people, perhaps because of age, gender, values, whatever.

But of course, the lack of comfort was with myself, not the outer world. Still, to some extent, maverick that I was (not always out of choice it seems), I did care about what others thought of me.

It wasn’t until I joined the 12 Step program of Overeaters Anonymous (OA) that I felt like I fit in. I fit it with others who had eating disorders, understood my crazy behaviors because they’d been there too, and were honestly look for a better way of life. I fit in because there was mutual respect, love, and concern.

I did not fit in initially from the ‘God thing” perspective as I was a devout atheist when I first entered the rooms. That of course changed, and when I came to believe in a Power greater than myself, I started fitting in at other venues too. For now, Spirit was with me, I no longer felt alone. It no longer mattered what others thought of me. It just came down to me and God.

I am glad to be reminded that it does not matter what the world thinks as I march to the tune of a different drum. Spirit is always with me, and there is where I find comfort, love, joy, and peace beyond the world’s understanding.

God's Helpers

“While you rest, angels will step in and restore serenity.” - Kathryn Schein

This is a comforting thought as I get ready to go to dreamland. As my head hits the pillow this evening, I will invite my angels to bring me wonderful dreams and spiritual guidance, and to restore my peace and serenity. I will then awaken refreshed and renew, feeling more connected to Source.

Thank You, Spirit, for your angels and many other helpers.

Awakening Along the Creek

Sitting on a rock alongside Tonto Creek near Payson, AZ, yesterday, I realized how easy it is for me to be in Nature and totally forget about the rest of my life, the rest of the world. Ahhh... Poof – they're gone!

That’s not to say there wasn’t any busyness going on. There was so much activity to observe in the creek that I could keep myself busy just observing for hours – blissfully so.

The water striders’ 3 pairs of legs reflected off the rock surfaces visible through the clear water. These fascinating creatures (I learned this morning via the Web) live on the surfaces of ponds, slow streams and other quiet waters; hence, they are sometimes called pond skaters and Jesus Bugs because they "walk" on water. There’s a reminder of Spirit!

Then there was the twig flowing downstream until it came up against some rocks. I thought it would just hang out there, not resisting, until something propelled it to move forward. Just waiting, with ‘patience’ and ‘joy’ to see where the flow would take it. What a concept for my own world.

Just focusing on the creek water flowing onward and onward, in and of itself a peaceful meditation, evoked the idea of the possibility of tranquility in my own life. What do I do or be to make it so?

I understand why many folks view Nature as their Higher Power. There is certainly wonder, creation, power, comfort, patience, and many of the attributes of my own conception of God that dwells there, externally and within.

I am grateful for this delightful and awakening experience in the woods, and know I’ll be spending more time with God in the form of Mother Nature.

Focusing on God Within

“The fundamental purpose of prayer, including the prayer of petition, is not to get something from God, or to change God, but to change ourselves. We pray in order to give ourselves to God.” - Fr. Thomas Keating, The Heart of the World, Contemplative Outreach News, Winter 1997

Last night I attended a 11th Step Centering Prayer meeting and was reintroduced to the work of Thomas Keating. Fr. Keating was one of the developers of Centering Prayer, and a central figure in the initiation of the Centering Prayer movement.

Centering Prayer doesn’t depend on theological dogmas, which is great because otherwise I’d not be interested in it personally. It embraces the idea that God is both separate of us and imminent within us, and it is the latter that you focus on during your 20” prayer time.

A benefit of focusing on God within is that it enables God to bring our psychological problems to the surface and release them over time. One surrenders all thoughts and images to rest in a loving and abiding presence of God. A sacred word is used as an anchor of intent to return us to our consent of accepting the Divine Presence when we get stuck in our thoughts. Centering Prayer is about dialogue with God and trusting and resting in His love and presence. This idea alone brings me a sense of comfort and peace.

It seems that I practice something like Centering Prayer and something like Vipassana in my current times of silence, but not quite. This time has been less than satisfying in my yearning to feel more connected to Spirit. I’m excited about learning more about this way of cultivating a deeper relationship with God, and practicing it. And, since, not unexpectedly it appeals to numerous individuals in 12 Step recovery, I’m also excited about connecting with my 12 Step family in a deeper way.

Help

This week has been one in which I’ve asked God for help quite often...

Help to feel more energized... the right words to express to someone what I’m feeling in a diplomatic way... safe travel for myself and everyone else on the road... successful completion of new computer program tasks with ease and grace... surrender in the midst of frustration.

It’s a comfort to no longer feel alone, to know I have an ever-present Power to call on at all times, for all things.

It was a week of acknowledging Spirit’s Presence more and more, even if it was in the form of asking for help.

I’ll take it!

More Energy

Yesterday I wrote about comfort and going to Source to get an energy lift. Today I discovered that an email containing a prayer about energy had arrived in my In box yesterday. I find it ‘interesting’ that it was there when I was in need of it. And, although I may not have read it, I somehow got the message that I could go to Spirit for an energy boost.

Here is A Prayer for Energy from Daily Guideposts:

They will soar on wings as eagles; they will run and not grow weary. (Isaiah 40:31)

Dear Lord, I need more energy and strength.
Change my thoughts to be in harmony with your divine power. Keep me in close contact with you, the source of energy that never runs down. I accept this great new energy now and give you thanks. Amen.

Comfort 24/7

It’s mid-afternoon and I’ve just finished eating a light lunch. Nevertheless, I feel sluggish, with little energy or enthusiasm to move back into my enjoyable work.

I just took a glance again at one of today’s meditations. It was about God being my strength and my comfort when I’m facing small or larger difficulties, stating that I can be comforted as I find a quiet place and close my eyes.

Yes, I can do that now too! Even for a lull in energy, I can take a break and seek God’s comfort. Spirit is always available for help in all situations – It is my strength.

So, ta-ta. I’m off to some quiet time with Spirit; I’m taking a comfort break with God to get re-charged by Source.

Spiritual Refreshment

I’ve just come home from a Unity service. I was exhausted as I left the house, having stayed up way too late working on computer-related projects. Nonetheless, I knew that going to Unity would be a worthwhile activity as it would feed my soul (my most important need) and then even perhaps refresh my body. It did.

There, I was in the company and energy of other people seeking peace, comfort, and connection. I was refreshed through meditation, prayer, words of the lesson, and music.

Dear, sweet music for my soul. An instrumentalist, Paul McDermand, played steel drums choosing selections mellow enough for the setting. It’s unusual to not have a singer to provide the gift of music, but Paul’s music was delightful, and seeing the joy upon his face as he worked his art was an additional boost for my spirit.

And, I “lifted my voice” several times in song, my most enjoyable pastime. In so doing, I was also of service. Observing that there was no formal singer to lead the congregation in song, I decided that I would really put my all into singing and hopefully aid others in their musical expression. Besides, I was alone in my 2nd row position and there was no one sitting in the row in front of me to disturb! Singing spiritual songs with all my heart and in bold voice, I felt wonderful.

I don’t know if anyone around me heard me or was helped by me. But, I know that my idea was inspired and following it put me in a giving space and made me feel a closer connection to Spirit and the other church attendees. It was additional spiritual fuel for my soul, a surprise treat.

There are many ways to give, and it is no doubt true that as we give, we receive.

Now I’m fueled up spiritually, physically too, and ready to move forward in my day.

Thank You, Spirit, for the myriad ways I receive connection and I get to give.

Turning Points

Particularly now, our society is experiencing Turning Points in many sectors and dimensions, and these changes are profoundly impacting our individual lives. Of course, throughout our personal lives we experience profound experiences and changes – that is Life. I think how we handle them is what’s important.

“Turning Points: From Personal to Global” was last night’s topic of discussion at the Gilbert Spirituality Meetup. I know that before I came to believe in God (a.k.a. in my life as “pre-God” or P.G.) and was a devout atheist, the way I responded to change was far different than after I had come to believe in a Power greater than myself.

P.G., I was a bulldozer, endeavoring with all my will to make things happen MY way. I wasn’t exactly what you’d call living in a peaceful space, I lived in the future more than in the now, I felt alone. Once I had a belief in and conscious connection with my Higher Power, life became richer and more adventurous, joyful, and love-filled – and I no longer felt alone. I sought God’s guidance and actually asked for help in matters large and small.

In recent years, I’ve gone through a number of Turning Points, including a career change, several relocations and even marrying for the first time at almost 50 years of age. God was in the thick of it - by my side to help me, guide me, love me.

These days I live in the Now more regularly, and feel peace more often than not. And yes, I KNOW I am never alone. Turning Points are part of life – and, so is God, which is The Source of all.

Isn’t that a comfort?