Ξ February 29th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Life |
*This post is a rework of one I did in December, 2006. I felt it needed revisiting.
I believe that (the spirit of) God is within me. Within me……So when we say we want to know God, what are we saying? Are we saying that we want a close or closer relationship with (the spirit of) God, or are they the same? Are we seeking something deep inside us or are we seeking to know ourselves on a deeper level. Yes, I believe this is the case on both counts. Can we separate God(’s spirit) within us from ourselves, or are they one and the same? I believe they are one and the same as we are made of the same “stuff”.
This question had confounded me for some time. Until recently, I don’t think I’ve had ever been able to successfully differentiate between (the spirit of) God, and God in me. I know that “God in me” makes theistic sense to me. His abiding presence manifests itself frequently and reminds me that He makes his home within me; that He and I are one. Still, there are times when I feel alone and there is little evidence that He is there. Yet, I know that it is often the result of excessive mind activity, which prevents me from being in the “now”, where the realization that He is there manifests itself and reminds me of my Source. It is when I am “in the now”, when the mind’s overactivity is questioned, and I can manifest and realize what is deep within me, that the Source fills me with life to the fullest.
To know God….Is that a realization that He lives within us or is it a conscious effort on our part to “get to know” Him, and ourselves better? I believe we have at least one type of relationship with Him; a love relationship: He loves us more than we can imagine, and we in turn try to return some degree of love to Him, by our gratitude, which often seems an impossible task, seeing what He’s done for us. But a prayer of thanks is the only prayer we need to pray. This may need a bit of explanation. Should we not be supplicating, at least on behalf of others? We could do that. But, in my opinion, by supplication we are saying something “needs” to be done, something is “lacking”, when in reality, it has already been (done) taken care of by God. When we say prayers of thanks, of gratitude to God for taking care of us and others, without expectations of particular outcomes, knowing that whatever manifests is “perfect” the way it is. This is our way of saying to Him, “your plan is perfect, I accept it as it is”. When we begin to really “know” God, we know his plan is best. And, we accept that….
Ξ February 26th, 2008 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Life |
In Neale Donald Walsch’s book, Friendship with God, God says, “I have made no ethnic or cultural group My chosen people, and I have made no path to Me the one true path. Neither have I singled out any nation or religion for special favor, nor given any gender or race superiority over another.”
In many other instances in the Conversations with God trilogy, as well as many other belief systems, there is an emphasis on the idea of Oneness or Unity of all humankind, yea all sentient beings. It repeatedly says we are all One; made of the same “stuff”, coming from and a part of the same Source. I strongly believe it.
However, as a result of that belief, a conflict has developed within me. As most of you know, I was an educator for 34 years in the field of Social Studies (history). For all of those years, I taught basic patriotism in all my classes; love of my country and the belief in the basic goodness of American ideals and beliefs. I did not teach that my students should obediently and blindly follow the dictates of our government. I tried to teach them to question, to become involved, and if they chose, to become a part of the process itself. I taught that this democratic republic was a gift given to us and we had to take good care of it if it is to prosper.
In the last three years, my spiritual journey has led me to examine, to call into question, many of the basic spiritual beliefs I have revered for over 50 years. I, surprisingly, had little trouble modifying or totally changing numerous of those spiritual beliefs because my HEART said, “This is so. This is true.” Now I find that I have been asked to reconsider other beliefs of a secular nature that I likewise have esteemed for a lifetime; hence, the conflict.
In reference to the statement made above, (the idea of Oneness and Unity of all things) the idea that all came from the same “stuff”, the same Source, I do really believe it to be so. My HEART tells me it is so. Now, look once more at the statement from , Friendship with God. If I believe the "Oneness, Unity of all" idea, the boldface statement above simply follows and makes perfect sense to me. Here’s the dissidence. Can I truly be an American patriot and still believe in Oneness, Unity of all things. This idea of Unity or Oneness seems to invalidate the idea of patriotism, the “specialness” of America. This, to me, does not rule out love for my homeland. I have always believed in the unique role played by the U.S.A. I have always felt that we were somehow especially blessed by God to carry out His will. On the other hand, none of these patriotic ideas squares with the spiritual idea of Unity or Oneness. I will be honest with you that this is a difficult situation for me. I am the father of a U.S. Marine who served honorably. I am the descendant of a U. S. Marine killed in the service of his country in World War II. I believed for many years the old adage, “My country may she ever be RIGHT, but RIGHT or WRONG, my country. I no longer can follow that adage. I am in conflict, deep conflict over long-believed ideas. How do you reconcile this conflict, if that is possible? If you, like me, believe in the Unity or Oneness of all things, what does your HEART say? Mine is strangely silent.
Ξ February 25th, 2008 | → 4 Comments | ∇ Life |
"Have you ever said, ‘I stand corrected’? Do not stand corrected. Stand advised. A correction is for someone who has done wrong. Advice is for someone who is seeking direction.
God gives direction, not correction; commendation, not condemnation."
from "Friendship with God, by Neale Donald Walsch
Ξ February 25th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Life |
"Your thought about God does not create God. It merely creates your experience of God. God is.
God is the All-in-All. The everything. All that ever was, is now, and ever will be."
"Friendship with God", by Neale Donald Walsch
Ξ February 19th, 2008 | → 4 Comments | ∇ Life |
Ever wonder why human religions are so popular. It almost doesn’t matter what the belief system is, as long as it’s firm, consistent, clear in its expectation of the follower, and rigid. Given those characteristics, you can find people who believe in almost anything. The strangest behavior and belief can be -has been- attributed to God. It’s God’s way, they say. God’s word. And there are those who will accept that. Gladly. Because, you see, it eliminates the need to think.
Do you act on the authority and under the direction of others (in your religion) or do you make your own decisions. Your decisions paint a portrait of Who You Are. If you let others make the spiritual decisions, the portrait which is painted is NOT you.
By the religionist’s decisions (for you), they have created indelible impressions. By their decisions, societies have produced their self-portraits as well. We are said to be a Judeo-Christian society. Are you pleased with the pictures which have been painted? Are these the impressions you wish to make? Do these portraits represent Who You Are?
Be careful of these questions. They may require you to think. Thinking is hard. Making value judgments is difficult. Sometimes you’ll have to say, "I don’t know. I just don’t know. Yet you will still have to decide. You’ll have to choose.
Making such an arbitrary choice from no previous personal knowledge is called "pure creation". Making such decisions makes us deeply aware that in doing so, the SELF is created and further defined.
Letting someone make all the spiritual decisions for you does not help define and create your SELF. Do their decisions really represent Who You Are? Unfortunately, most of us are NOT self-created, but creatures of habit – other-created creatures.
WHICH ARE YOU?
Thoughts and ideas from: CWG, Book 1
Ξ February 17th, 2008 | → 8 Comments | ∇ Life |
How often do you read about someone who is trying to define LOVE? Seems everyone has his/her ideas about what love really is. One of my favorites is found in I Corinthians 13, most of you know that one. The other I found in "Friendship with God", by Neale Donald Walsch. Here it is:
(Love) is that which is without condition, without limitation, and without need.
Because it is without condition, it requires nothing in order to be expressed.
It asks nothing in return.
It withdraws nothing in retaliation.
Because it is without limitation, it places no limitation on another.
It knows no ending, but goes on forever.
It experiences no boundary or barrier.
Because it is without need, it seeks to take nothing not freely given.
It seeks to hold nothing not wishing to be held.
It seeks to give nothing not joyously welcomed.
And it is free. Love is that which is free, for freedom is the essence of what God is, and love is God, expressed
Ξ February 13th, 2008 | → 4 Comments | ∇ Life |
An angry, vindictive God gives life to angry, vindictive religions, which in turn gives life to angry, vindictive people.
Ξ February 12th, 2008 | → 7 Comments | ∇ Life |
It is not our outer circumstances that determine whether or not we are happy or sad. Rather, it is our inner decisions about how we choose to experience those circumstances.
If you are now going through the "dark night of the soul", take heart. You have the power to determine how you experience this time. Experience this time as perfect. Know that the "perfect" thing will always occur. God would have it no other way. You prefer no occurrance other than what is occurring. It is your very preferring of whatever is occurring that renders it "perfect". This has often been called: "Letting go and letting God".
paraphrased from "Friendship with God"-
Ξ February 10th, 2008 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Life |
Every act is an act of self-definition.
Friendship with God-
Ξ February 5th, 2008 | → 5 Comments | ∇ Life |
I have been reading a trilogy for the past weeks purported to have come from a VSB (Very Special Being). Some of you might even call that being, God, our Source. I have learned much. No, that’s not correct, according to the VSB. I have remembered much. As I have now almost finished the trilogy, I would like to share with you some of what I have learned (remembered).
Everything depends on who you think you are and what you’re trying to do.
If your objective is to live a life of peace, joy, and love, violence does not work (It’s obvious, but do I really believe it?). It’s already been proven to be so.
If your objective is to live a life of good health and great longevity, consuming dead flesh (I still do, but I’m working on that), smoking known carcinogens, and drinking volumes of nerve-deadening, brain-frying liquids does not work. It’s already been proven to be so.
If your objective is to raise offspring free of violence and rage, putting them directly in front of vivid depictions of violence and rage for years does not work (guilty as charged). It’s already been proven to be so.
If your objective is to care for Earth, and wisely husband her resources, then acting as if those resources are limitless (guilty). This does not work. It’s already been proven to be so.
If your objective is to discover and cultivate a relationship with a loving God, so that religion can make a difference in the affairs of humans, then teaching of a god of punishment and terrible retribution does not work (Yes, so true). This, too, has already been demonstrated.
Motive is everything. Objectives determine outcomes. Life proceeds out of your intention. Your true intention is revealed in your actions, and your actions are determined by your true intention. As with everything in life (and life itself), it is a circle.
This trilogy has made me think perhaps more than anything I read recently. I hope you too will take time to ponder these thoughts.
*Italics mine
Taken from CWG1, 2, 3
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