Saturday, April 9, 2016

Change 2

The other evening I had a period of feeling sorry for myself, feeling that life was just too hard. For that period I had forgotten that everything in my life was a gift, sometimes in strange wrapping paper, or, as Williamson put it, "Every circumstance------no matter how painful-----is a gauntlet thrown down by the universe, challenging us to become who we are capable of being." Remembering that sort of thing, I changed my thinking to gratitude for the things I have learned.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Change

I really like the words of Marianne Williamson when she wrote "It is time to die to who we used to be and to become instead who we are capable of being. That is the gift that awaits us now: the chance to become who we really are. And that is the miracle: the gift of change." That change to becoming who I really am is what the transforming events I spoke of yesterday have led me to. I now wish to do everything I can to help others achieve the same sort of change.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Unconditional Love

I was reading today in Mark Anthony’s book Evidence of Eternity, his comment that "Nancy Evans Bush, the president emeritus of the Near-Death Experience Society has said, "Most near-death experience [N.D.E.] subjects say they don’t think there is a God—they know there is a God." In 2006 I had an N.D.E., and I have also had numerous miraculous experiences of that same presence or force. In addition, I am with God every night through prayer and meditation. I have been gifted to know God, though I do not understand and cannot define that entity. I am in no way a religious person and I definitely have a less than "pure" past, meaning I am not "worthy" in any traditional sense, which seems to make no difference. Following that example, I love the people I meet regardless of what they do or believe.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Spiritual Path

Today in my recovery meeting we talked about spirituality and the spiritual path, topics that I feel very passionate about. I have a very strong spiritual connection and, as a result, my life is wonderful beyond all belief. That part sounds like a joyous and peaceful "field of clover", which it is. However, it is also important for anyone attempting to achieve or maintain a spiritual path to realize that it requires a high degree of honest, humble introspection and discipline. I have been privileged to assist several people on their path and one of them said "following a spiritual path is not supposed to feel like this!" The fact is that following a spiritual path, at times, is neither fun nor easy, but don’t turn back - it’s worth it.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Loving Power 2

As I said yesterday "I have come to connect with and know an unconditionally loving power or force that I now call God". The emotional, physical and spiritual healing that has resulted from that connection is miraculous, at least according to conventional wisdom. I am living with and have partially recovered from a disability which, according to the experts, should have killed me some time ago. I am also clean and sober and have a wonderful life, not bad! I carry that feeling with me and everything I do and say each day, impacting those around me, a wonderful thing to be part of.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Loving Power

I have come to connect with and know an unconditionally loving power or force that I now call God. I live within that force and use it daily. I feel no need to personify that force though I certainly have a tendency to do so. Unconditional means no conditions, so that power does not care what you call it or even if you consider yourself an atheist. Learning, growing and acting in a loving manner is enough. A human cannot hurt that power’s feelings so obedience or any sort of ceremony is not required. That power will love you regardless and, having experienced that, I can only attempt to do the same.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Change

Today I am very aware of being in the midst of the messy and complex emotions that result from being connected to everything and everybody, while also being in the midst of transition or change. On the one hand I enjoy the peace of just going about my somewhat predictable and moderately variable daily activities and interactions. I have grown accustomed to those connections and that level of variability. Those connections have become part of my "comfort zone". The possibility of moving and shifting my career path means that those connections are changing and I no longer have a comfort zone.