Differences

I spent most of the day in the company of my in-law family talking (primarily listening) about relatively superficial life events and them not allowing any connection at a deeper level. I find that I am increasingly sensitive to the energy field that people project, so the day was exhausting for me and an exercise in truly "embracing" the beliefs and attitudes of people very different from myself. In the words of Walsch "Embrace every circumstance, own every fault, share every joy, contemplate every mystery, walk in every man’s shoes, forgive every offense (including your own), heal every heart, honor every person’s truth, adore every person’s God, protect every person’s rights, preserve every person’s dignity, promote every person’s interests, provide every person’s needs, presume every person’s holiness, present every person’s greatest gifts, produce every person’s blessing, and pronounce every person’s future secure in the assured love of God."

Commitment

Today I met with one of the people that I am mentoring in his recovery process. It is a real pleasure for me to watch his excitement as his life changes in response to his definite commitment to the recovery process. His rapid progress reminds me of the comments of W. H. Murray of the Scottish Himalayan Expedition; "Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way.  I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it./ Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

Difficult Times

In my book, Three Simple Questions: Being in the World, But Not of It, I outline a way of life, an approach to life, that got me through hard times. The book revolves around three questions that I have used many times and continue to use daily. They are, (1) Would I do this in front of God, or whatever you call that power/force?; (2) Is my name really on it or is it really my responsibility?; (3) Will this increase the integrity of the universe, or is this loving? The book also contains outlines of several meditative and contemplative practices I use every day. The book contains a spiritual way of life that works for me. It’s a way of life that brings me joy even during difficult times. It is also a belief system that is totally adaptable to any person and any belief.

Perfection

The human concept of "perfection" feels wrong to me. The concept is based on duality and judgment, neither of which have significance in an eternal sense, in God’s reality and both are generally harmful. Perfection, in a human sense, means that all of the actions or thoughts are judged to fall within a certain category of being "right". For example perfect grades means all As. In God’s world, or the world of the Absolute, there is no duality so everything is perfect within its "imperfection". "Within the realm of sublime relationships nothing which exists has an opposite. All is One, and everything progresses from one to the other in a never-ending circle."(Walsch). That concept works for me.

Chaos

I felt impatient and judgmental for much of the day today, a feeling that has come over me periodically since our move back east about a year ago. It’s a feeling that results from my life being chaotic and unpredictable and my attempts at controlling and stabilizing rather than simply accepting the way it is. As I commented tonight at dinner, "I’m better off just being amused by the process". For today trivial bits of chaos bothered me like the hot pads not being in the right location when fixing dinner. I did not blow up - but it bothered me. Being at peace in the presence of chaos is still a challenge for me - laughter helps.

God Seed

We had a meeting of our book study group this morning. We are reading and discussing Healing The Heart Of Democracy: The Courage To Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit, by Parker J. Palmer. During the meeting I spoke of he and I as "dreamers" since we both know it’s possible and hope that people will make better choices for life on this planet. I speak in my book of the loving and compassionate "God seed" in each of us. We all know of that "small quiet voice" but many of us choose not to act in response to it or nourish it. We often know that what we are doing is not "right" or know the "right" thing to do, choosing instead selfish actions and instant gratification. I also commented today that I used to be one of the people making self-centered, unhealthy choices and that I now love and understand people who do that.