Gratitude

I began the day with ten minutes of cardiac exercising on my stationary bike, the only exercise where I can get my heart rate up to 130 or higher. Ten minutes is all my muscles will do for me. I then did the weekly shopping followed by my main activity of the day, which was mowing the front lawn. The mowing took about two hours and I rested for a while when I was half way through. For the average person the same amount of mowing takes fifteen minute, which amazes me. I also did some weeding, planting, meditating and cooking. All of today’s activities were ordinary and it is not possible for me to express how grateful I am to be able to do them. I know many people who cannot and there have been several times in my life when I could not.

Acceptance

This morning at my recovery meeting I assisted in the opening by doing some of the initial reading since the meeting was only four of us. Later the secretary asked me if I had been OK with reading and I commented that speaking was difficult for me but when the meeting was small, I read. The fact is that almost everything in my life is difficult, a fact I need to accept if I wish to remain peaceful. I need not like it (I don’t!) but if I accept the difficulty a sense of peace is possible. On the other hand I can fight my condition which accomplishes nothing other than anxiety and frustration.

Holistic Healing

Right now I am dealing with the fact that my bubble of unconditional love impacts on my health and healing. Two days ago I wrote of living within that bubble and that it changed my reality. I use the power of love to maintain my health and promote healing when needed, with results that are sometimes miraculous. A disconnect and problem results since many, perhaps most, MDs are not taught about that power so that when I talk to them about it or they witness it, they do not understand. I need to speak my truth, regardless.

Perspective

I live and operate within a bubble of love through which I view and interact with the world at large, meaning I tend to interact with my world through a filter of unconditional love. That bubble is also flexible and permeable allowing me to view and understand other people without injecting much of my own bias. My approach is largely spiritual and quite different from the rigid, intellectual and judgmental bubble I used to have. "Reality is only partly our invention; it is also partly our discovery. Our task is to discover how much and in what areas which is which; and then to determine how much new freedom this gives us and what we can do with it". (Lawrence LeShan)

Connection

We had a meeting of our book study group today, something I always enjoy due to the fact that we are all like minded in our pursuit of a closer connection and understanding of God. Some are Christian, some of them are not. All of them are either Quaker or, like my wife and myself, attenders at Quaker meeting. I believe all of them have had some sort of mystical experience, though none spend as much time and energy in their pursuit as I do. I commented today that many people admired my connection and the guidance stemming from that connection, but would not devote the time needed, a situation that seemed fine — even perfect in God’s eyes. "One by one we move beyond conceptions of ourselves, just as we pass beyond metaphors, symbols, and conceptions of God on the way into unmediated, unknowing, intimate relationship with the source of our being." (Patricia Loring)

Listening

Sometimes I "know things I couldn’t possibly know and see things I couldn’t possibly see" which has gotten me in trouble before but can also be very useful. The ability could be called intuition, psychic ability, magic or just empathy but it has made some people angry and uncomfortable. As a result they have lashed out at me. Today I noted that I was using the same ability while working as a mentor, guide or therapist with someone. I could actually feel and know what they were describing about themselves and then help them in their own integration and understanding. The ability was part of my listening.

War?

When I was a sophomore in high school I wrote a short story called "Only Children Play" in which the children were playing a competitive game which escalated to the point that one of the kids got his father’s gun and shot one of the other children. I see much the same thing going on in the world all around me. They are children needing love, guidance and boundaries. The trick as I see it, is how to love and support them while also constraining them to prevent them from hurting anyone. ".... We shall never succeed in stopping war until we have a human society permeated with persons who practice a way of life which removes and abolishes the grounds and occasions of war, and at the same time matures and ripens a spirit of mutual understanding and personal cooperation." (Rufus Jones)

Focus

As a typical greeting, just before my recovery meeting today the secretary inquired how I was doing to which I responded "very well". I then explained that my body was a wreck, that I was usually in some degree of pain and that my life was wonderful, so she could take her choice. As I explained at that time, "it’s a matter of focus". Over the years I have trained myself to focus on my wonderful life while the other conditions are certainly present and I can focus on them any time I want. My choice of focus does nothing to change reality but it does change the way I feel.

Simplicity

In my readings I encounter other authors who make a big deal over the worldly things they have had to give up in order to follow and adhere to their spiritual path. They write of a sense of hardship at not participating in those worldly things. I also choose to have a very simple life, avoiding many of the common distractions like fancy cars, expensive possessions, I-phones, social media outlets and sweet caffeinated drinks. I choose a simple life which does not interfere with my peace and joy. To me it is an obvious and easy choice — I do continue to enjoy the occasional cheeseburger or chocolate, just not often.

Spiritual Path

I am impressed by the apparent fact that, in my case, a strong spiritual connection requires constant maintenance and in this way my spiritual condition is very much like one of my gardens. Today, while tending my gardens I was amazed by how quickly the weeds take over and entropy sets in. Just as quickly I can become distracted by daily events or skip some of my daily practices, allowing my spiritual connection to slip away. My readings suggest the same is true for others as well. So far I have successfully avoided experiencing "dry" spiritual periods and I hope to continue!