Let’s get stirred up!
We are experts at ignoring ourselves. We fill the hours of our days with things that divert our attention away from us. We work because we have to pay the bills (because what are the odds of winning the lotto). We are in school to obtain a degree. We care for our children, spouses, parents or grandparents who are ill or elderly. We are raising a family and arrange for a multitude of activities to keep them well-rounded (it would be inhumane to have a child who couldn’t throw a baseball from first to second base properly while simultaneously playing basketball, soccer, learning karate, taking part in ballet and art lessons and attending a learning center for improvement of school work). We are working on a relationship, and sometimes it can be draining (don’t forget now, we could be the one who is draining the other by our chop chop attitude). We cope with family or friends who seem to attract drama (because we all know it’s not you). And if that is not enough, we fill our days with long lists of things to do, as if we didn’t already have enough stress.
At the end of our day we plop ourselves in front of the television as a happy reward from all things done or left undone. We even go so far as to immerse ourselves into television trials, car chases, and reality shows. We engross ourselves into the lives of others such as music artists, big screen celebrities, and television personalities. We watch and form opinions over the media’s daily display of their lives until every last ugly detail is dug up and exhausted.
But do the problems of the world, the fictional storylines in a movie, the laughs we have over a sitcom or a late night talk show host that takes digs at the day’s “people in the news” really make us happy.
We have all heard that anything worth having takes self-sacrifice so that we are able to enjoy the attainment of the end product. We may have saved for a new book, music cd, cell phone, car, house, vacation, school trip, new church building, funeral expense for the future or for the unexpected loss of a loved one. We may have worked overtime, skipping some really cool parties to save money, shared meals, ate from the fridge rather than a restaurant, shopped at the dollar store, saved recyclable containers, stopped buying clothes, cutting our own hair (oh well, the rest of the world must suffer while you scrimp), a garage sale, car wash, and even sold candy. It felt good once we attained those things (of course that is after we griped about it as we went through the process). Self satisfaction is a wonderful thing, wouldn’t you agree?
How long did it make us feel good? Perhaps until we found something else that we wanted or something else that we were forced to do. Sometimes we find ourselves wanting things we don’t need. We want things we can’t afford. We will even go into debt just to obtain our latest desires (boo hoo, our subconscious is the constant victim of advertising). What is it that we are searching for? What are we lacking? I imagine you’ve heard money can’t buy happiness, love or friends. Well, some might argue that they have, but what happens when the money runs out? What is left? Where are the friends? Where is that person that said they once loved you. We are once again back to self.
Let’s get stirred up! Challenge ourselves. Rather, challenge our unconscious-selves. Let’s find out who we are behind our tasks, behind our money, behind our mouths. Allow ourselves to explore the side that is buried beneath layers of “stuff” (or junk, I’m not sure). It will be truly a remarkable day and experience when we discover our true-selves once stripped of our unconscious protection, “our lives”.
Your unconscious self is your spiritual self. Uh oh, don’t let that scare you off. I know spirit has gotten a bad wrap. Well, I am not speaking about bad spirits left behind in a home where a person may have died nor am I talking about being over-the-top “a spiritual person” (however, loving God beyond anything on earth is not a negative thing, rather it has immense blessings attached to it – other story, some other time). I’m talking about how you feel inside. Webster’s Dictionary definition of spirit: breath, courage, vigor, the soul, life. Another definition: the thinking, motivating, feeling part of man, often as distinguished from the body, mind, intelligence. Another: life, will, consciousness, thought, regarded as separate from the body. Once aware of one’s spiritual-self life is stirred to an extraordinary elevated level.
In the midst of the wild pace of life stop for some sorely needed “down-time”. Make a decision to allot for the most important activity of the day, “me-time”. Enjoy the quiet. Take distinctive steps away from the hustle and bustle of a noise-filled life.
Try this. It will not cost you a dime. You can go dressed any which way you like. You won’t have to do your hair or even take a shower (yikes, it’s okay, you’ll be by yourself). No gas in the car required. You won’t have to cart around a heavy purse, tote bag, sports bag, or wallet. All that will be required is an itsie, bitsie, teenie, weenie, bit of time.
Before you read on remember: anything worth having will require some self-sacrifice. Enjoy the experience.
Stand outside your home at dawn when the sun is just beginning to rise, when the brisk morning air is a perfect mix of warmth and cool morning dew. Close your eyes for a moment while breathing in and out slowly. Listen as the birds sporadically chirp in layers as if waking the world person by person, house by house with a sonnet. Open your eyes and begin to walk through your neighborhood and as you pass the neighbors’ homes look closely at their landscaping, at the vibrant diverse colors that somehow work together perfectly. Watch how the flowers that were closed as if sleeping start to open as they wake to the first hints of the morning sun. Witness the humming birds feeding off of sweet flowers and the ants as they start their morning parade. Take in the incredible sight of the water drops that are holding on to grass blades sparkling from the first morning rays. Watch with wonder as birds swoop and glide from tree to tree as they move through their morning rituals. Smell the sweet aroma of honey suckle shrubs and vines that fills the brisk morning air like perfume. So early and perfect is the time that the darkness from the night harmonizes with the first light of day creating a perfect non-descript heart warming color. Then finally turn to yourself. Commence a heartfelt prayer to your Creator giving thanks as you awaken your mind and body to His works. Be awed by the miraculous body that was formed for your existence. Behold your breath as it moves through your air passages to your lungs, become aware of your blood as it pushes through your perfect limbs and vital organs that gives you life, and detect the pulse points on the sides of your neck, on your head, your wrists. Imagine your soul and the vigor and life that it possesses; sense the serene feeling that allows it’s existence without clutter or distraction. Feel the motivation that is stirred up from the feeling of purity of mind. Clutch the ignition of your faith that comes from simply knowing you are loved by God. There is not a more perfect time in your day when you get into “self”.
You are now aware of your spiritual-self and your life is roused to an extraordinary elevated plane. Have you ever experienced such a wonderful moment in time, as being completely aware of what it’s like to be “you”.
Stay with me now. Don’t be too disappointed about what is to come because you can change the outcome. Are you ready? Let do it.
As the sun starts to warm the earth and touches the plants, flowers and our bodies, things start to change. The sound of the birds’ sonnets that were light with beautiful verses and rhyme are now musical and is slowly becoming more intense, and finally reaching a crescendo to match the height of the bright morning sun.
The human aspects of the world are coming to and the peace slowly is fading from it’s intimate place. Metal garage doors begin to open, cars move about the street as people head to work and school. They do not notice you pass and you hear the hurried and harsh first conversations of families as they rush to their morning destinations. The illumination of the solar lights that kept a comforting protection for the home during the darkness has now turn out and the beauty of this earth has begun to fade away. Other walkers are moving about the neighborhood keeping their stride and to their side of the street, joggers pass without even a glance at you. How quickly beauty turns to dreariness.
We have an opportunity, rather, a responsibility to keep what the Lord has given us and hold it in it’s highest esteem. We can preserve and carry this wonderful feeling of our spiritual self throughout our day and lives. Change begins with us. Make every minute of everyday like the perfect morning. Acknowledge people, wave, greet, smile, help and forgive them. Stop and smell the roses, touch their delicate skins and enjoy the splendor of the beautiful colors and aromas.
An awareness of God and his creation kindles an internal love. Love brings on a thankful attitude, which blossoms into a grateful feeling. A grateful feeling will bud an enlightened spirit. An enlightened spirit will develop a helpful disposition. A helpful disposition will heed a positive reaction. A positive reaction will spark a genuine smile. A genuine smile will stir up a warm heart. A warm heart will attract other cool, tepid, and tender hearts. Now filled with compassion, hearts will work and win against resistance. Resistance will surrender as it loses its force. Lack of force means less agitation. A shortage of agitation eradicates pettiness. The disappearance of pettiness causes us to see the good in others. The good in others becomes a desirable quality. A desirable quality develops into good values. Good values cause a longing for good morals. Good morals lead to elevation of faith driven thoughts. Faith driven thoughts cause a stirring of spirit. A stirred up spirit causes God to notice.
God notices you. God blesses you. Your life will never be the same. This, my friends, is your life having run full circle. You are now part of positive change.
Hallelujah!
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