Finding Firm Ground April 30, 2009
Posted by theguyoutsidethewalls in Anxiety, Trust.Tags: Bible, Catholicism, Christianity, Depress, Gay, Gay Catholic, Gay Christian, Hope, Pain, Religion, Self Help, Self Improvement, Spirituality
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Did you ever pick up a little dog and hold it in your arms? Sometimes when you pick up a dog their paws flail in the air, until you put them down and they find firm ground.
Sometimes life is like that. Our “paws” flail in the air. We worry, obsess and seem to lack any grounding in life. My life of late has been this way as another major concern emerges. I am like a dog trying to find firm ground.
What I need to remember is this. When I feel like I’m in mid air I am being held by the One who will never let go of me. I am being held by the One who is able to take a seemingly negative, dark circumstance and bring me to a new place that I never imagined. I am in good hands and even in mid air I can find firm ground.
I am so grateful that in the midst of difficulty I have a place to go in meditation, a quiet place which whispers a word of hope: In your darkness I will never abandon you. No matter your difficulty I can use it to bring you to a new place. Trust the hands that hold you.
First Things First April 21, 2009
Posted by theguyoutsidethewalls in 12 Step Spirituality, Anxiety, Contemplative Value, Spiritual "Practice".Tags: 12 Step Work, AA, Bible, Centering, Christianity, Detachment, Gay, Gay Catholic, Gay Christian, GLBT, Meditation, Prayer, Religion, Spirituality
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Can you relate to this?
Why is it that when I hit a stressful time in life, the very things – like meditation and exercise – that would help relieve stress, are the very first things to get bumped from the daily routine? It’s like something within me says, “there’s no time for this!” And so, I begin to shave these things from my daily routine. Then over time, I wonder why I am getting more stressed, having difficulty sleeping and focusing!
In reality, these are the most important things NOT to bump from the schedule in the midst of a difficult time. They are the very life-blood that keeps me grounded. Without them, all else begins to suffer – my work, my relationships, even my play time!
I lay awake last night, once again, feeling the pent up energy in my body and my restless spirit as my mind whirled. I have not exercised in a while. No wonder I am having difficulty sleeping. So much pent up energy! I have not really given myself to meditation in a while. No wonder I have difficulty focusing!
The irony is this: when I bump meditation and exercise from the schedule, it seems I don’t have enough time. When I take the time to meditate and exercise, it seems as if I have much more time on my hands, time even to play!
First things first. What are the REALLY important things that I need to maintain in order to live well, even in the midst of a stressful time?
Are You Afraid? March 20, 2009
Posted by theguyoutsidethewalls in Anxiety, Fear.Tags: Bible, Catholocism, Christianity, Fear, Gay, Gay Catholic, Gay Christian, GLBT, God, Personal Growth, Religion, Spirituality, Trust
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I think of various people in my life and the fear that they carry. I think of friends who are unemployed, dealing with family situations, fearing for their children’s future, trying to make ends meet, trying to support a partner who is depressed, a friend who battles panic disorder – somewhat brought on by the “fear of God” instilled in her as a child. I think of those in far distant lands who daily live in fear for their lives – people in Iraq, Darfur and Zimbabwe. I think too of the fear that I carry within me about my future and my job as a gay man in church ministry. There is a lot of fear out there and a lot of fear within. So how do we alleviate some of this fear?
Trust.
Do you know one of those people who, despite life’s circumstances, continue to trust that God will indeed take care of them? I know of a man who has been unemployed for almost a year now, recently divorced, trying to care for his three children. He is one of the happiest, most peaceful, self giving people I know. I’m sure he has his moments, but in general he exudes a sense of peacefulness and trust. Wouldn’t that be a great way to go through life? After all, does all our worry make any difference at all?
If I am in fear, can I take a step in trust today and live a little more peacefully and positively, trusting that somehow things will work out? Can I see God as a loving, good parent who wants the best for His/Her children? Easier said than done I know. Some days it might be easier and other days more difficult. That’s ok. But just a small step in trust might help us get on with life and what we need to do. And really, wouldn’t that be a much better way to go through life?
It’s All Good? March 18, 2009
Posted by theguyoutsidethewalls in Anxiety, Good and Evil.Tags: Bible, Catholicism, Christianity, Gay, Gay Catholic, Gay Christian, Good and Evil, Religion, Spirituality, The Problem of Evil, The Shack
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My final judgment is still out on the novel The Shack. However, I continue to find these tidbits in it that are very intriguing. The author has an interesting spin on some traditional religious and biblical concepts. Take good and evil for example.
God, in the story, describes Adam and Eve’s “sin.” By eating the forbidden apple, they gain the knowledge of good and evil. God describes this event as humans taking on the judgment of what is good and evil, labeling things as either good or bad which ultimately brings on a lot of pain. They move from a state of bliss – not judging things as good or bad – and fully trusting to one of judgment and suspicion. But how do we know what is good and what is bad?
Think back. Haven’t there been seemingly “bad” things that have happened to you, but in the end they have turned out to be the very catalysts that have lead you to better things? When you think about it, we bring on ourselves much pain, worry and anxiety simply because we judge things as “good” or “bad.”
What if we judged everything as “good?”
It’d certainly take away a lot of pain and a lot of worry and anxiety wouldn’t it? I find this something worth thinking about and having the potential of being one of those “repenting” (that is “re-thinking”) moments which might lead to a greater sense of freedom, trust and happiness in life. Eckhart Tolle, in his writings, also speaks about the pain caused by the judging mind that he calls the ego. Our true selves are “behind” our mind, at a deeper, still place where we don’t get caught up in judgments.
Think about it. If we stop labeling things that happen to us or in our world as good or bad we might come to a more peaceful, trusting place and find ourselves with a lot more energy. Could it be that it’s all good?
