Dated: March 6, 2008 & October 14, 2008
Throughout my lifetime thus far, I am very much aware that everyone today is in a flurry of hurry...they have to go faster, in everything they do, in order to be the best and to succeed in our world today. Speed seems to be the logical answer for many of us to most of life's questions. But is this really helping us and our world today? Let's begin by looking at some things that may make this more clear...more illumined as I like to call it.
We all are given the exact number of hours in a day...24...to live our lives. Most of us, in our dailly/monthly/weekly schedules, keep doing the same thing over and over and getting nowhere or, at the very least, we haven't or aren't accomplishing what we set out to do. We tend to blame our lack of successes and failed attempts at whatever our goals are on someone or something else. Is this really true? If only so and so did this or changed that, then things would be different. Is it really someone else's fault or the situation that caused us to be in this dilemma? The definition of insanity is -- "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Are we all crazy? I don't believe so. We are all products of our own delusional thinking and much of that delusional thinking conditioned us from the time we came into this world. This is not to say that our parents are or were at fault. They, too, were conditioned by their caregivers with the same crazy patterns during their formative years.
The time is now here for all human beings to pay attention to "being" ever present NOW...THIS PRESENT MOMENT! I am not writing this to judge you, the reader, I am only stating facts about my own life, which have brought me to this point in time. To really pay attention on what and where my thoughts are and what I am doing right here and now is a key to being consistently happy, joyous and grateful to be alive!
Have you ever really watched yourself? It can be as simple as brushing your teeth, combing your hair, doing dishes, folding clothes, the way you smile, or shaking someone's hand. Try it sometime, if you haven't or don't watch yourself! You will be amazed. Most of the time, we go through life on what I like to call "remote control" ... without really thinking about what we are doing, where we are at, or really paying attention to who is around us. When we are engaged in communication with others, much of our attention is not on what is being said by the other person, but what mind-chatter is occurring in our own heads. We "pretend" to be there; however, about 90% of our consciousness is on something else; like what we have to do next, or what we need to be doing. I believe when we are not present for ourselves, we cannot be present for someone else. Crazy as it may sound, it is true! Then we wonder why our relationships with those we care about or love, are not satisfying us.
There is complete freedom in being here NOW. There are so many people who are anxious, depressed and worried about their lives and what is going on in the world today. We don't need more medication to alleviate anxiety or depression. That is a band-aid remedy that does not solve or cure the root problem. What we need to start doing to find relief is to quiet our minds from the compulsive thought patterns that are going on in our heads. Incessant mind-chatter is preventing us from being consciously aware and focused on what is happening in the present moment. We need to stop, look and listen to what is really going on inside ourselves. Why are we in such a hurry to go here and there? Why can't we slow down and enjoy ourselves with the simply things in life? Most people don't even know what it is like anymore to sit down at home to a family dinner at the dining room table. It seems there is some activity that we need to be at instead of relaxing with ourselves and our family members. It used to be that families discussed what happened at school and/or what happened at work at the table while sharing a meal at home.
What about prayer? How many people really give thanks to the Almighty God for what we have in our lives? Maybe we need to start there first. Get back to the basics and acknowledge our deepest thanks to our Maker. Perhaps that's why our country and the world is in such a state of chaos. It seems that everyone has to be talking on their cell phones all the time--even in the grocery stores, at restaurants, driving our cars (which is really a danger to all of us), at parks, etc. What happened to appreciating the natural wonders like the sweet melody of birds outside, the way a loved one prepares a home-cooked meal, the aroma of something being cooked at home, the smell of a nice clean home, the laugh and giggles of babies and little children, the crackling of a bonfire outside or a fire in the fireplace on a cold wintery day, or the sound of crickets on a summer night. There are so many more natural sounds that I could mention further. Just pay attention to what IS here now...this very moment. Like the sound of my keyboard as I type these words on this computer screen here on this page. What are we all saying to one another as we communicate with our family and friends? Are we really expressing anything worthwhile or is it just meaningless chatter like the mind-chatter that is constantly in our heads?
I really think that God is grieved today because most of His children, even the ones who are involved in church activities, have been so involved in their own "stuff" that they aren't even aware there is a God, a Supreme Deity. We are so distracted with "getting more" lustful desires that we are not concerned with really giving our complete thanks to our Creator and spending quiet times with our God. The credit crisis has escalated so much because of selfishness. No wonder there are more people (including teenagers and young adults) committing suicide or involved in drinking alcohol and doing drugs. They are trying to find some relief to fill the painful void in their hearts.
Let us keep focused on what is truly happening and make our days count positively for ourselves and one another. Let us give true and honest praise and thanks to our our Creator for everything that has been manifested in our lives. I sincerely believe that we need to begin to get to know that God/Christ is alive and lives inside us. We need to stop and pay attention to what is really important. I have heard it said that humility is teachability. Let's get humble and let our Creator reteach us to focus on the Light within and then we will know true happiness, joy and peace. This is heaven on earth...the HERE AND NOW.
