Sometimes it Takes a 2×4

May 15, 2008 Ms. Summer Breeze
Tags: balance, prayer, realization, thoughts, unity, universe

Well, well, well, Marvelous Cherubs…

 

The wind is howling outside the window and I’m still jazzed up about a great day I had. 

 

I’ve been ticking some things off my list, and the wind is beckoning me.  Sort of like the realization I had recently (okay, one of many) about choosing differently than I’ve done in the past—with my thoughts, with my actions. 

 

It began as a simple thought about a specific situation—that I wanted to see things differently, and to grow.  Within weeks, I had near avalanche-like momentum in other areas in my life (remember, the Universe seeks balance)—all that started with a thought.  I realize now that it was because of the prayer I put out there that I wanted to grow. 

 

At the time, I didn’t realize it was a prayer (insert Baptist training here).  It had merely been a thought that I had thought into the Universe.  Yet, the old Unity song (doesn’t have as much of a ring like ‘Old Negro Spiritual’, does it?), ‘Your thoughts are prayers’ reminded me…

 

Our thoughts are prayers, and we are always praying.
Our thoughts are prayers; listen to what you’re saying.
Seek a higher consciousness, a state of peacefulness,
And know that God is always there,
And every thought becomes a prayer.

Our thoughts are prayers, the tools that we create with.
Our thoughts are prayers that Spirit resonates with.
Seek a higher consciousness, a state of mindfulness,
And know that God is always there,
And every thought becomes a prayer.

 

 

And then I turned on the television, and this big ol’ choir is singing:

 

The bigger the giants

The harder they fall

Prayer destroys strongholds

When you pray

When you praise

Giants come down

 

Flipped stations after a few good songs.  Then,

 

What lives in your mouth lives in your future.

 

Another station?

 

Trials…there is no victory in resistance.  Go through them.  Feeling weak?  As Spirit, ‘Take me through…I can’t go by myself, take me through.’  The only way out is through.

 

If someone thought the cosmic 2×4 was on vacation, it was making its Grand Entrance in my living room.  Hell, even my fish “Fishy” was amazed.

Sheesh…all of this got me thinking. How many times do we do what we do, letting the day lead us, rather than leading our own day?

 

*a dog barks in the distance

 

*tumbleweed

 

But you get what I mean. J

 

Nevertheless, I recently found my sister’s old Game Boy. I was playing Super Mario Land for a while, getting better, improving my score, till I found Tetris…My old nemesis! 

 

Tetris is a puzzle-sort of game, where you have specific shapes that need to connect into a line to progress in the game.  I’ve always hated puzzles since I was child, and even boasted that my favorite is –still- an eight-piece puzzle of a frog.  (Yeah…while my niece is tackling 100-200 piece ones, wtf! Lol) 

 

Just as the winds are continuous, so is our development.  The way I was as a child has changed, evolved, while some aspects remain (being nosey, for one).  However, knowing that our development is continuous, even as we may feel we are spinning our wheels, is paramount to expanded consciousness. 

 

Becoming conscious is a lifelong journey—not a moment at which point I “get it” and everything falls into place where the rainbows dance, the unicorn pops out and the little fairies do a musical number for me—but instead, it’s a series of “getting it” moments.  And each moment allows us an opportunity to grow from it.  Should we choose to grow, we have another grand opportunity.  And when we choose to deny it, to turn away, it merely waits for our return—or pops up as a lesson in another forum—because the Universe will always give an infinite number of times to learn each lesson.  (Don’t we all know.)

 

I’ve been asking for better understanding, wisdom, to see the lessons, the opportunities when they arise.  And so far, it’s been amazing (but don’t get fooled, the cosmic 2×4 is definitely there, too).

 

Oh what wonders await us when we truly decide to listen.  We expel much more energy and effort in trying NOT to listen to the Universe than when we just give in.  We truly do know what to do when to do it.  Yet, we turn away. 

 

As I recently heard on television one evening, when we listen to Spirit, we can’t help BUT get harmony, peace, love, kindness and prosperity in our lives.  It’s a direct correlation.  It can’t help BUT show up.  And that is its sole purpose…We are the ones that thwart ourselves—just as we proclaim that it is someone, something, some situation, some obstacle, some thing else outside of ourselves—when we need look within.

 

May you connect the lines and continue to grow, to enjoy your opportunities, to identify them when they’re in front of you…and trust that you know what to do,

 

Summer

 

PS

And when you’re spinning your wheels, feeling broke, busted and disgusted, find respite in words a friend sent to me.  Put simply?  Powerful.  Enjoy.

 

Every Step Is Forward, No Going BackThere are times when we feel that we are spinning our wheels in the mud in terms of our spiritual progress. This can be especially true following a period of major growth in which we feel as if we’ve gained a lot of ground. In fact, this is the way growth goes—periods of intense forward movement give way to periods of what seems like stagnation.

 

 

In those moments when we feel discouraged, it’s helpful to remember that we don’t ever really go backward. It may be that we are at a standstill because there is a new obstacle in our paths, or a new layer to get through, but the hard work we have done cannot be undone.

Every step on the path is meaningful, and even one that seems to take us backward is a forward step in the sense that it is what we must do to move to the next level. In addition, an intense growth spurt requires that we rest for a time in order to fully integrate the new energies that have been liberated by our hard work. When we feel we are not making progress, we can encourage ourselves to take a moment to rest.

 

We can meditate more, feed ourselves well, and get extra sleep. Before we know it, we will be spurred on to work toward the next level of our development, and this rest will make sense then as something we needed in order to continue.

Once the sun rises, it doesn’t go backward but instead follows its path in one direction. It may appear to stand still for a moment in time, or to move more slowly at some point or another, but really it is steadily moving forward on its path.

 

We are the same way, and once we have moved through something we can never really go back. We may be resting or revisiting issues that seem old, and it’s natural to feel stuck, but in truth we are always taking the next important step forward on our path.

 

 

 

 

PPS

A triple header bonus:

 

 

 

Our Thoughts Are Prayers

By Deb

 

At the Pathways of Light ordination ceremony on August 6, 2005, as with each ordination ceremony, we sing a song called “Our Thoughts Are Prayers.”

 

The lyrics are:

Our thoughts are prayers,
And we are always praying.
Our thoughts are prayers,
Be aware of what you’re saying.

Keep a higher consciousness,
A state of peacefulness,
And know that Love is always here,
And every thought… remains a prayer.

 

I thought of this song today as I turned to the section in A Course in Miracles entitled, “The Invitation to the Holy Spirit”, (Chapter 5, Section I).

In paragraph 2, it says:

Thoughts increase by being given away.
The more who believe in them the stronger they become.
Everything is an idea.
How, then, can giving and losing be associated?

 

What is it that I am giving away today as all the thousands of thoughts race through my mind? Are the thoughts that I am thinking of a kind and gentle nature or are they of lack, anger or judgment? What I focus on I will receive.

 

Today, I choose to focus on inviting the Holy Spirit into my mind. The Holy Spirit is there at my slightest invitation. In fact, He lives in my mind. I just have to open up the door. Anytime that I feel a discomfort in my mind, I ask Him to transform my thinking and in doing such I receive a miracle and a river of peace.

 

Peace is what I want today and every day. What is not peace gently slips away when I place my attention on God. Honoring God is honoring myself. If I have a day where it seems everything has gone wrong, what have I forgotten? Did I forget to take time for my communion with the Divine? I can do it right now even in the midst of a crisis.

 

I stop and take time to breathe deeply, slowly relaxing every part of my being. I allow my mind to relax and receive the waves of peace. I can take as long as I need. I am worthy and deserving of God’s unconditional Love. I give myself permission to be where I am in the moment. I give myself permission to accept peace now.

 

As the peace fills my soul, I can be still now and listen for a new idea, a solution to a perceived problem or an insight that I never had before. All is within me just waiting to gently rise to my awareness.

 

As I work with the Holy Spirit continually, I can change my thoughts with His assistance and then peace becomes the prayer of my heart. It is this prayer, this inspiration that leads me to a more awakened perspective. when I am aware of what my true prayers and thoughts are and when I am willing to change them with His help to only prayers of Love, Divine Intercession has certainly taken place.

 

Several years ago I had studied the idea of “Centering Prayer.” One experience that I had then was the idea of focusing on one attribute of God. In practicing the focus on God in the silence, I can send a loving, joyful prayer to all my brothers since the focus on the attribute of God is really a focus on the attribute in us all.

 

We are One. Could that be said enough? I think not. What is in my heart today? Today in my heart is a prayer of Love for me, for you and for God. The fruits of this “thought prayer” are abundant. Let us reap together this peaceful bounty. It is truly our gift. ~Revs. Paul and Deb Phelps

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