Saturday, September 20, 2008
Life's Meaning
“Is this what gives meaning to your life?” A question that I have oft asked of myself. “Is the energy of this moment the defining power of your living?” “Is the music, inspiring your life’s dance, the melody that most honestly speaks the desires of your heart?” “Are you being true to all that is the precious core of You?”
I do not grade or rank the worth of the task or activity in which I am engaged. No, Dear Friend … I, instead, weigh the merits of my heart’s intention‘s in my engagement in any enterprise. And … only then … do I ascribe my own quiet appraisal of value in my endeavor.
I will not accept anger as my life’s meaning. Nor hate. Not even irritation. And certainly not malice. How dreadful I would feel if I felt that my life’s meaning could be defined as any one of those or their miserable cousins; bitterness, contempt, hostility, or vengefulness. I can not even consider carrying the burden of such as my daily baggage. For I opt, to the contrary, for a daily walk made lighter by the lifting spirit of a heart made glad by contemplation of all that is good. I am, you could say, made lazy by my addiction to easiness of spirit.
I write of these things today, in response to what I have recently seen and heard in the lives of some with whom I share my life path. I have witnessed the pain of their insistence on dwelling on all of those crippling voices of dark considerations. And I cannot bear the destructiveness of such a walk. Finding myself in proximity to such an environment of negative waste tears me down and renders me weak and useless. So I remind myself … as I refresh your memory … in the recollection of one of my favorite scriptural formulae:
“Whatsoever things are true;
Whatsoever things are honest;
Whatsoever things are just;
Whatsoever things are pure;
Whatsoever things are lovely;
Whatsoever things are of good repute;
If there be any virtue;
If there be any praise;
Think on these things.”
Philippians Ch4, V8
There you are! What, I ask you, could possibly be simpler? For how can we allow a seed of anger to be “planted” in our mind … and then ask why we are not reaping joy? Can we rationally expect peace to be the fruit of our allowing hatred to take root in our thinking? Does frustration and anxiety render a harvest of satisfaction and contentment? Please, My Dear Reader, permit me to suggest the beauty of the simplest and most rudimentary of formulae. Only cling to what you want to embrace as worthy of your life’s meaning. And gently turn your back on all of the world’s encouragements to devalue yourself with tabloid noise.
In the hope that you find a bit of encouragement in these considerations, I remain (as always) your loving and caring Friend and willing Servant.
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21 comments:
John-Michael,
I admire you for what you stand for. I am grateful that I can count you in my circle of wonderful friends. I am in awe of your kindness and your gentle soul. Thank you for this reminder...so simple...yet one can get caught up in those ugly forms. You are a breathe of fresh air my friend.
Hugs,
Rose
John-Michael:
my biggest challenge in life is remembering that I don't have to "do"; I just have to "be". I'm beginning to see that but it has taken me some time. To "be" happy means that I don't have to search for something to make me happy. Thanks for teaching me that lesson.
Ever-precious, and oh-so-Dear Rose, I smile a smile of grateful embrace of your kind feelings. You are one of my immediate considerations when, earlier today, I wrote a note of thanks to one of my dearest, and most long-term friends.
She was introducing me to a publisher in the hope that I might find a source of income that would enable me to live a bit more comfortably. And as I considered her sweet intervention on my behalf, I thought about You, and others who are so priceless in my life, and was able to confidently tell my friend that I am not interested in pursuing material gain in my writing at the expense of my availability to You and the others who encourage me with your assurances of my ministry and benefit to you. You are the core of my desire to follow the leading of Sweet Lady Muse. And as she leads me to open my heart to you, I am delighted to happily follow. This is richness and success for me. I do love you so!
Please allow me to interject a slight modification in your "self-talk," My Dear Lisa. I know that you will find immediate benefit, in your Spirit's comfort level, if you use this language, "I can choose to 'do;' or to 'be,' in my life's course. I don't 'have to' make either my choice. I choose out of my own positive desire ... not a sense of compulsion or demand born of requirement. I make my choices to 'be' because it pleases me. And I elect enjoyable comfort instead of any sense of dictated 'need to,' 'have to,' or 'must.' Hence, I am in positive control of my course."
This may seem a bit silly as you read it. But if you pay heed to your inner tension levels as you use the "have to," "need to," "must," language ... and then pay heed to the relaxed sense of comfort that is your body's natural response to language of positive terms such as, "want to; am going to; yearn to; desire to; will be happy to; and similar forms of self-speak. I promise you that you will realize an immediate release of anxious, tense, nervous, and depressive sensations. This is a proven way to grasp joy from the grip of life's demands.
I am so glad that we can share in this discussion. Thank you for your welcoming trust. I am humbly complimented by your gracious openness and spirit of kindness.
Lovingly ...
Oh, I absolutely love the "think on these things" passage! And it hold so very true. To surround yourself in the positive is utmost.
And your new header is so refreshing. Love it!!
Willow x
Thank you for reminding us of these things, J-M...how we need to hear it more often!
Annie
Whilst I have little to no command of my life circumstances ... I have complete control over my response to those circumstances. This is my single responsibility ... to my Self, and to Eternity. This choice is mine alone to make. This awareness is at the core of my Being. I like sharing my appreciation, of the simple, beautiful wisdom of this scripture passage, with you, My Dear Willow. [smile]
And I am tickled with pleasure in your appreciation of the new header photo. It is a portion of a photo shared with me by a dear, sweet Friend who took it whilst on holiday on a small Isle in Greece. I was so captured by it that I was compelled to share the peace and release that was mine when I allowed it to take me in. Maria will be happy that You, too, find refreshment in it.
Loving You ...
"As we think ... so are we." [my adaptation, of course, of a favorite Proverb] It lies at the core of our Being. As I remind my Self of it with some frequency, I like sharing it, and the "on these things" themes that guide me and assist in my navigation through life.
Your encouraging voice adds to the happy harmony of this sharing, Dear Annie. Loving the abundant wonder of You is one of my joys in living.
Thank you for your kind and gracious comment, Hilaire. Any Friend of Carole (a wonderful blessing and joy to me for over 40 years) is easily and readily a Friend of mine.
Profound indeed is your pattern of writing John-Michael. It draws me back often. Never a negative thought. And of course you are right, if we could banish negativity from our lives, oh how much sweeter each day would be. I admire your strength & humbleness.
Gosh - I hope I am not one of those who have made you write this today.
Looking for the best in everything is a wonderful quality. My brother use to be like that until he got sick. Now I miss that quality in him. Sad.
I love how uplifting you always are. Coming here always puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart.
a very good and timely reminder because truthfully it is much easier to let the negative feelings have free reign. there is, sadly, a certain gratification in it. training ourselves to cling to the better part is a discipline and like any discipline it becomes easier with time and practice until it feels unnatural not to practice it.
It is easy to feel frustration at many of life's daily routines yet it can be hard to let it go should we dwell on its reasons. I have learnt to be laid back in my life yet it can be good for my soul to occasionally bring assertiveness.
CJ xx
You, My Anonymous friend, are more than generously gracious. I would hesitate to embrace the kind labels that you ascribe to my behavior. I tend to think of my opted for choices as more akin to laziness and comfort seeking. For I find that the easiest and most comfortable mind/spirit set is the one that goes with all that sails under the flag of the Positive. This paves a path that is smooth in its absence of the pot-holes and bumps of the Negative.
Aims, My Precious One, you could never be the source of anything short of pleasure and joy. If that is anything other than fact, you have me bamboozled quite thoroughly.
"Finding" the better qualities in life's circumstances is nothing more than wanting to see them. The good is just as evident as its counterpart. I think of the good stuff as life's low-hanging fruit. Easily accessed and far more succulent than the harder to reach.
Loving You ...
I imagine, Dar;ling Lime, that the tenor of the voices closest to you has a major influence on the ease with which you can sound a note of harmony. If they are singing a chorus of discord and conflict, any attempt at sweet harmony will be caustic and contrary. Perhaps a change in "back-up group" is in order. (though, admittedly, not always so easy to implement.)
I, admittedly, have the luxury of absenting my Self from sources of stress and conflict, Dear CJ. I have found this necessary with the PTSD that is the result of years in an industry, and unhappy home environment (both of which strained and challenged my natural temperament with no relief). Hence (as has been currently been true in our political and economic environment) when the world's circumstances press in with unyielding demand, I can do what most cannot. I can vanish from it all and seek the respite of solitude. So, you see, I do understand the realities of pressures and demands.
So, the best that I can do for those who care about ... is to offer simple and readily available possibilities for the most basic of implements for survival ... and hopefully, some joy in it. Which I try to do here.
Hmmm ... maybe I could let go a little more often and adopt an "addiction to easiness of spirit." Just reading that makes me relax...
My Dear Meg Wolff, You could have gifted me with no sweeter compliment than your suggestion that my words could make available to you some measure of relaxation. That thought pleases me beyond measure. And I thank you for that.
namaste ...
I totally agree John-Michael!!! I ask myself many of these questions on a regular basis! I find it's good for the spirit;o)
The glorious way in which you are providing healthy and vibrantly uplifting answers to the questions in your life ... radiates a glow of satisfied warmth and pleasure into my life. In a word ... You bless me, Dearest Crystal.
Lovingly ...
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