The Heart Of God

In the garden I always feel like I am in the heart of God. 

 

The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

All the beauty that he saw was the beauty that was within him.

A Giant Sunflower

A giant sunflower cannot move - but it lights up the whole world.

Christ The Victorious

Was Christ defeated?  No, never. At every moment His life was victorious. In poverty, on the Cross, before Pilate, betrayed by Judas, alone at Gethsemane, having stones hurled at Him, abandoned, even doubting Himself - no matter, at every moment His life was victorious.

We cannot look at appearances or the outer circumstances but we must look inwards to find the victory there - whether it is in endurance or humility or faith or whatever sustains us from within - for there a million trials by fire are answered from a deep pool of strength we will find in our darkest moments, as did our Lord who led the way  and sustains us.

Caged Bird

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind   

and floats downstream   

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and   

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

Pain

Is that pain in your stomach, or is it in your heart?

Why do you say, why did God do this to me? When you did it to yourself?

Like Water In A Stream

And I cried out to God, "I don't know what to do with all the sadness in my soul"

And He said, "Let it go".

And then I saw that I held onto it because I grieved for those who were gone, for that which was lost and for all my dumb mistakes.

And one of the hardest things for me was and is to let go.  But the holding on is such a struggle in the end. I think - I want them back. I want to undo my mistakes. I want to make it all better.  I want to have again all that we once had, especially those elysian days....

But like water in a stream it passes us by and we cannot catch it.

What is there then to do but to let it wash away?  Let it wash all your tears and pain with it.  Let it go. For truly you cannot hold onto it anyway. The only result of you trying is to lose today and tomorrow.

Is it an anchor or is it a weight, this past of yours?

I Focus On The Pain

The only thing that's real.

It's the line from a song and for those of us who have suffered ongoing, terrible traumas it's often so hard not to focus on the pain.   It's not something we choose but something that is there, right in front of us all the time, overwhelming, debilitating, devastating.  It will drag us down and drown us if we don't at least by some measure learn how to control it.

So how do you heal? How do you rise above? How do you get beyond it? It isn't easy, in fact it may require every bit of  strength and determination you can muster.

First of all, be gentle with yourself.  Even if no one else is kind or gentle, be kind and gentle with yourself.  

It often helps to just sit quietly in meditation and try to find the place of inner peace within.  Quiet the raging, churning waters and find that calm, consoling haven. Linger there a while. Breathe deeply in and out.

Believe there is a God who loves and accepts you unconditionally, who is there for you no matter what, with comforting arms.  Believe that He was always there for you and always was on your side, that He is still on your side.  Ditch that cranky, sadistic, judgemental, unreasonable "God" who lives in your head, who is always waiting to find fault and condemn you - realize there is no such "God".

The only real power is love. The only real healing power is love, especially of yourself, by yourself, for yourself. Be kind to yourself. 

Think of that which is beautiful, that which is good. Think about the kindness and goodness you have seen, especially from those you love and who love you.  

Smile when you think of the love in it's many forms which has been shown and given to you - whether it is the embrace of a relative, the blooming of a flower, the warm, golden sun on your skin  or the sweet song of a bird outside your window.  Bathe in such things and let their soft caress encourage you.

Think of a job to do, however small, and focus on completing that one job.  

If you must cry, cry. Tears can heal and wash away pain and grief.  Be gentle with yourself.   It is not "weak" to cry but a perfectly natural gift and balm from a loving heavenly father.  Even Jesus wept.

Resolve to get through this moment.  Resolve to get through this hour, this morning, this day.

Look up and even in a sea of darkness you will always find a star.

“If you knew who walked beside you at all times, on the path that you have chosen, you could never experience fear or doubt again.”

- Wayne Dyer.

In A Sea Of Darkness

In a sea of darkness - look for a star. 

In a sea of pain you can  still see the stars. 

Opportunities

Don't look necessarily for miracles. Look for opportunities.

Some Of The Worst People To Be Around

Those with a huge sense of entitlement but no sense of responsibility.