truth

8 posts

Divine Will

One of my greatest interests is embodying Spirit as a known reality. To simply discuss or learn about theological doctrines and history is to keep it intellectual. All head-stuff. To translate the laws of God as written and learned into action is the next level of absorption. We put into action and make relevant what we have learned.

But even deeper than this is the embodiment of Spirit, Itself, as a known, felt, motivating force that informs and guides our every action without even needing to “think” about it. The Spirit becomes an ever present, in-dwelling force that guides us completely in every circumstance and situation without thought.

Only then do we know the full import of the words: “Thy Will Be Done.” Not my will, but Thine, Dear Lord be made manifest through this vehicle which is me.

Amazingly, all things come and become much easier, then. We realize what folly it was that our small will with our limited understanding would have known what was best all this time. It is only thinking that we are separate from the Whole that makes us fear that “Divine Will” is separate from and oppressive to what is best for us.

Rather, we know ourselves to be truly safe and cared for in the context of that Infinite “Is” whence we came, and to whom we shall return. We live “in” and of the Creator always.

Aging Poem

The recent workshop I led on “Aging as a Spiritual Practice” was so delightful. The shared wisdom in the group reverberated. I realized how very much I love sharing time with elders who are invested in growing in self-understanding – and to do this as a group was delicious.

I wrote a poem, on the back of a slip of paper – sort of a tongue-in-cheek bit of humor. A couple of folks asked me for a copy of it afterward — so I’ll share it with you, too. Perhaps you’ll enjoy the humor — and understand! – also.

Coming together –
all the loose shards of my life.
What to call this?
“Retirement” hardly
     seems to qualify.
 
Although I do seem to be
     tired, a lot.
 
Memories, in part,
   the fragments of my mind
drifting through hazy, lazy days
    in a sometimes frenzy.
 
Wanderings, a fair bit,
      the mind wondering what –
if anything – might motivate me
      to put in time
- and energy – to “step up to the plate,”
“volunteer,” “pay back” (whatever
does that even mean?)
 
I do seem to be
     tired, a lot.
 
Curious, still,
   what the day and days
will hold.
   Grateful, often
for deeper and deepening
   relations.
 
With those I’ve known
and are still meeting.
   Awestruck at
the way the changing
light of the seasons
   glint off the old log pile
in the back.
 
That can’t be new –
    yet –
to me, it is.
 
  What is left, then –
without the alarm
propelling me into the
busy days of
   clinic-life?
 
“Re-tired”
     OK,
  Well.
Let’s just see
where these new
treads will go.
 
   

Prayer for the Season: Free

I feel time passing.

May I yet know the Truth.

And may it set me free.

Free of the mind that chatters.

The thoughts that chain.

The beliefs that bruise

the very soul of this mortal life.

May I be free of it all.

Unencumbered by hate,

By the violence of my own mind.

Free of greed and fear and jealousy

That speak of a small quivering heart.

Free of it all.

May I be open and graceful,

Grace filled and – free.

Finally, truly – free.

Amen.