I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
(198) Only my condemnation injures me.
My condemnation keeps my vision dark, and through my sightless eyes I cannot see the vision of my glory. Yet today I can behold this glory and be glad.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I have recently experienced a couple of highly stressful events. Events that, had they occurred a couple of years ago, would have sent my heart racing, my upper lip sweating, and my head pounding. I would have become agitated and irritable. I would have struggled with a way to better control all the things that I really have no control over.
I have also recently had the pleasure of discussing the benefits of a regular meditation practice with some folks who have initiated the conversations with me. I was able to talk about how it not only makes us younger and healthier, but it enhances clarity, it provides restful awareness, it smooths out the rough edges, and provides a sense of calm and peace internally. As Davidji has recommended - "live it, don't preach it." When we live it people see it for themselves and ask about it. We don't have to convince people with our words because they see it in action and action is what people believe.
This regular practice has enabled me to reduce my own condemnation. I can behold this glory and be glad! As Deepak Chopra says, "In silence I find my true self."
Here's what I say - You don't have to change your life drastically to establish a regular practice of meditation, but it will drastically change your life.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Day 218 - Lesson 217
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
(197) It can be but my gratitude I earn.
Who should give thanks for my salvation but myself? And how but through salvation can I find the Self to Whom my thanks are due?
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I really can't express enough the gratitude I have for moving beyond a life of just getting through life to finding meaning in my life. With each conscious decision I am profoundly thankful that I am finally awake. I may not always be aware, but I am more so now than ever before.
Today has been a day of doing and serving - I am releasing expectations and entering into uncertainty, and I am doing it with great joy and gratitude. The universe is abundantly generous.
For I am still as God created me.
(197) It can be but my gratitude I earn.
Who should give thanks for my salvation but myself? And how but through salvation can I find the Self to Whom my thanks are due?
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I really can't express enough the gratitude I have for moving beyond a life of just getting through life to finding meaning in my life. With each conscious decision I am profoundly thankful that I am finally awake. I may not always be aware, but I am more so now than ever before.
Today has been a day of doing and serving - I am releasing expectations and entering into uncertainty, and I am doing it with great joy and gratitude. The universe is abundantly generous.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Day 217 - Lesson 216
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
(196) It can be but myself I crucify.
All that I do I do unto myself. If I attack, I suffer. But if I forgive, salvation will be given me.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I have sat here for quite some time....trying to figure out what to say about this lesson.
I do recognize that when I put someone else down it serves no purpose. It hurts the other person and also harms me. I really don't have an interest in harming others. I still occasionally complain about frustrations and speak unkindly about others out of frustration or irritation, but I find that I do those things much less often. There just isn't much that's satisfying about behaving that way.
The thing that's so wonderful about this is I find value in working with people I didn't think I could appreciate. This internal change is visible to others and the sense of peace that's created reverberates in beautiful ways.
For I am still as God created me.
(196) It can be but myself I crucify.
All that I do I do unto myself. If I attack, I suffer. But if I forgive, salvation will be given me.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I have sat here for quite some time....trying to figure out what to say about this lesson.
I do recognize that when I put someone else down it serves no purpose. It hurts the other person and also harms me. I really don't have an interest in harming others. I still occasionally complain about frustrations and speak unkindly about others out of frustration or irritation, but I find that I do those things much less often. There just isn't much that's satisfying about behaving that way.
The thing that's so wonderful about this is I find value in working with people I didn't think I could appreciate. This internal change is visible to others and the sense of peace that's created reverberates in beautiful ways.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Day 216 - Lesson 215
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
(195) Love is the way I walk in gratitude.
The Holy Spirit is my only Guide. He walks with me in love. And I give thanks to Him for showing me the way to go.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I make an effort every day to remind myself of all the things I'm thankful for. I reflect upon all the happenings of my day and watch it as if it were a movie. When I wake up, I ask to be used as a vessel of spirit. At the end of the day, I check in to see how that happened and whether or not I was present and aware.
My days are unbelievably full. My life has always been busy, but I felt a sense of dissatisfaction and of searching for something that seemed out of my grasp - I didn't really know what I was searching for. Now my days are full with meaning, with recognizing that happiness, love, and gratitude are found within. Whatever may be happening externally does not define my sense of wholeness.
Sitting in silence, being committed to love, being more aware and more present are the ingredients to truth.
For I am still as God created me.
(195) Love is the way I walk in gratitude.
The Holy Spirit is my only Guide. He walks with me in love. And I give thanks to Him for showing me the way to go.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I make an effort every day to remind myself of all the things I'm thankful for. I reflect upon all the happenings of my day and watch it as if it were a movie. When I wake up, I ask to be used as a vessel of spirit. At the end of the day, I check in to see how that happened and whether or not I was present and aware.
My days are unbelievably full. My life has always been busy, but I felt a sense of dissatisfaction and of searching for something that seemed out of my grasp - I didn't really know what I was searching for. Now my days are full with meaning, with recognizing that happiness, love, and gratitude are found within. Whatever may be happening externally does not define my sense of wholeness.
Sitting in silence, being committed to love, being more aware and more present are the ingredients to truth.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Day 215 - Lesson 214
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
(194) I place the future in the Hands of God.
The past is gone; the future is not yet. Now am I freed from both. For what God gives can only be for good. And I accept but what He gives as what belongs to me.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I had an experience today that completely reinforced this lesson for me. There is a situation occurring far away from me, geographically, that pains my heart to the point of physical illness. I woke up with worry and feeling sick to my stomach over this situation. However, I immediately turned to this lesson and let it sink in. I draped my prayer scarf around my shoulders and sank into meditation. I released the hold of the past and of the future.
I went about my day, still some worried, but recognizing that the best, the most nourishing choice for me and for everyone involved was to place the future in the hands of God, in the space of love, in the winds of the universe. My worry, my agitation, my obsession wouldn't change the situation, wouldn't provide anything positive, and wouldn't be nurturing. Mostly it would just continue to make me feel ill and sad.
I held this lesson like a shield and each time a wave of worry or anger would enter my awareness, I would call upon this wisdom and let it go.
For I am still as God created me.
(194) I place the future in the Hands of God.
The past is gone; the future is not yet. Now am I freed from both. For what God gives can only be for good. And I accept but what He gives as what belongs to me.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I had an experience today that completely reinforced this lesson for me. There is a situation occurring far away from me, geographically, that pains my heart to the point of physical illness. I woke up with worry and feeling sick to my stomach over this situation. However, I immediately turned to this lesson and let it sink in. I draped my prayer scarf around my shoulders and sank into meditation. I released the hold of the past and of the future.
I went about my day, still some worried, but recognizing that the best, the most nourishing choice for me and for everyone involved was to place the future in the hands of God, in the space of love, in the winds of the universe. My worry, my agitation, my obsession wouldn't change the situation, wouldn't provide anything positive, and wouldn't be nurturing. Mostly it would just continue to make me feel ill and sad.
I held this lesson like a shield and each time a wave of worry or anger would enter my awareness, I would call upon this wisdom and let it go.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Day 214 - Lesson 213
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
(193) All things are lessons God would have me learn.
A lesson is a miracle which God offers to me, in place of thoughts I made that hurt me. What I learn of Him becomes the way I am set free. And so I choose to learn His lessons and forget my own.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I have been busy with learning lessons, all sorts of lessons - really, truly learning in amazing ways. Where I was once angry, I am less afraid. Where I was once unsure, I am confident. Where I was once worried, I now believe. I am much less inclined to get all worked up about things and situations that are brought into my environment. I see now that those things are not me, not reflections of me, and they can't truly harm me. It's not a matter of not caring, it is about healthy detachment. When I get all wrapped up in emotion, I'm not particularly effective at helping to resolve a given 'thing' brought my way. When I am judgmental of the 'thing' or act as if I don't have time for it - I encourage it to happen again and again.
Learning, perpetual learning, is such a blessing.
To top off this day - it was beautiful. I filled my lungs with breezy, sunshiny, sea air. I hiked along a hill trail and admired the summer flowers. This was the best lesson of all - gratitude in my surroundings.
For I am still as God created me.
(193) All things are lessons God would have me learn.
A lesson is a miracle which God offers to me, in place of thoughts I made that hurt me. What I learn of Him becomes the way I am set free. And so I choose to learn His lessons and forget my own.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I have been busy with learning lessons, all sorts of lessons - really, truly learning in amazing ways. Where I was once angry, I am less afraid. Where I was once unsure, I am confident. Where I was once worried, I now believe. I am much less inclined to get all worked up about things and situations that are brought into my environment. I see now that those things are not me, not reflections of me, and they can't truly harm me. It's not a matter of not caring, it is about healthy detachment. When I get all wrapped up in emotion, I'm not particularly effective at helping to resolve a given 'thing' brought my way. When I am judgmental of the 'thing' or act as if I don't have time for it - I encourage it to happen again and again.
Learning, perpetual learning, is such a blessing.
To top off this day - it was beautiful. I filled my lungs with breezy, sunshiny, sea air. I hiked along a hill trail and admired the summer flowers. This was the best lesson of all - gratitude in my surroundings.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Day 213 - Lesson 212
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
(192) I have a function God would have me fill.
I seek the function that would set me free from all the vain illusions of the world. Only the function God has given me can offer freedom. Only this I seek, and only this will I accept as mine.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I do indeed seek the function that would set me free from all the vain illusions of the world. I offer myself each day to be used as God, as love, as spirit sees fit. When I stay in present moment awareness this happens so naturally. When I stray from that awareness and enter into ego - I start to feel attacked, irritated, and judgmental.
I know I've said this before, but I believe it to be worth repeating - There is no resolution where love is not present.
For I am still as God created me.
(192) I have a function God would have me fill.
I seek the function that would set me free from all the vain illusions of the world. Only the function God has given me can offer freedom. Only this I seek, and only this will I accept as mine.
I am not a body. I am free.
For I am still as God created me.
I do indeed seek the function that would set me free from all the vain illusions of the world. I offer myself each day to be used as God, as love, as spirit sees fit. When I stay in present moment awareness this happens so naturally. When I stray from that awareness and enter into ego - I start to feel attacked, irritated, and judgmental.
I know I've said this before, but I believe it to be worth repeating - There is no resolution where love is not present.
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