I just finished Day 15 of something quite new in my life and I thought I had better get some thoughts down about it and launch it into cyber space.
A few years back, Shoe and I heard a guy address Prayer & Meditation in a way that, quite candidly, left me feeling a little ashamed. He spoke of meditation as an absolute necessity. Mandatory! He kind of indicated that prayer is a waste of time, if one is unwilling to meditate. What a scandalous assertion!
Now, it's not like meditation had not been suggested to me before. The Denton Yogi had opined years ago that I might have the NEED for Yoga more than anyone she had ever encountered! I have NO idea how she arrived at that conclusion!
Anyway, within a few days of that guilt trip being piled on Shoe and me, I reached out to the Denton Yogi and she passed along a link to a website and said that she had no experience with this site; but maybe I should check it out.
So, I clicked on the link and signed up for a 10 Day Free Trial and jumped into the world of daily meditation. The results were astounding! It's all I wanted to talk about during those 10 days. I got immediate relief. I enjoyed it. Then, at the end of 10 days, the website asked for a credit card number, and my daily meditation practice came to an abrupt halt! I was simply not going to pay some former Tibetan Monk to guide me through a daily meditation. Don't be silly!
Two weeks ago today, I went to the website and entered my credit card number. The site forced me to do the same 10 Day introduction that I did a few years back. However, there was much more information available to me since I had joined the community and I am BLOWN away by the results (relief) I am getting!
I may or may not share the link or name the website in here some day. I am hesitant to be a "non-paid" spokesperson for this site. I mean, really. Since I've deactivated my FB account, there may be as many as 4 people read this post. But for me, a few things are already becoming crystal clear:
1) I can learn to do this. All my former attempts at meditation were pointless. My mind would RACE! "Meditate, meditate, meditate...Sex. Meditate, meditate, meditate...Bills. Meditate, meditate, meditate...Work. Meditate, meditate, meditate...Squirrel!"
2) This Cat guiding me knows this and gives me permission to fail. However, he doesn't see it as failure. He sees it as normal. Just as my mind wanders, the next thing out of his mouth is, "At this point, your mind is probably wandering off. Just gently bring it back to the breath." WHO TOLD HIM?
3) Possibly for the second time in my life (the first being a few years back), for 10 minutes a day, I am completely PRESENT. I spoke of the "wreckage of the future" very early on in this Blog. I live there. I am NEVER right here, right now. This exercise is giving (teaching) me that skill.
Now that I've imbibed of the kool-aid on this Instructor, I've researched him in addition to his website. I watched a 90 Minute workshop online that he did for Google. During the Q&A, one of those Google intellectuals asked, "How do I keep from getting bored?"
In a kind, gentle way, without embarrassing the dude, the Instructor answered, "If you will just keep with the practice, you will eventually learn that boredom is the goal."
As you might have guessed, we are not done with this topic.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
I'll Grant you Crazy....but Delusional?
Finally, I am resolved to get back to what this little experiment was suppose to be about all along.
That is, a forum for me to blast my thoughts into cyber space and stop irritating my family and friends with them.
This year has gotten off to a horrible start and I am absolutely miserable, wallowing in the bitter morass, with self-pity oozing from every pore. I am trying to get down to causes and conditions and, at this point, finding it impossible.
I deactivated Facebook (AGAIN!) and know that only five or six people will even see this. Consequently, without the pressure to entertain, hopefully this post will truly be cheaper than therapy and I can get some awareness of just what is going on!
Recently, my mind is returning time and time again to a quote from an anonymous author in an anonymous volume, "Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well?"
At its very core, this quote seems absolutely moronic! As a matter of fact, if a survey were done on the streets, I think that 98% of respondents would indicate that "managing well" is the recipe for success.
I mean, that's what I was taught. That's what atheists, agnostics, and most Christians teach. The Christians will wince at that comment! They will say otherwise. They are lying. That's okay! They don't know they are lying. That's why it's a delusion!
This is 'MERICA! John Wayne. Remember? We pull ourselves up by our own boot straps and we "don't depend on nobody for nothing!" (Triple negative intended).
Do I really need to outline where this formula for success has gotten us? Okay, maybe you are perfectly content. Do I really need to outline where this formula for success has gotten me?
Self-reliance continues to leave me falling way short! You have NO IDEA how badly I want to "manage well." I am comparing my insides to your outsides and seemingly, you are managing well.
Or.......are you just as DELUSIONAL as I am?
I call Him God. I make no apology for that! You may call Him Higher Power or Spirit of the Universe. (Those of you atheists and agnostics just see your god in the mirror). I do know this. In the past, God has done for me what I, seemingly, could not do for myself. I am not expecting Him to do the same thing again. I am depending on it!
That is, a forum for me to blast my thoughts into cyber space and stop irritating my family and friends with them.
This year has gotten off to a horrible start and I am absolutely miserable, wallowing in the bitter morass, with self-pity oozing from every pore. I am trying to get down to causes and conditions and, at this point, finding it impossible.
I deactivated Facebook (AGAIN!) and know that only five or six people will even see this. Consequently, without the pressure to entertain, hopefully this post will truly be cheaper than therapy and I can get some awareness of just what is going on!
Recently, my mind is returning time and time again to a quote from an anonymous author in an anonymous volume, "Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well?"
At its very core, this quote seems absolutely moronic! As a matter of fact, if a survey were done on the streets, I think that 98% of respondents would indicate that "managing well" is the recipe for success.
I mean, that's what I was taught. That's what atheists, agnostics, and most Christians teach. The Christians will wince at that comment! They will say otherwise. They are lying. That's okay! They don't know they are lying. That's why it's a delusion!
This is 'MERICA! John Wayne. Remember? We pull ourselves up by our own boot straps and we "don't depend on nobody for nothing!" (Triple negative intended).
Do I really need to outline where this formula for success has gotten us? Okay, maybe you are perfectly content. Do I really need to outline where this formula for success has gotten me?
Self-reliance continues to leave me falling way short! You have NO IDEA how badly I want to "manage well." I am comparing my insides to your outsides and seemingly, you are managing well.
Or.......are you just as DELUSIONAL as I am?
I call Him God. I make no apology for that! You may call Him Higher Power or Spirit of the Universe. (Those of you atheists and agnostics just see your god in the mirror). I do know this. In the past, God has done for me what I, seemingly, could not do for myself. I am not expecting Him to do the same thing again. I am depending on it!
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
God Did NOT Run For Office!
In recent weeks, Stainless and I have been discussing the fact that Americans make lousy Christians. We, indeed, have so many freedoms and are so abundantly blessed, that we cannot even begin to comprehend the idea of a sovereign God, setting His own parameters and guidelines for what He accepts and expects.
Now, a number of my readers claim to be atheists or at least, agnostic. PLEASE read no further. This isn't for you. That's another Blog for another day.
But, for you God-fearing, Bible-thumping, gun-toting (American) Christians, please consider this in your daily prayer and meditation: YOU DID NOT ELECT GOD TO BE PRESIDENT OF YOUR RELIGION!
A democracy is NOT what you've signed on to. It IS a monarchy. He IS King!
We bristle at that thought, don't we? We can't wrap our minds around that, can we? It almost sounds distasteful, unfair, rude, unacceptable. This is Murica! God really needs to put His potential laws on a ballot and see if He can get a 51% majority vote before He mandates some really difficult ideas for us to accept, doesn't He?
The Turtle Lady, now deceased, and one of my favorite people of all time used to say, "I've served God all my life....mostly in an advisory capacity!" I think we can all relate to that sentiment. This sweet lady learned late in life and taught me, that God does not need or require my input. He is God. He is King.
When I was a kid, I would often see the bumper sticker that read, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." For many years, I believed that lie. Most of my christian friends still believe that lie. And that lie had taken us down a very dangerous path.
The truth of the matter is, God said it. That settles it. Whether or not I, you, the preacher, the president or ANYONE else believes it, has NOTHING to do with the equation!
We did not elect God, God. He did not run for office. He does not need our vote or our approval! Sorry! Nobody on this planet wants a vote MORE than me. I JUST DO NOT GET A VOTE! And if I don't, neither do you.
The "vote" is destroying my faith tradition. Many congregations are making major doctrinal changes, directly opposed to clear Biblical teaching, based on a 51% majority. My faith tradition is not the only one struggling in this area. Our freedoms and our deep-seeded need to worship in a democratic Christianity is destroying God's Kingdom.
I shutter and get a little scared when I hear myself or you say, "I know that's what the Bible says, but I just can't bring myself to comprehend, understand, accept, or believe something so archaic and unreasonable."
Dear God, please forgive us of our blessings!
Now, a number of my readers claim to be atheists or at least, agnostic. PLEASE read no further. This isn't for you. That's another Blog for another day.
But, for you God-fearing, Bible-thumping, gun-toting (American) Christians, please consider this in your daily prayer and meditation: YOU DID NOT ELECT GOD TO BE PRESIDENT OF YOUR RELIGION!
A democracy is NOT what you've signed on to. It IS a monarchy. He IS King!
We bristle at that thought, don't we? We can't wrap our minds around that, can we? It almost sounds distasteful, unfair, rude, unacceptable. This is Murica! God really needs to put His potential laws on a ballot and see if He can get a 51% majority vote before He mandates some really difficult ideas for us to accept, doesn't He?
The Turtle Lady, now deceased, and one of my favorite people of all time used to say, "I've served God all my life....mostly in an advisory capacity!" I think we can all relate to that sentiment. This sweet lady learned late in life and taught me, that God does not need or require my input. He is God. He is King.
When I was a kid, I would often see the bumper sticker that read, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." For many years, I believed that lie. Most of my christian friends still believe that lie. And that lie had taken us down a very dangerous path.
The truth of the matter is, God said it. That settles it. Whether or not I, you, the preacher, the president or ANYONE else believes it, has NOTHING to do with the equation!
We did not elect God, God. He did not run for office. He does not need our vote or our approval! Sorry! Nobody on this planet wants a vote MORE than me. I JUST DO NOT GET A VOTE! And if I don't, neither do you.
The "vote" is destroying my faith tradition. Many congregations are making major doctrinal changes, directly opposed to clear Biblical teaching, based on a 51% majority. My faith tradition is not the only one struggling in this area. Our freedoms and our deep-seeded need to worship in a democratic Christianity is destroying God's Kingdom.
I shutter and get a little scared when I hear myself or you say, "I know that's what the Bible says, but I just can't bring myself to comprehend, understand, accept, or believe something so archaic and unreasonable."
Dear God, please forgive us of our blessings!
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