"It's not a religion... it's a relationship"

“if causing irratation - stop using”

Noticed on my new roll-on the other morning that it (rather helpfully) suggests that “if the product irritates skin, stop using”, or words to that effect – how sensible I thought, eyes rolling with no one to watch but in deference to my long term sarcastic undercurrent.  I prepared myself to add it to the ever-increasing list of “statements of the bleedin’ obvious” (such as “warning hot!” on the side of takeaway coffees – I should hope it is – and considerate messages of “do not attempt to stop blade with hands or genitals” on the side of a chainsaw).  However, thinking about it, it’s actually really quite sensible – stop doing that which harms you… but maybe it needs to be said.

I still smoke; whatever other *silly stuff* I’ve moved on from in the last year or so, I still have a few roll-ups every day.  I know it’s bad for me, I genuinely mean to and want to quit.  For ages I didn’t see the addiction; I smoked with friends as a teenager – I smoked because most of my boyfriends have – I smoked when I was recovering from something worse than tobacco…

I quit smoking (pretty much) when I was pregnant;  I thought that it was my choice to do that to myself, but I couldn’t do that to her – she couldn’t say no.  I valued her life far higher than my own… not difficult as a) I think most parents do, or I hope they do, and b) I wasn’t made to feel worth very much at the time….

Another thing hard to give up; even when someone in particular, or sometimes a whole social group is pulling you down, talking you down… it’s hard to quit that – out of loyalty – fear of loneliness – acceptance of “you’re not worth any better”…  All tough things to face…

All things aside – is fear of ‘not knowing’ greater than our fear of anything else?  To step out of addiction; whether that’s physical or mental faces the individual with the prospect of addiction free life… that’s stepping into the unknown!

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

-         Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV Bible)

The Bible boldly proclaims that this stepping into the unknown is the very essence of faith; it’s exciting whilst it is often daunting.

But speaking from experience – that kind of thrill, a faith driven lifestyle, is a far bigger, and more satisfying hit than any other!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwrcPhv3xMA

“More to Life” – Stacie Orrico

godsrockangel:

Ghost Town or Quantum of Solace next? #movies

what was Ghost Town like?

Greatest need….

^1-3 Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus’ hometown. They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, “Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins.” Some religion scholars whispered, “Why, that’s blasphemy!”

^4-8Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why this gossipy whispering? Which do you think is simpler: to say, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both… .” At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, “Get up. Take your bed and go home.” And the man did it. The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way.

- Matthew 9.1-8, The Message Bible

The talk today was given by a guest speaker; he spoke on a passage that I know well - many people know the stories of the healings that Jesus performed.  But there was a new slant to his discussion of it today, that is, the issue of our greatest need…

Often the stories of healing in the Gospels are used in order to highlight both the divinity of Jesus, and also display how his actions were at odds with the religious authorities of the time.  But here we see him getting to the crux of the matter; it is not always our physical problems which are our greatest need - Jesus is shown to see through what all those around us perceive to be of the highest importance, and looks to the deeper issues in our lives.

With a background in nursing the speaker made the contentious statement that ALL medical care is palliative, in that, we all eventually die.  He added to this that he had the utmost respect for the medical profession, but challenged us that our physical wellbeing and that of our loved ones and those around us is not the be all and end all…

Ignorance is regarding the impermanent as permanent, the impure as pure, the painful as pleasant, and the non-Self as the Self.

What is Self and what is non-Self?  The self is the eternal, never-changing One.  It is always everywhere as the basic substance.  All thing are actually nothing but the Self, but in our ignorance we see them as different objects.  Thus, we take the changing appearances to be the unchanging truth.  When something changes it can’t be the Self.  For exampe, our own bodies are changing every second.  Yet we take the body to be our Self; and, speaking in terms of it, we say, “I am hungry” or “I am lame”; “I am black” or “I am white.”  These are all just the conditions and qualitites of the body.  We touch the truth when we say, “My body aches,” implying that the body belongs to us and therefore we are not that.

Unfortunately, we often add, “I am very, very sick.”  Who is actually sick?  If the body aches, then the body is sick, not you.  Whenever we forget this truth, we are involved in the non-Self, the basic ignorance.  We make the same ignorant mistake in regard to the mind, saying, “I am happy,” or “I am ignorant.”  Feeling happy, fearful or angry, or knowing a lot or knowing nothing are all modifications or feelings of the mind.  Once that is understood, there is nothing that can disturb us in this world.  Things will come near us or go away from us, but we will know that we are not connected with them- we will know we are not that.  Under all conditions we can sing, “Knowledge bliss, knowledge bliss, bliss is absolute; in all conditions I am knowledge, bliss is absolute!”

- Yoga Sutras of Patinjali, Book 2.5

It is interesting to parallel different spiritual beliefs and perspectives and see their (frequent) similarities; again, its a challenging thought to many to force us to take our eyes and our minds off their fixed position on the physical world and to catch a glimpse of deeper things.  I love the yoga sutras book; but it is at times a painful read as I realise how swept up in the world I am - so I try to make time just to catch a short glimpse of the truth and beauty which is beyond.

Shalom