I enjoyed this reading stating: the friends of God, whose souls "know one another by smell, like horses." This made me think that a true Christ follower should be known by their actions before they even share verbally what they believe. The symbolism of the horse knowing another horse by its smell is similar to a blessed person knowing another blessed person because of they way they carry themselves through situations. I have been around a person and knew their was something different about about them, then after conversing realized the joy they express is from the same gracious God I also know.
The whole page of 83 was amazing to me!!I agree with this author because it is exactly what I have experienced going through the most difficult season in my life. I want to elaborate, but it is too personal, so let me summarize it like this: I took pride in owning my own business for 19 years from all my efforts; I thought, then fell into despair remaining successful but having no joy. I realized my selfish acts of success was not pure but tainted and I repented. they were strengths given to me from God. The certainty I felt in my heart who caused this while I doubted and fought the removal of this success with hopelessness because it was mine. God gave me a open gate to embrace change because I needed a new attitude with a new success. I was exposed to blame and slander that should of destroyed me but through my love of God I fearlessly became developed and not destroyed. This is a result of divine love and grace not of my own. I had everything stripped from me except my health loosing it all and that proved to me I finally desired what God desires for me. This was a action, then the knowledge, and this was NOT easy. This is a profound writing because I have lived it.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
I enjoyed this reading because it shared a lot of wisdom with metaphors and comparisons. For example the statement: "is the acorn better than the oak which is its fullness and completion"? First I thought; I don't know, then I visualized a large mighty oak tree with deep driven roots full of wisdom and life experiences, which could withstand most storms of powerful winds, rains, and season changes. Where as the little acorn can be tossed around in heavy winds, eaten or carried by animals and therefore cannot be better than the oak. Then I read about the roses and it making no reference to former roses or to better roses and became confused. Then I remind myself that on the rose stem is prickery thorns that cause pain to touch and I'm drawn to admit that through painful experiences real beauty can develop. For something to come easy isn't as beautiful to share with someone then an item that was very painful and brought successful beauty that you can't keep quiet about. There is just a different energy with earning and gifting.
I agreed with this author and loved the metamorphosis of powers of nature. The horse, fish, bird, and tree all seen as a different type of man. Each with its own strength and weaknesses, friends and enemies, it's course and end. His idea with good there is evil, with affinity is repulsion, and with force there is limitation.
I found the ideal moving with the twofold manner; first the thing then the circumstance. I loved reading: "Punishment is a fruit that unsuspected ripens within the flower of the pleasure which concealed it". This reminded me how we don't think we will be caught at doing something wrong but we had instant pleasure and don't think about the fruit even rotting. If one really thought deep about the circumstances before the pleasure things would be different in a good way.
I agreed with this author and loved the metamorphosis of powers of nature. The horse, fish, bird, and tree all seen as a different type of man. Each with its own strength and weaknesses, friends and enemies, it's course and end. His idea with good there is evil, with affinity is repulsion, and with force there is limitation.
I found the ideal moving with the twofold manner; first the thing then the circumstance. I loved reading: "Punishment is a fruit that unsuspected ripens within the flower of the pleasure which concealed it". This reminded me how we don't think we will be caught at doing something wrong but we had instant pleasure and don't think about the fruit even rotting. If one really thought deep about the circumstances before the pleasure things would be different in a good way.
Monday, March 23, 2009
William Blake (1757-1827)
Ok, every blog so far that I have commented on has been a positive experience with positive words coming from me; BUT.....this one was so long and confusing and I couldn't make sense of it. So I did not enjoy the reading because I found it confusing. Maybe because I see a glass half full instead of half empty. As I was reading the Proverbs of Hell, I found myself referring each sentence to a proverbs from the Bible that would counter it. For example: "The cut worm forgives the plow" I apply that principle to: forgive others as Jesus forgives us. Another example: "The busy bee has no time for sorrow" I apply the principle to: bless others and you too will be blessed. Love this proverb from Hell: "Drive your cart and your plow over the bones of the dead" I translate that to: pick your battles. Lastly, "the most sublime act is to set another before you" I translate as: put others before yourself.
At the first reading I found this author's ideas crazy but then after reading it again and yet again I kind of liked it. This statement at the very, very beginning: Devil, take away his horns and cackle, and there is the pure animal energy of a child, of such is the kingdom of heaven reminded me immediately of everything starts out as good; and through life one is influenced, taught, and pressured to do things of the bad. Ending with: "at the marriage of heaven and hell, God is best man" tells me even this writer chooses Heaven over Hell.
At the first reading I found this author's ideas crazy but then after reading it again and yet again I kind of liked it. This statement at the very, very beginning: Devil, take away his horns and cackle, and there is the pure animal energy of a child, of such is the kingdom of heaven reminded me immediately of everything starts out as good; and through life one is influenced, taught, and pressured to do things of the bad. Ending with: "at the marriage of heaven and hell, God is best man" tells me even this writer chooses Heaven over Hell.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Heraclitus (6th-5th Century B.C.E.)
I enjoyed Heraclitus aphorisms because I could elaborate on each one with life experiences. So, I will pick just a few of my favorites. All things flow; this means to me everything happens for a reason. Maybe we don't understand it at the time but looking back, I can say: now I know why I experienced that it was to prepare me for this situation. The sun is new every day; this reminds me no matter what kind of day I had, I get a another opportunity for a new day. A good nights sleep after a bad day can bring the sun into my heart and mind even if the physical sun is not shinning outside. I have the privilege of choosing to let the sun shine inside of me or not.
That gives me the results of being powerful, like the sun's warmth instead of being pitiful. You can't step twice into the same river; confirms to me that I better learn from my mistakes in order to grow and share with others the knowledge I have learned in bad decisions. I have been known to be a slow learner in some areas and stepped into the same river again, thinking dang I knew better from the last time I went through this. To men, some things are good and some are bad. But to God, all things are good and beautiful and just; supports my thoughts of God making us in the image of himself. God is good, God is beautiful, God is just, and He desires that of us. But so quickly we judge and quickly point out what is bad. This must break God's heart! I struggle and disagree with the aphorism, eternity is a child playing checkers. I'm still trying to grasp that short sentence.
I found his ideas moving except the one about checkers a little crazy. I could only think that children do take a long time finding their move. I don't know! Then I thought maybe its the process of growing up and putting away childish things and childish thoughts. Being a child did seem like eternity and now life is like a roll of toliet paper, the closer I get to the end the faster it goes.
That gives me the results of being powerful, like the sun's warmth instead of being pitiful. You can't step twice into the same river; confirms to me that I better learn from my mistakes in order to grow and share with others the knowledge I have learned in bad decisions. I have been known to be a slow learner in some areas and stepped into the same river again, thinking dang I knew better from the last time I went through this. To men, some things are good and some are bad. But to God, all things are good and beautiful and just; supports my thoughts of God making us in the image of himself. God is good, God is beautiful, God is just, and He desires that of us. But so quickly we judge and quickly point out what is bad. This must break God's heart! I struggle and disagree with the aphorism, eternity is a child playing checkers. I'm still trying to grasp that short sentence.
I found his ideas moving except the one about checkers a little crazy. I could only think that children do take a long time finding their move. I don't know! Then I thought maybe its the process of growing up and putting away childish things and childish thoughts. Being a child did seem like eternity and now life is like a roll of toliet paper, the closer I get to the end the faster it goes.
The Hermetic Writings (3rd Century)
I enjoyed this reading because immediately I saw a full circle stating: "If you go far enough east, you'll arrive at the west". Then it jumps right into the power of positive thinking. Several sentences gave immeasurable power to do and see all things. With words like; leap, grow, step beyond, perceive, realize, recognize, embrace, find, make yourself, reconcile, understand, and then it states how we view the different seasons of our ages. Referring from the womb to the young, to the old, to the dead, to the world that lays beyond the grave, confirming to me that God can meet all those ages and seasons we experience.
I agree and disagree with the author about, wanting to know God is an easy road to travel. Yes, it is easy to accept knowing God, just a humbling process of acknowledging His grace and receiving His free gift of forgiveness. Although the road a God follower travels, is anything but EASY. A follower of God is tested and tempted due to the fallen world that we live in and a enemy that prowls around us to devour.
I find this authors ideas moving because too many people move so quickly and are so are busy that they forget to see God in all things. Like the ol saying: "don't forget to smell the flowers". Someone shared with me the acronym B.U.S.Y. stands for Being Under Satan's Yoke! Yikes!!! That means that the word: to busy (the all time human excuse) robs us of what really is important. That is confirmed in this writing by challenging us to sit in the backyard, watching God with God's eyes. There is nothing busy about sitting in the backyard!
I agree and disagree with the author about, wanting to know God is an easy road to travel. Yes, it is easy to accept knowing God, just a humbling process of acknowledging His grace and receiving His free gift of forgiveness. Although the road a God follower travels, is anything but EASY. A follower of God is tested and tempted due to the fallen world that we live in and a enemy that prowls around us to devour.
I find this authors ideas moving because too many people move so quickly and are so are busy that they forget to see God in all things. Like the ol saying: "don't forget to smell the flowers". Someone shared with me the acronym B.U.S.Y. stands for Being Under Satan's Yoke! Yikes!!! That means that the word: to busy (the all time human excuse) robs us of what really is important. That is confirmed in this writing by challenging us to sit in the backyard, watching God with God's eyes. There is nothing busy about sitting in the backyard!
Monday, March 2, 2009
DHU'L-NUN AL-MISRI (796-861)
I enjoyed reading: “compassion is another name for clarity.” What a profound statement! As the description of a saint is given, one can only see compassion is the definition of a saint. It says; the saints are those whom God has invested with, putting love for them into the hearts. God offers all people the love and grace to bring joy to all, but the question is who will embrace it and pay it forward with no entitlement expected. Now that is a saint! Immediately the theme: Do unto other’s what you would want done to you I sense, with all the words of giving positive behavior to those around you. This writing was all about giving and doing for others out of compassion and not for the rewards. Which made me think before we are finished here on the temporal earth a few things to keep in mind is:
1) it won’t matter what car I drive, but how many people I drove who didn’t have transportation.
2) it won’t matter my home’s size, but how many people I welcomed into my home.
3) it won’t matter the brand of clothes I wore, but how many people did I help clothe.
4) it won’t matter what my salary was, but did I compromise my character to obtain it.
5) it won’t matter what my job title was, but did I perform the job to the best of my ability.
6) it won’t matter how many friends I had, but how many people to whom I was a friend.
7) it won’t matter what neighborhood I lived, but how I treated my neighbors.
8) it won’t matter what skin color I have, but the content of my character.
9) it won’t matter how long it took me to find Him, but that I did and now get to reside in a mansion in Heaven, and not the gates of Hell.
I certainly agreed with this author because look at all the choices we have to do to others.
1) it won’t matter what car I drive, but how many people I drove who didn’t have transportation.
2) it won’t matter my home’s size, but how many people I welcomed into my home.
3) it won’t matter the brand of clothes I wore, but how many people did I help clothe.
4) it won’t matter what my salary was, but did I compromise my character to obtain it.
5) it won’t matter what my job title was, but did I perform the job to the best of my ability.
6) it won’t matter how many friends I had, but how many people to whom I was a friend.
7) it won’t matter what neighborhood I lived, but how I treated my neighbors.
8) it won’t matter what skin color I have, but the content of my character.
9) it won’t matter how long it took me to find Him, but that I did and now get to reside in a mansion in Heaven, and not the gates of Hell.
I certainly agreed with this author because look at all the choices we have to do to others.
RUMI (1207-1273)
I can’t really say that I enjoyed this reading but it made me think over and over and slowly I started some conversation within myself. The metaphor of starting from the embryo, to the infant, to the child, to the searcher and finally, to the hunter got me thinking: I only know what I’ve experienced. If I don’t experience different seasons in life what will I know? If a person was in a satisfying season they would not want to experience another and yet that would hinder our education of life experiences and we could get stuck in an infant stage or child stage. Now how healthy would that be? Our lives seem to be a constant desire for more, more of what we like, more of what we want and yet when achieved we have a dying cry inside; saying is that it?
After Moses’ revelation from God saying: God has given separate and unique way of seeing/knowing, wrong/right, poison/honey, purity/impurity, sloth/diligence in worship, mean nothing to God; reminded me how uniquely different we are and some of us could handle certain seasons to become more fully developed, while others could be destroyed by the same season. Then he talked about looking inside at the humility and not the words that they say repeating: he wants burning, burning, friends with your burning, burn up your thinking. I visualized the power of fire in a forest and how quickly it spreads gaining momentum with added fuel of the next tree nearby. Does this mean we are to share the burning of seasons that we experience growing us to the next level with those nearby us?
Some of this reading I found moving and then some of it crazy. I was constantly torn: “do I like this or not?” Like the part where it says: “Loosen your tongue and don’t worry what comes out.”
After Moses’ revelation from God saying: God has given separate and unique way of seeing/knowing, wrong/right, poison/honey, purity/impurity, sloth/diligence in worship, mean nothing to God; reminded me how uniquely different we are and some of us could handle certain seasons to become more fully developed, while others could be destroyed by the same season. Then he talked about looking inside at the humility and not the words that they say repeating: he wants burning, burning, friends with your burning, burn up your thinking. I visualized the power of fire in a forest and how quickly it spreads gaining momentum with added fuel of the next tree nearby. Does this mean we are to share the burning of seasons that we experience growing us to the next level with those nearby us?
Some of this reading I found moving and then some of it crazy. I was constantly torn: “do I like this or not?” Like the part where it says: “Loosen your tongue and don’t worry what comes out.”
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