In the meantime to encourage our discussion of how we choose beliefs, our guest author, Scott Forrester, The Aware Athlete, was kind enough to send a few words that I think are fascinating, regardless of what our belief is about walking on water:
"A lack of belief may be actually the belief that life just happens to us. While that may be partly true I think active belief is more creative, more of a sharing with the process of life. So belief and creating the life we want are very active processes or choices, even moment by moment choices.
I am reminded to the story of Jesus walking on water and Peter getting out of the boat and coming toward him. Then a storm arose and Peter's attention was drawn away and toward the danger and the chaos around him and he began to sink.
So indeed belief as a moment by moment thing is the ability to still the mind, to get out of the way of what hinders that which is really possible, to stay on cusp of the wave. This is viewing each day as an opportunity for growth."
I've never thought of belief as a moment by moment thing - have you? I'm going to go ponder the ideas Scott offers.
CLUE: Can you do one thing today that feels like growth? I'm going to rest instead of pushing myself to keep writing today - that will be growth of my ability to take care of myself. Let me know what growth steps you take.
love that you are considering rest as growth! We are all so productivity driven in our society, that self-care, especially rest, often goes by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that rest-as-growth perspective!
You are most Welcome Diane.
DeleteI am also keeping in mind something I read in Aging for Beginners. That being ill helps me work with my attachment to comfort, body, and control. As I really want to be comfortable, this is a challenge!
ReplyDeleteHi Nicky,
I feel like I just retired again after completing jury duty. It was 6 long boring days of sitting around after a 30 minute frantic drive on the freeway in heavy traffic. Parking was paid, but 4 blocks from the courthouse in the horrible downtown area. I walked past sleeping homeless people and one crazy old women screaming at everyone.
The last 2 days I was in the court room listening to voir dire of prospective jurors for a gruesome murder case. Thankfully they picked a jury before it was my turn and I was released. The walk back to the parking was filled with relief, but unfortunately through the rain as well. The drive home in the rain and dark was twice as long too. I guess my growth was being open to meeting a couple of new people and learning that at age 70 you no longer have to serve!
Hope all is well, been seeing the reports of heavy snow.
Love Nolan
Oh Nolan - That sounds like a very stressful experience. You described it so well! What a lot to deal with for six days.
DeleteThat you had the presence of mind to think of what you learned is amazing to me. Meeting new people ranks up there as satisfying connection needs and the knowledge that this was the last time, probably at least, that you will have go through this again is such good news.
I'm sorry you had to go through that but I'm glad it all turned out well and that you are safe.
Thanks for asking about snow - we did get five or six inches - the most for quite awhile. Today it is melting which is a mixed blessing as I know it will freeze again and then we have ice. I don't feel very safe on ice - Wendell says I need to practice walking on it so that will be my next adventure I suppose!
Thanks for reading and commenting - I like knowing what you are up to!
Love,
Nicky
I'm happy to be quoted - maybe if you don't mind, with a reference to my books, Faith Evolving, and (interestingly, given your title) Exploring the Presence.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of belief, I/we were handed a range of traditional apparently literal Christian beliefs. I think a necessary task as we mature is to keep examining these beliefs in terms of our on-going life experience. Some choose, or are able, to avoid doing so and can ignore any contradictions /conflicts. Others of us, maybe provoked by crises, work toward an integrity/ congruity of understanding. I have discarded beliefs in a male God entity, original sin, atonement theology, biblical literalism, and probably more. And the Trinity is in the ? box.But I have found deep truth in the healing restoring friendship of Jesus through the gifts of some extraordinary encounters with him. These were probably facilitated by personality type (INFJ), significant stress over a long period, and a committed prayer life. They changed my life. I'd be happy to share sometime if they are relevant or of interest to you.
Trish's message is precious to me so I am going to publish it almost in its entirety. Trish is a woman I met at the Shamanic Retreat in New Zealand and found to be so genuine and peaceful in her presence. She escorted me on two beautiful walks going slow so I could soak in the beauty.
DeleteI've asked her how to get a copy of exploring the presence so will see what she says.
Thanks Trish. I will mention that she lives in Wellington, NZ.
Thank you so much for your email and wise words. I am passing them on to a young friend who definitely has a growth mindset but still feels stuck with some of his early indoctrinations, especially those questioning one’s worthiness.
ReplyDeleteRe choice - I feel quite fortunate as I started questioning things at an early age – my parents were devout church goers but argued incessantly – they didn’t walk the talk - that made me sceptical and question the church’s teaching. Who made the rules God or man?
Thanks Nadeya! I am pleased that you passed on the blog to someone it might help. I love it when people do that!
DeleteI am impressed that your parents conflicts led to your questioning. That seems very mature and wise.
Thanks for commenting and reading.