Stop the World!

For some reason the name of a play from the early 1960s, Stop the World – I Want to Get Off has been running through my mind. A quick look at my Google calendar would explain that reason. Are you feeling a little over-scheduled and hectic lately?

I hope not. My prayer for you is that you are enjoying life to the fullest and surrounded by like-minded, loving individuals. Then again, I am experiencing that and I still feel stressed sometimes. Why?

It comes from the fact that even if we are doing what we love to do we can still use a change of pace or a new venue from time-to-time. I’ve heard someone say, “Well at least he died doing what he loved!” Maybe if the guy had taken a break and re-focused his energy once in a while he’d still be doing what he loved instead of being dead.

In a recent email, Rev. Noel McGinnis reminded me of this fact:  We have freedom of choice, but not of consequence. While I truly believe we are Spirit having a human experience I also understand that our bodies were not meant to run non-stop, never resting. Yes, my car can be driven over 300 miles on a tank of gas, but soon after that it will come to a stop if I don’t refill the tank. The same is true for us.

At some point this week … please … stop your world. Take time for yourself. Be selfishly indulgent. Love yourself like you were taking care of the person who holds the biggest place in your heart.

                                                                                       

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Cash, Check or EZPass?

I use the Pennsylvania Turnpike quite a bit. In fact, since I moved back to the eastern part of the United States over ten years ago, I’ve used a number of toll roads, bridges and tunnels regularly. Knowing this would be the case, one of the first things I did when I returned to the East was sign up for the EZPass system.

This “drive through lane” or “whisk through the express” method of paying tolls saves me a tremendous amount of time and money. I don’t have to sit in lines waiting to pay, fumbling for the change or a credit card. I also get a substantial discount by using the system.

What amazes me is the number of people I see in the long lines who choose to continue paying cash or charging their tolls in person. I’m sure many of them pay the tolls as much or more than me, so why would they not make a simple call or go online to secure the account and use EZPass?

I suppose (and now you’ll understand why I’m using this long example) that it’s the very same reason we prefer to complain about our other problems and yet not reach out for prayer support to actually do something to change our situation. It’s the same reason we keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results.

Those reasons are, (1) our ego, and, (2) a desire to stay stuck. Our ego must be right; it demands it every time. Normally that’s a good thing because our ego is part of the mechanism we have for realizing that the stove is hot and we need to move our hand. It’s just that our ego has a whole lot of pride, an unnecessary need to think that it’s right all the time and a relentless need to be in charge. It’s time to thank your ego for its service, but put it on notice that you – not it – are the one who makes the decisions for your life.

Second, if we are stuck we’re receiving a payoff, meaning in spite of the fact that the situation sucks in some way we’re getting something out of not getting what we want. I know this sounds counterproductive, perhaps even a little cold and unfeeling, but it’s true. There’s a payoff in being a victim because we get sympathy from those clouded enough in their reasoning to actually buy into our nonsense. We also get to stop ourselves from being the true lights we are in the Universe. After all, if we are stuck in the mud it’s pretty darn hard to shine like a star.

Take a moment this week to see if your problems could use an “EZPass” solution. We do not pray “hoping” the prayer will be answered. Rather, we pray because we know the answer is already in the prayer. It’s free. Remember, there’s no roaming charge for God.

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

There have been a number of events in my life lately that have given birth to this week’s blog message. I needn’t go into details. Details often cloud the issue, don’t you think? Suffice it to say that I’ve been sufficiently advised by the Universe that we all need to remember this … now!

I can get so very distracted when there’s so much to do. I’m not completely moved into my new office at Unity of Harrisburg, yet my schedule is already full each day with meetings, counseling appointments, visitations and running a corporation with a six-figure budget. I hope this week between writing my talk for Sunday and getting out my weekly message that I’ll manage to get the boxes of books unpacked in my new office!

And that’s my point – it is not easy to write a talk while looking at boxes of books that “should” be put on selves, categorized and alphabetized. But the books are not more important than having a talk for my Mother’s Day service on Sunday. It’s about prioritizing and that means something may not get done.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. The books will get put on the shelves eventually and they are, for now, out of the way. But here’s the Cosmic Giggle when it comes to setting a thing or two aside instead of making oneself crazy attempting to do everything for everyone at once:  When we focus on just one thing and do it well, we end up completing the task in record time. Why?

The longer we keep in mind a positive outcome to our dilemmas the more energy we are focus on accomplishing the task instead of worrying about not getting it done. The reverse is also true, which is why the more anxious we become about what is not yet done the more frantic and scattered we find ourselves.

Consider your projects for today and pick just one upon which to concentrate your efforts. Reap the rewards of accomplishment as you feel satisfied about following through with your plans. Then, put your feet up and relax for a few minutes. You just worked hard and deserve a break!

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Are You Trying Too Hard?

If you are a person who works to be a better person, often through study and personal reflection, you may find there is always something more to do. It can seem like no matter how hard we try we just can’t seem to get our lives to reflect the excellence for which we strive.

Perhaps you are trying too hard. There are just so many hours in a day and so many days in a week. Yet we use our electronic devices to accomplish far more, often simultaneously, than we could possibly do without them. We may use medications to keep us awake or put us to sleep, disregarding our physical need for rest and our attunement to the cycles of life on our planet.

Take a moment to think about what really needs to be done today and what could just as easily wait. Our “to do” lists can roll through our lives like a bulldozer and that is no way to live. Eliminate at least enough from that list today to take a half hour to do nothing, or to do something that will revive, excite and enliven you in a way that you’ve not experienced recently.

That problem, whatever “that” is, will probably not even been a dim memory in a year or five years. Is it really that important now? Life is for living, not struggling. Life is to be enjoyed, not to be endured.

in Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Got Is...

Let me begin with the acknowledgement that you may substitute any other more palatable word for “God” in this discussion. Many people still see God as the old man in the sky who punishes us if we’re bad and blesses us if we’re good (maybe…if He’s feeling so inclined).

In the New Thought Movement we have a very different concept of God as an intelligence with which we have a direct connection. But, if Spirit, Divine Love, Universal Intelligence, or something else works better for you, I ask that, for the purpose of this discussion, you just substitute that term for God.

When we pray affirmatively we acknowledge the unification of ourselves with God. And yet, even that statement is hollow. “With God” still indicates a separation. How can we be “with” something if we are part of it? How can we be “part of it” if there is only One?

BAM! (That’s the sound of the brick wall with which you may have collided after reading the above paragraph. I dearly hope that you have had your morning coffee before reading this, or at least have been awake for a while!) The confusion and disconnect felt when discussing the Oneness of the Universe stems from two basic reasons:  language and perception.

English and most other modern tongues are not languages of inclusion or unification. They are, by the very nature of their structure, a means of communication that exemplifies separation, division and differences. It is not the fault of our languages, for our languages reflect the parameters of our culture. In English we call that frozen white stuff “snow.” One Native Alaskan language has 26 different terms for snow. Why? That area of the world is more affected by snow than other areas.

We talk in metaphysics about the “universality” of God; that God is timeless, endless and infinite. Yet we live in a world of beginnings and endings, and of birth, life and death. We live a linear existence in a holistic universe. The truth is that whenever we finish the sentence, “God is…” with anything we immediately limit God. How can we begin to describe the infinite with words designed to convey the finite? This is a situation in which words alone cannot be the most effective way to communicate. The definition must be felt, internally and personally.

We also describe God as “all-knowing” and “all-powerful.” God is neither. Does that surprise you? You see, if God is all there is then God is not all-knowing; God is Knowledge. God is not all-powerful; God is Power. Re-read this paragraph. Breathe into it. Let it settle into your consciousness and feel your emotions, for words alone cannot effectively conceive this notion.

We must be careful in prayer to acknowledge our unity. But at the same time we would do well to cut ourselves some slack so that we don’t get hung up on worrying about whether or not we are expressing ourselves as universally as we feel we should. You cannot pray the wrong way, though with practice we can make our prayers more effective.

Go with what is in your heart, but at the same time be cognizant of the words you use. What we say is reflective of what we believe. And, what we believe is behind the thoughts we have that result in our experiences.

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Not Choosing IS Choosing

(Originally written April 6, 2012, but not published)

I’m a firm believer in blogging when you have something to say. This week I really don’t have a cute story, any deep insights to share or a foible of my own to report for amusement and education. It’s a busy week with extra services for Holy Week, caring for my Dad and living the life I have chosen to live – all good stuff, actually! But a full-out, blog to share – Iit ain’t happening.

We all have choices to make in life. When our lives get overly complicated and we are in the “busy-ness” of life, it can be enticing to “just let things happen.” As I told my Unity congregation last Sunday, “Not choosing IS choosing.” If we decide to live life that way then there is one rule: We don’t get to bitch about the results if we don’t like what shows up.

If you are celebrating Good Friday and Easter, or observing Passover, may your weekend be blessed by renewal, rebirth, resurrection and the joy of spring!

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Consequences

(Originally written March 30, 2012, but not posted)

Whether or not we are aware of it, the Universal Law of Cause and Effect operates at all times in our lives. Our thoughts, both conscious and unconscious, are constantly forming our reality. The results of those thoughts produce what we think are rewards and consequences.

It is our ego that is into judging, not the Universe. We judge some outcomes and situations as rewards, sometimes even miracles. Other results we deem consequences or occasionally disasters.

It is easiest to understand this concept when we have created and achieved a goal, or when we have planned some event and it falls apart. We see these situations as achievements (rewards) or failures (consequences). Then we get caught up in what other people are saying. It is fascinating to me that no one ever seems to say, “I just KNEW that was going to happen!” about anything good. The statement is almost always attributed to failure.

The only illusion is that we can control our entire lives. We can try, but the result is a white-knuckle ride that almost always ends badly. Control is a result of our ego needing to be right, not living in the flow of life. We can use metaphysical principles to have a better life, but we cannot exercise complete control of the conditions around us.

What we can control is our reaction to conditions. We get to decide what we are going to think. No one else can take away that right without our permission. And to control our reactions we have to ask ourselves the question, “Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?” And, no, the answer is not to sit there and whine that you want both.

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry