Motivated By Spirit

I had cataract surgery on my left eye yesterday. They could not find a vein that would accept the sleep medicine; so I was kept awake and aware for the whole thing. Pain, there was none. Even when the good doctor said I should feel something; I only felt a twinge. Went back to see him today and he said all is progressing as it should be and the eye still being dilated has 20/25 vision. Blew me away! The doctor remarked how still I was during the procedure. I smiled and knew that my center of peace was holding. That all those hours I spent in meditation was paying off right there in the doctor’s office when I needed it the most. The day before this event, I participated in a discussion about peace and how individual peace affects world peace at the early service in church . I strongly believe that being in the center of peace ripples out to the wider world. I also believe if enough of us hold our beings in the center of peace we will see peace on earth in our lifetimes. I

I just returned home from the ceremony honoring the life of Sallye Nagley, who left this plane April 6 th of this year. I did not know Sallye very well. Although I have been seeing her over the years and was warmly greeted by her when we met in the aisle before and after the services we attended; I did not take the time to get to know her. That is my loss. We would hug and exchange pleasantries whenever we were face to face; that was the extent of our relationship. Everyone who spoke at her ceremony mentioned her questing mind and avid dedication to clarity. I would have loved to participate in conversations with her outside the mundane themes of how are you and have a wonderful day. Again it is my loss. As I listened to the songs she chose for her ceremony, I noted that we were both rooted in the Christian Church. Although her music choice would not have been mine, it is to be said that they expressed sentiment I hold from my days within the Christian Church. As

Watching one of my favorite tennis players, Raphael Nadal, defeat an opponent; the other player stepped up to the service line in the deciding game. His shoulders slumped, his body seemed plastic and his serving arm had little life in it. As I watched I noted his entire being shouted he was dispirited. The word caught my attention, diverted me from the match on the television and called me within myself. That instant I pondered the meaning of the word dispirited. What does it truly mean to be dispirited? The word implies a loss of spirit. But spirit is everywhere present and cannot be lost. Something other than an lost of spirit must be at play when the word is used. Spirit being always present then there can be no such state as dispiritedness. I probed deeper and found that Spirit is simply ignored. Spirit is waiting to be invited by any who is feeling Its absence to again become Spirited. Being spirited means living with the conscious intent of being in the presence

Sometimes I am tempted to pretend that the spiritual roots from which I sprung does not exist; it all seems to very punitive and old fashion. Then a piece of music from those very roots spring up and keeps repeating in my mind and I have to take another look from whence I have come. That music affirms my roots in the Christian Church and speaks to my connection to the God taught in that church. Today one such song ambushed me and kept repeating and repeating and repeating. That is my cue to pay attention and see what new insight might be gained from looking at it. I went to YouTube ; a habit I am acquiring. I listened to several versions of the song and was taken to a place where the theology was not as important and the central message that love is the foundation of it all. The song is the Love of God. A particular riff stands out. Those lines describe the vastness of God’s love for Its children. There is no language inclusive enough to define that love in its entirety.