Everything You Need

'Wanting' and 'needing' are two different things. It's often hard to differentiate when you lack clarity about your situation. But here's the nice thing:  You already have everything you need. Honestly, you do. 


If you don't agree, then perhaps we should look at this a different way. 


Everything you need is right there for you. Some people believe that God will provide. This is a positive outlook based on faith and I'm definitely a member of the "faith" team. But others have different and respectable viewpoints. We are part of a community (ecosystem, village, universe, nation, family- you name your circle of being here) that provides for us. And whether you know it or not, you provide something back to the community as well. Sometimes you get money and you provide work. Sometimes you get love and you provide support. Sometimes you get something while not providing anything today, but tomorrow you give and don't receive anything in return. You'll recognize the right balance. 


Today I heard about the disciples feeding the crowd with only 5 loaves and 2 fish. 5000 were fed and satisfied. I believe this on faith. I know people who volunteer, give, work and nurture with and for others, and all they receive back is satisfaction. I believe they have their souls fed. I know "takers" who seem not to give anything at all. I know they contribute in ways I can't comprehend.


But through all the moments of satiety and starvation, all the moments of fear and laughter, all the moments of need and satisfaction- one thing is certain:  everything you need is within your reach, so all you have to do is be open and see it. The Rolling Stones said it best:

          You can't always get what you want

          But if you try sometimes well you just might find

          You get what you need

I AM SO GRATEFUL!

http://www.gratefulness.org

http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/gratitude

http://users.elite.net/runner/jennifers/thankyou.htm

http://zenhabits.net/why-living-a-life-of-gratitude-can-make-you-happy/

Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?

There was a turtle in the middle of the road today. I was out walking my dog and we stopped to see what he was doing. He just sat there. He pushed his head out of his shell, looked around, and just sat there. I'm sure the view was amazing from his vantage point, but he was about as big as a cantaloupe and I didn't want him to get run over. A car drove towards us, and I just stood in the middle of the road, with my dog on a leash, to wave the car out of the way of that poor turtle. 


With the crisis averted, we found a stick to "urge" the turtle into the grass. That was one stubborn turtle. He wouldn't move. We pushed gently with the stick, but since he weighed probably 3 pounds, we had to scoop with some strength. That turtle just retracted to the safety of his shell and we pushed what now looked like a solid rock across the road and into the foliage beyond the curb. I felt badly that he scraped his belly shell all the way across the asphalt. But we got him to safety (or at least what I thought would be the turtle version of safety). 


And what a great story to help me visualize the forces of nature. Sometimes, when I'm just sitting around enjoying my life, powers much larger than I can imagine start poking at me with a stick. I pull in my arms and legs and retreat into my shell while I fight against change, unpleasantness, fear, anger, things I don't want to do and issues I don't understand. And then after the storm calms, I put out my head again, and I find myself on the soft grass, among dewy flowers, comfortable, safe, and with a new view on life. 


So I take away the lesson to be patient with the hard times, because it just might be the angels looking out for me when I can't see the road that I'm on is no longer safe for me. 

Tangled Minds

photo by be6a

We make our lives complex. 

I heard that God reveals Himself to simple creatures- the animals are for His pleasure in their innocence, the children know God in their purity, nature reflects God in its beauty. All entities enjoy the simple creation that they satisfy. But only humans, in our aging and growing self-awareness, challenge their surroundings. As we age, learn, experiment, improve, build and grow, we create complexities that alter our environment. Then we invent solutions for these complexities. Then we ponder, get frustrated, rebuild, expand and change. 

Yet it is in simplicity that we know God, find peace and meet our souls. We know our true self and find happiness in moments of quiet. How do we find this peace? How do we meet our higher power within (or above or around us)? 

Many people meditate. Some run. Most pray. Others sing. Whether you commune with nature, hug your pets, look deeply into the eyes of your lover, hold your child or cry in the night (or all of the above), know that you can find peace within if only you can get out of your mind. 

Are we not happier without the weight of the world upon our shoulders? Are we not meant to enjoy the beauty of this world? Would not our Maker want us to be happy? Are we not here for His love and pleasure? Why, then, do we let our minds weigh down with the complexities of human creation (our own making)? 

Peace to you. Live in harmony with yourself and your neighbors. Untangle your mind, however you can- and be happy. 

Leadership Among Citizens

As the American celebration of Independence continues this weekend, I'm reminded of the fortitude of our forefathers. So many worked with undying passion to set this country on a course of independent, citizen-led government. The founders spoke of freedoms and rights and other intangible ideals that encompass what we know as the perfect United States government.

But ah, if only it were perfect. It is far from that. There are challenges of money and time, ethics and integrity, doubt and fear. Too many leaders are power-hungry, attention-seekers and complainers. Too many citizens fail to vote, criticize without solution and speak ill of the system. There is both inaction and over-reaction. We face poverty and border conflict, education maladies and obesity, discontent and recession.

All of these challenges are but a reminder of our call to action. If one truly believes in the ideals of patriotism and democracy that we celebrate this weekend, may we all be called (just a little bit more) to action. Let us serve our country (by military service, emergency service, medical service, educational service or government service). Let us voice our opinion loudly so that our community-elected leaders will know our needs and desires. Let us set a good example for children. Let us care for our elderly, our needy and our neighbors of all kinds. Let us be patriots. 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."