As human beings we each have innate abilities to overcome any situation and to learn and grow. Our experiences in life are supposed to aid us in our spiritual development, but the physical side of our realities usually trumps the metaphysical side. It is our humanity that makes this so.
As a college student, I took a class on dream interpretation. I was truly fascinated by the concept of decoding the symbolism in our dreams. Through that class I learned that as we are sleeping our dreams are meant to teach us lessons and that seldom are they about what they seem to be about.
For instance, a dream about death is really not about death in the physical since. Death dreams symbolize the need for something in our lives to "die" in order to make room for something new to take its place. That something could be behaviors, relationships, thoughts or any number of things that have outgrown their usefulness.
I have come to realize that the same concepts in dream interpretation can be applied to us in wakefulness. The character Rafiki in the Lion King movie said, "Look beyond what you see." Yes, I know that this quote is from a cartoon that was intended for children, but it is no less profound and if its targeted audience absorbs that message it could prove to very beneficial.
Events happen in our lives for very specific reasons and if it seems like the same thing keeps happening then its intended lesson has not been learned. Our souls attract to us what we need for spiritual development. We have to look beyond what we see in order to truly reap the benefits of the happenings in our lives- whether they seem good or bad.
One bright day in the middle of night two dead boys rose to fight. Back to back they faced each other, drew their swords and shot one another. A deaf policeman heard the noise, and saved the lives of the two dead boys. If you don't believe this lie is true, ask the blind man, he saw it too. ~Author Unknown
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Stormy Days
It is a beautifully stormy day. At 10 AM the sky is dark and gray. As I look out my window I can see my kids' outdoor toys blowing around our backyard as if waiting for someone to save them. Even though I know that I will have a mess of balls, pool toys, water guns and a bubble blowing lawn mower to clean up I could not be more delighted.
I love stormy days. They have such a majestic appeal.
Thunderstorms are usually not long lasting. They come with a raucous roar and they exit in the same bold manner. Afterwards, the sky usually becomes crystal blue with a brightly shining sun. Other than the puddles that were left behind there is no evidence of the drama that just took place.
I have come to realize that my life is much like weather. Sometimes there are stormy days. Sometimes the sun shines so brightly that its warmth reaches all the way into my soul. There are also those days when several thunderstorms join together creating a hurricane that knocks me off my feet with torrential downpours that soak me to my core. Those days are the worst and fortunately, the most infrequent.
To my dismay there is no supernatural weatherman who can accurately forecast the elements for me. There is no way to ever be completely prepared for the weather that may ensue. With that key fact in mind, I have learned to simply always carry an umbrella with me and not to deliberately stand in the way of forceful winds and lightning bolts. I appreciate the splendor of nature and I keep in mind that even the most "menacing" storms are only temporary.
I am learning to accept the natural course of things and see the beauty in it all.
I love stormy days. They have such a majestic appeal.
Thunderstorms are usually not long lasting. They come with a raucous roar and they exit in the same bold manner. Afterwards, the sky usually becomes crystal blue with a brightly shining sun. Other than the puddles that were left behind there is no evidence of the drama that just took place.
I have come to realize that my life is much like weather. Sometimes there are stormy days. Sometimes the sun shines so brightly that its warmth reaches all the way into my soul. There are also those days when several thunderstorms join together creating a hurricane that knocks me off my feet with torrential downpours that soak me to my core. Those days are the worst and fortunately, the most infrequent.
To my dismay there is no supernatural weatherman who can accurately forecast the elements for me. There is no way to ever be completely prepared for the weather that may ensue. With that key fact in mind, I have learned to simply always carry an umbrella with me and not to deliberately stand in the way of forceful winds and lightning bolts. I appreciate the splendor of nature and I keep in mind that even the most "menacing" storms are only temporary.
I am learning to accept the natural course of things and see the beauty in it all.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
Another school year is coming to an end. As I look at my children I can't help but to absorb all of their excitement. They have conquered another phase in their journeys.
They are young, but they work hard. They venture into this big building everyday without complaint and they hold their own without being obnoxious, disrespectful or aggressive. My little ones are kind, thoughtful and respectful. They are making their marks in the world and learning about themselves in the process.
Though my children are still very young, they seem to be developing a very good sense of who they are and don't waste a lot of time sweating the small stuff. I have a lot to learn from them.
As I sat in the parking lot at their school today fuming and fussing about a car that has blocked me in, my eight year old said, "Why don't you just beep at them?" How simple a solution? Why did I magnify the situation with my ranting instead of calmly thinking of a simple solution myself? Instead I sat there and devoted three minutes of my life complaining about the inconsiderate idiot who had the audacity to block me in.
After I explained to my son that the driver of the other car was aware that we were trying to exit the parking lot and obviously didn't care I realized that I actually had enough room to maneuver around the back of that car and get out of our space. It took a little more effort than it otherwise should have, but it was a painfully simple solution to a very minuscule problem.
In those three minutes I wasted so much time and exerted so much negative energy. I looked back at my children who sat patiently and calmly and I actually felt ashamed. Through the whole ordeal my daughter sat singing, not even acknowledging that I was in a semi rage and my son very intelligently offered me a simple solution. Sometimes I think that they are smarter than I am.
Once again my children have taught me a lesson. My only hope is that next time it won't even take me three minutes to realize what they already know. Life is too short to spend it barking and complaining and simple problems really do have simple solutions.
Thank you to my children for helping me grow.
They are young, but they work hard. They venture into this big building everyday without complaint and they hold their own without being obnoxious, disrespectful or aggressive. My little ones are kind, thoughtful and respectful. They are making their marks in the world and learning about themselves in the process.
Though my children are still very young, they seem to be developing a very good sense of who they are and don't waste a lot of time sweating the small stuff. I have a lot to learn from them.
As I sat in the parking lot at their school today fuming and fussing about a car that has blocked me in, my eight year old said, "Why don't you just beep at them?" How simple a solution? Why did I magnify the situation with my ranting instead of calmly thinking of a simple solution myself? Instead I sat there and devoted three minutes of my life complaining about the inconsiderate idiot who had the audacity to block me in.
After I explained to my son that the driver of the other car was aware that we were trying to exit the parking lot and obviously didn't care I realized that I actually had enough room to maneuver around the back of that car and get out of our space. It took a little more effort than it otherwise should have, but it was a painfully simple solution to a very minuscule problem.
In those three minutes I wasted so much time and exerted so much negative energy. I looked back at my children who sat patiently and calmly and I actually felt ashamed. Through the whole ordeal my daughter sat singing, not even acknowledging that I was in a semi rage and my son very intelligently offered me a simple solution. Sometimes I think that they are smarter than I am.
Once again my children have taught me a lesson. My only hope is that next time it won't even take me three minutes to realize what they already know. Life is too short to spend it barking and complaining and simple problems really do have simple solutions.
Thank you to my children for helping me grow.
"A Little Child Shall Lead Them"
Isaiah 11:1-10
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