My soul Preached to me
“Now I realize that wherever I am contains all places and the distance I walk, contains all distances”
Have you ever stopped to wonder about the secrets of life. Are you enchanted by the uniqueness of every individual who walks this earth?
Have you stopped your thoughts and listened to the gentle breeze that shimmers through the fragrant pine?
Have you taken time out of your day to be grateful for every moment you are blessed with?
Unfortunately I suppose I am talking to a minority, who will stop and think for a moment.
But perhaps this special moment as you read this column today, may just make you think and re-kindle the memories of a loved one who is no longer here on earth, yet. though, just in the next room, awaiting that special connection to you through a thought form in your conscious or unconscious state of mind.
A couple of weeks ago I went to the funeral of a departed friend. A friend, though not knowing her well, had crossed my path and touched not only my heart, but throughout her life the hearts of many. I re-kindled an evening sat within a healing circle where we all faced our fears. Yet it was not an evening of negative thoughts, but one of smiles and humour. It was her laughter, her humour and her smile that radiated though the room like a glowing ball of white light.
It is also the inspirational people who walk this earth that help me to overcome everyday stresses, that appear impartial and hardly worth mentioning, compared with a battle for life.A battle for another breath, another moment to share a kiss, a hug a conversation, the existance of life. It would appear that when a person is confronted with a chronic or terminal illness, that the urge to turns ones life around, comes very much to the fore. Having known and worked with people who are chronically and terminally ill, I know for one that I am deeply inspired by many people who even when they are experiencing great pain, they are able to smile.
One middle aged woman, was once a strict religious church goer whose life was governed by the bible and the church. It was her life and she lived for every word. She wore blinkers and retained the prejudices that the book often teaches. That was, until she found out she had Cancer. She could not undertand why she a church going individual who prayed daily had been given this dreadful illness where she experienced so much pain.
As she battled for her life, she realized that she was not in touch with her soul. She realized that she wanted to change and accept people for who they were rather than what the church or the outside world created within the minds of men. As she faced a near death experience, she realized that she wanted life and not death. She realized she wanted to see the good in everyone. She realized that there was more to life. Having reached middle age, she realized that she still had not experienced life. Once when she was impatient with little time for anyone else, she stopped to think about the breath we are all blessed with each day. She stopped to listen to the swallows as they made their nests.
Perhaps more importantly, even though she prayed each day, she realized that she too had lessons to learn and paths to walk. If she did not experience this pain, this life changing situation, she would not have found time for herself or others. She would not have stopped and taken the blinkers off to see the universe as it is rather than what we are conditioned to think it is.
The greatest gifts are given to us when we are faced with a hurdle. Once we are able to jump over the hurdle we are able to look back and see that life goes on and we can overcome and achieve lifes hurdles, yet at the same time enabling us to feel good about it even though in those stressful moments they appear hard.
Have you ever walked down a pathway admiring the view?
Then for some reason you turn around and walk up the same pathway from another direction?
Well you, who have experienced this will know that one always sees things that you didnt notice before. Or that you are able to look at a view from a different angle. Well the same can be said of life. To look at life from another perspective, another direction rather than the one you feel is the only one. It would appear that when faced with Cancer for example. those who are weak and feel sorry for themselves walk the path of why me? with little conviction to change and do little to help themselves or others around them, yet they are teachers.
Those who walk the path, yet turn around and walk up the same path, yet from the other direction, gain strength and fortitude. They are able to look at themselves with conviction and strength. They are able to see that they are changing and that there is more to life. They are able to become aware of all that is and see that there is another way in which they can turn their life around.
Please try to take time out of you day to walk down a path and become aware of your surroundings. Then walk back and again taking in all that you see. Then note the differences that the two opposite pathways present to you.
This will help you to look at your life and your current circumstances differently, with what ever hurdle you are currently facing in your life today.
By Jason Nicholas Ritchie (C)
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