Now what?

“We are very near to greatness: one step and we are safe; can we not take the leap?” Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is a dream inside of you. You don’t remember how it got there because at this moment it seems more like a distant dream than a desire. There was a time you inspired others with it. There was a time when you anticipated the new day with childlike excitement because of it. There was a time when your dream spilled into your conversation and escaped into your vocabulary. There was a time when everyone admired your boldness and courage for living your dreams. There was a time your eternity was vertical.

Now you live life horizontally. Where the higher force is absent and dreams disappear from the world. All the dust you have gathered is gone; your dream has become one of the forgotten languages. Thousands of books have been written to reconnect you to the vertical but your mirror remains completely uninfected.

Now what?

You weren’t meant to live a life from paycheck to paycheck. You weren’t supposed to blame everybody else for your failures. You were the one who was going to read more. You were the one who was going to love more. You were the one who was going to smile more. You were the one who was going to give more. You were the one who was going to achieve more. You were the one who understood. You were the old soul. You were the one who was curious. You were the one who participated in everything. And certainly no one or anything could stop you. You became the great attraction, the unending journey. A wonder of wonders. Unique. Unparalleled. Unprecedented.

But now the inner flame is hidden and your next moment is coming out of negative emptiness. Now there are days and nights of dreamless sleep. You are very near to greatness. One step and you are safe. One leap and you are there. Hesitation is natural. Your dream is such a big declaration and you feel so small, but you cannot keep it within you. You cannot hide it. You are just like a pregnant woman – how long can you hide your pregnancy? One day you are going to give birth to your dream. Each flower declares it! Millions of stars declare it! Each morning the sun declares it! You cannot hide Truth or beauty or what is good. For these are the fundamental trinity of existence.

Now what?

Each To his Own Ability

…And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, into each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Matt 25:14-15

 We will be sailing in rough waters today…….

For many things will have to be understood without religious reflex and prejudice. The scripture teaches that God gave us talents according to our abilities. Yet most of us have turned our God-given abilities into self-made dis-abilities through our own laziness, passive attitudes, and neglect.

Webster defines ability as the quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, and resources. Let’s examine the phrase “the power to perform”. God has given us the power to perform…

Another word for perform is re-create. God has literally given us the power to recreate our lives. But first, there are several abilities we must develop before we can begin to live the victorious life God intended: 

1. Strength is a measure of muscle, mental focus, endurance and stamina combined.
2. Dexterity encompasses a number of physical attributes including hand-eye coordination, agility, reflexes, fine motor skills, balance and speed of movement.
3. Constitution encompasses resiliency and health.
4. Intelligence includes mnemonic ability, reasoning and learning ability outside those measured by standardized tests.
5. Wisdom is a composite term for enlightenment, judgement, wile, willpower and intuitiveness.
6. Charisma is the combined measure of  persuasiveness and personal magnetism.
7. Comeliness is physical attractiveness and self-presentation.

To be continued…

Help Wanted!!!

The Harvest truly is great, but the Laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Luke 10:2

Yesterday, I read the unemployment rate had reached 9.5%. a 26-year high. What this literally means is that nearly 32 million Americans are unemployed. Miraculously, they are not out of work. There is still so much work to be done:

Our children continue to die on the streets of our cities and towns at the hands of their peers. The high school dropout rate in most major cities across America is nearing 50%. Reading literacy and basic writing skills have dramatically declined. Prescription drug abuse and addiction is a silent  pandemic and its concomitant suicide has become some sort of  bizarre “coping mechanism”. People spend more time talking to each other on Facebook than they do talking face-to-face.

In God’s economy, the unemployment statistics are reversed. In God’s economy, there is too much work and not enough applicants. At present, you may be unemployed, but you can still work. You can still teach a child or an illiterate adult to read. You can still get involved with our public schools which are facing unheralded budgetary cuts. You can still fight to rid your community of graffiti and gang violence. You can still serve meals at a homeless shelter. In God’s economy, there is no shortage of work. Besides, the pay and benefits are far greater.

You can choose to be wealthy in God’s Kingdom or you can simply sit and qualify as another unemployment statistic. As you continue your job search… through the classifieds, craigslist and Hot jobs… don’t forget to look at the large sign post in your community which reads: HELP WANTED!!! Laborers needed for the Harvest. Eternal benefits.

 

The Speck In Your Brothers Eye…

“Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? Matt 7:3

Today, don’t try to change anyone, not even your children, not even your sister or brother, not even your spouse.  Today, begin the transformation of changing Self. No one is in need of your change because you have not changed. Unless you change, your words will maim and cripple another. Unless you are transformed don’t move into the life of another. When you allow God to fill your dark places with light, then you can help. Then you can bless. Then there is no need to make an effort to change someone else. Love will flow from you just as light flows from a lamp, or fragrance flows from a flower, or the moon shines in the darkness of night. No effort is required. The pure transforming power of Light will illuminate a path for your sister and brother. Indeed, it will speak volumes without words.

M.E. The Mustard Seed

The disciples asked Jesus,”What is the kingdom of heaven like?” And he answered by saying, “It is like a mustard seed”.

Technology has achieved the miracle of greater comfort but it has not added a single bit to human happiness or love. There are indeed more conveniences but there is also more meaninglessness. This is because the more things that can be done through technology, the less you are needed. And the less you feel needed, the more you feel hopeless, useless, and life loses its joy. You can be replaced on your job. You can be replaced by your spouse. You can be replaced by your children. You can be replaced by society and never be missed. Life has lost its meaning because you no longer feel needed. There was a time you were needed. When your children were babies, you were needed. When you and your spouse first fell in love, you were needed. When you were first hired, you were needed. When the whole universe needed you, life had a fragrance, a significance, a meaning. But technology has replaced you.  And now, you no longer need you. You no longer trust you. Trust has completely disappeared. To the world, you have become small and insignificant. So Jesus said, ‘the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed’.

The mustard seed is a natural mystery. It is the smallest of seeds yet can potentially grow into a tree which reaches a height  between 15 and 20 metres tall (or 65′ 74/10 inches). And you are the seed of God’s kingdom. The world will look at you and see something small and insignificant, but God sees you as the seed and the tree. The world sees you as insignificant because you are too old, or don’t look like a model, or you don’t possess a college degree, or your credit score is low, or you were born on the “wrong side” of the tracks. But God says, you are needed. You were borne into this world to solve a problem, to give a cure, to add beauty, to save a life. You are necessary. You are like the mustard seed.

What is the kingdom of heaven like? It is up to you to answer this question.  Not God. For your answer will give your Life meaning.

M.E. The Mysterious Elements

M.E. The Mysterious Elements 

What do you want? Do you know?

Most people think they know what they want, but really end up only desiring and praying for what others have. You say you want love but your words create discord. You say you want peace but war wages within. You say you want happiness but your thoughts are heavy with the odor of self-pity and negativity. Each day it feels as if something is holding you back from becoming the person you want to be. You are asking the universe for so much but you are not willing to give back even a little. That’s because you don’t realize that the universe is a open hand, not a closed fist. You need an alchemical change. You need to change the chemistry of your thoughts and actions. Indeed, you need to listen to the silent instruction of your heart. You can become what you desire in your heart of hearts… but first, you’re going to have to put on the veil of love and remove the cloak of selfishness and shame. Until then, you will continue to be frustrated by your own prayers!