Seeking something spiritual I can hold on to

November 5, 2013

This past week I have been thinking a lot about what spirituality looks like and how to move beyond my own distortions of what a God/The Spirit looks like.  Often when I think about God, I think of someone who is allusive, uncaring, judgmental and unfair.  Though my religious upbringing was filled with many wonderful spiritual connections and memories, when the road gets tough it is easy for me to focus more on those who have hurt and failed me, and the teachings that seem to leave me stuck.

How do I surrender my life to something that doesn’t feel solid?  Where do I find this rock that feels real and brings me peace?  For me it begins with finding a little bit of openness, to watching for the spiritual, for sensing what works.  What truths brings me to grace and love?  If I can clear the slate, something new may be able to enter.

What I want to believe, what feels spiritual to me:  There is something powerful and spiritual when I look at the mountains and the ocean, when the leaves change in the fall, when thunder strikes in the sky, when plants grow, and when a baby is born.  I also feel a spiritual power when I truly connect with people, when I take in love and grace, when a coincidence seems beyond my understanding, when I meet a soul mate, when wisdom and clarity come in a time of need.  I can feel something different when I hear or read a truth, when people’s lives are an inspiration, when someone forgives me for my wrongdoings, when I give grace from somewhere beyond me.  I feel something powerful when in a meeting of people sharing their hardships and people give compassion and kindness, when I am meditating, when I am listening to inspirational music, when I move forward in recovery and healing.  I feel a sense of humanity and spirit when I am humble, serving others, in need, and vulnerable.   There is something amazing that happens in yoga and when running, being intuned to my body and what has been given to me.  I feel a release when I am grateful.

I can trust that the Spirit is not people, things or places.  It can be in all of these things, but it is not these things.  People bring both the spirit and the human, religious people do the same.  None of us can claim to truly know all about the spirit or about his/her truths – this is why it is called faith.

May the truth continue to reveal itself to me, may the Spirit guide me today.

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2 Comments | 12 steps for chronic pain, Recovery and Healing, Spirituality | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Elissa T

Connecting With God

July 8, 2012

Ways of connecting with God

    1. Serve others
    2. Watch for it around you, with people and situations that arise
    3. Ask God questions, and listen and watch for the reply
    4. Spend time in nature
    5. Treat it like a relationship. Set aside time to be with Him/Her.
    6. Pray to God – share struggles and concerns, as well as gratitude and blessings
    7. Listen to God. Listen to answers of concerns, wisdom, love and guidance
    8. Meditate – Time in silence, acknowledging, accepting and seeing what is
    9. Find a spiritual small group – to grow and learn from others who are seeking spirituality
    10. Attend a 12 step meeting. Many are spiritually focused. It is inspiring to see others heal from their addictions/c0-dependencies.
    11. Spend time in spiritual community – a larger organization with ideas and beliefs like your own
    12. Listen and sing spiritual songs –
    13. Journal to God
    14. Exercise – running, hiking, yoga, etc, are all ways of connecting to your body, as well as to a Spirit higher than yourself.

Key things to remember about spirituality

    1. God loves me right where I am, not where I think He wants me to be.
    2. My feelings, are just my feelings. If I don’t feel God, it doesn’t mean he has abandoned me.
    3. God wants to connect with me, and is less concerned how I do it, and more concerned that I do it.
    4. I might have consequences, or feel disciplined for my behavior, yet I am not being judged or condemend.
    5. The actions I take don’t make me worthy or unworthy. Being aligned with my Higher Power gives me a more abundant life, and connects me closer with God and others.
    6. I always have a choice. I can choose to accept the guidance of a spiritual source, or I can choose to follow my own will or another set of principles. No one makes the choice for me, and I don’t make the choice for others.

 

Leave a Comment » | Chronic Pain, Daily Living, Spirituality | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Elissa T

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