Well, this is a first. God has me moving and busy as always, but I don't believe I often make three, story posts in a row for three days straight. He must have something to say that perhaps some folks that may need to know it. I'm just the vessel. So the title of this particular post is "Strength And Endurance". Well, we all know what these two words mean and what they mean together too right? But I am going to use these two words to describe my prayers in troubled times. I am very sure that I am not the only one to believe in what I am about to say. You see when I am in trouble or Really Bad Trouble from many of life's trials and tribulations unless I am in severe pain or my life is being threatened, I do not ask God to remove my hardships and burdens. But instead, I pray for the "Strength and Endurance" to get through them. Because it has been said for centuries, "For All Things, There Is A Reason And A Purpose!". It's also been said, "Sometimes Ya Gotta Go Through Hell To Get To Heaven". If you have read the Bible or some, or most all spiritual texts around the world, then you will find in many places they are filled with characters who suffered in many different ways and some for very long periods of time. But more about that further down the post. But first, if you will allow me a few questions. How often do we not know what it is that we need until we need it? Or realize what we had until it is gone? Yet we never seem to forget what we want. Perhaps, that is, until we get it, then, we want something else? Is there ever a greater time, for the appreciation of a life other than when it has been taken from us? Why wait? It has been said that,..... "When You Are Aware That Your Days Are Numbered, Then There Is A Superlative Revererance For The Precious Gift Of Time! And No Other Time Than When We Are Faced With Our Own Mortality. Or to put it more crudely, "When You Are About To Die, The Only Thing That Might Be On Your Mind Is Wanting To Live!", But some folks like me are not afraid of death. That is could be until I find myself at Deaths Door. But who knows? I may not be scared and ready to go with trust in my God that everything will be alright if I just let go. I may even be looking forward to peace in paradise as I choose to believe in it. Or I may just Freak Out altogether LOL! There are three things that I do for sure "right now". And that is at this moment, as in every single moment. (1) I Live! And I live like it was my last day on earth. Because it might very well be. (2) Another thing I know at this moment is that I have no regrets. I have made peace and amends for all my sins as I continue to do so every day as I sin every day. (3) I believe that all things that occurred to me in my past were Opportunities to gain knowledge from Right and Wrong. Yes, they were all my choices Good or Bad. But I feel that they were my path to choose from. Either way, was a learning lesson. Experiences that had I chosen to learn from. Then to not just learn, from the joys and consequences so to become aware, but actually apply the wisdom into action, cognitive understanding, multi-perspectives, broader insights, expanded consciousness, and an endless array of spiritual principles to acquire a more moral compass. Moral Compass? Ugh, ahem, let's just say, "Progress not Perfection. LOL! Perfection is impossible to achieve as human beings, of course, That is the whole point of being fallible. To overcome our never-ending imperfections, And like sinning every day, and asking for forgiveness every day, again, that's the whole point of being fallible, as i choose to see it. How many of you non-Catholic(such as myself), think that the practice of "Confession" in the Holy Church is useless and makes no sense to confess and then go out and sin some more? And then to keep coming back to confess every time they sin again and again?. Even if they keep committing the same sin over and over? Who would say, "That's is Fake and Insincere and God would never forgive that!" I get it! I totally get it! I always thought the same thing! It was like WTH? Ridiculous. But as I mentioned above about multi-perspectives and broader insights today and every day I recover new ways to see things now. And this is possible because I no longer decide who and what God forgives and doesn't. Because I am too busy asking for my own salvation to be busy with other sins. Or is it known as a "busy-body" No, I have not converted to Catholicism, nor have I ever step into a Catholic church, As a matter of fact, to some, I may be lost or found within myself as a proclaimed Christian! But without a doctrine to follow or belong to. I do not belong to any religious congregation at all. But I have visited many and will go when invited to any place of worship if I choose to. It's like exploring different cultural foods! It's fun and educational! However many religions that I have ever attended strongly believe that their religion is the only truth. But since I believe that Christ is the only truth I don't feel the need to follow anyone else but Jesus. So can I be a Christian without a church? I am almost certain that many folks have something to say about my lost and confused soul. But if you are so kind as to worry about my soul? Instead of warning me of damnation, could you pray for my salvation instead? Thank you. I'll pray for yours too. So about confession. It came to me one day. I believe that I must ask forgiveness every day. Then I said to myself, Hmmm? Could that be the same thing as going to a priest and confessing one's sin again and again? Although I chose to go directly to the source. LOL! But again folks may say that I am not doing it the right way? I am not sure that there is a wrong way. Some fundamentalists may say, "The Bible says, The Bible says!" like a proselytizing parrot (squawk). I read the Bible quite a bit. It's very interesting with lots of great stories and teaching moments. It isn't contradicting as many would say but rather requires "Spiritual Discernment" It isn't a matter of interpretation to me either, but I believe that there are the same principles applied in different ways depending on what is occurring at the time. I believe in one truth and also believe in multiple truths. God is all things and created all things, so other than The Son why would I think that there is only one truth? If you find my way of thinking confusing that's Ok. It works for me. And it saved my life too. And if I am wrong? I know that I will be forgiven. But again Wrong is a good way to learn Right for folks like me. Now, let me throw you this insane ideological, theological-philosophy of mine at you. Are you ready? You may not understand this one either if you still believe that my thinker is broken. But I feel that since God had me on this self-destructive path in my past, (in which I had survived by his grace alone), then I just might have asked for the worst! Yea I know that it sounds Crazy to imagine how anyone would ask for a horrible thing to happen to them. But how else could a person such as I get such an expanded consciousness than to have endured some of the most challenging situations to overcome? Did I know somewhere inside me that, "God Never Gives Us Any More Than We Can Handle?" If you come out of the storm, (If you do) you bring with you so much incredible awareness. Such a greater appreciation for life and all things, even the very smallest of things, are BIG! That the tiniest speck of light in a room consumed with darkness is Bright. And if you have lived in a cave for many years that light may even be blinding! So at the beginning of this story post, I opened with, "Ya never know what you had until you no longer had it? But for me, I never knew what I was missing until now! And I no longer have anything to lose! And all I want to do most of the time today is to help folks feel the same way. You don't have to go through what I did to gain what I have. It is in you already, It always has been. Sometimes it's just about having a supportive person in your life to help you recognize all your gifts, abilities, talents, skills, or whatever makes you a confident, empowered, inspired, and happy person! Thanks again for letting me share! Love Is A Necessity. Happiness Is A Choice.
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AuthorHowdy there. My Name is Clay Burton. I was born in Galveston County, Tx in 1963 and have lived in Hitchcock Tx. for at least 40 years now. but only the past year or so I have become a very active volunteer in local community services here in Hitchcock. Categories |