As the weather grows cooler and the
leaves change color on the trees and
fall
to
the
ground,
I contemplate.
A season has come to an end.
My favorite season, farewell summer.
My heart feels apprehensive going into
this cold new season,
knowing the pain of winter.
But seasons are part of the cycle of life,
causing growth, where we would otherwise stagnate.
There is no advance without pushing through
the cold and the pain.
This is a season of reflection and quiet,
the quiet growth of the sleeping giant
A chance to renew and restore,
releasing the bad
-AND the good-
in favor of what is to come.
It is in this somber season that I find myself
after the quick growth of the summer,
becoming reaquainted with the personal I.
Still waters run deep, as my spirit settles in
absorbing the warmth I surround myself with.
Until the new growth and sun of spring come once again
and the cool depths warm into brilliant growth and adventure for another season.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
i have a problem with religion...
Yes, I grew up in it. Right up through my early 20's even. I guess it worked well enough for me then. Gave me something to throw my passion into for a while.
But it really held me back in many ways too.
I think my biggest issue with religion is all of the focus on "God" and "heaven". Not that there is anything wrong with believing in a higher power, or believing in life after death, either.
My problem, is that most people tend to let these two beliefs hold them back from realizing their full potential right now.
I've heard it all my life:
"I can't wait until we get to heaven and leave all this sadness behind" or
"I would like to do this, but I'm waiting on God to see if it's His will" or
"I don't need any of those things because I have Jesus".
Yes, I even said things like that at one time - but I'm not sure that I ever really believed it.
I've come to the realization in my own life, that if I don't do it, it's not going to get done! I can sit back and wait for "God's will" until I get old and die - and nothing is going to change.
It is my life, and it is up to me to make it what I want it to be. No "ifs", "ands" or "buts" about it!
I got fed up with wanting to live a good life, have all the money I need and want to build that life, be able to do what I love and never have to work the rest of my life in a dead-end or boring job, etc etc.
I got fed up with being told that it was noble to be poor and that I should be content with working hard in a good steady job.
I got fed up with being expected to seek God's will on everything.
I got fed up with waiting for heaven for things to be good.
What if heaven isn't real?
Now I realize I probably just pulled the rug out from under some of you - "What?!? Heaven not real?" But humor me - put aside those thoughts and just imagine with me for a minute.
What if it isn't real? What if this one life here on this earth is the only shot you've got at experiencing anything?
It's awful short. I intend to live well into my 100s, but even 100 years is pretty short in the grand scheme of things!
What if this is all you've got?
What would you change in your life, if you lived like this was your only chance?
It is changing things in my life, this realization. Even as I am writing this, it is changing things in the way I think and making me realize that I still have more potential, more possibilities, than I had even thought an hour ago!
When you live like today is all you have - what kind of life would that be? What would you focus on and what would you accomplish?
I'm through with planning for heaven and waiting on God to tell me his will for my life. It's my life, and I am going to live it to the fullest and learn to enjoy every single moment, every single experience - and create the lifestyle, adventures, dreams, businesses, etc that I want!
Not only that, but I am going to share as much as I can with those around me, to enrich their lives and encourage them to do the same. So if you're going my way, come walk alongside, and let's boost each other toward where we want to be in the here and now!
But it really held me back in many ways too.
I think my biggest issue with religion is all of the focus on "God" and "heaven". Not that there is anything wrong with believing in a higher power, or believing in life after death, either.
My problem, is that most people tend to let these two beliefs hold them back from realizing their full potential right now.
I've heard it all my life:
"I can't wait until we get to heaven and leave all this sadness behind" or
"I would like to do this, but I'm waiting on God to see if it's His will" or
"I don't need any of those things because I have Jesus".
Yes, I even said things like that at one time - but I'm not sure that I ever really believed it.
I've come to the realization in my own life, that if I don't do it, it's not going to get done! I can sit back and wait for "God's will" until I get old and die - and nothing is going to change.
It is my life, and it is up to me to make it what I want it to be. No "ifs", "ands" or "buts" about it!
I got fed up with wanting to live a good life, have all the money I need and want to build that life, be able to do what I love and never have to work the rest of my life in a dead-end or boring job, etc etc.
I got fed up with being told that it was noble to be poor and that I should be content with working hard in a good steady job.
I got fed up with being expected to seek God's will on everything.
I got fed up with waiting for heaven for things to be good.
What if heaven isn't real?
Now I realize I probably just pulled the rug out from under some of you - "What?!? Heaven not real?" But humor me - put aside those thoughts and just imagine with me for a minute.
What if it isn't real? What if this one life here on this earth is the only shot you've got at experiencing anything?
It's awful short. I intend to live well into my 100s, but even 100 years is pretty short in the grand scheme of things!
What if this is all you've got?
What would you change in your life, if you lived like this was your only chance?
It is changing things in my life, this realization. Even as I am writing this, it is changing things in the way I think and making me realize that I still have more potential, more possibilities, than I had even thought an hour ago!
When you live like today is all you have - what kind of life would that be? What would you focus on and what would you accomplish?
I'm through with planning for heaven and waiting on God to tell me his will for my life. It's my life, and I am going to live it to the fullest and learn to enjoy every single moment, every single experience - and create the lifestyle, adventures, dreams, businesses, etc that I want!
Not only that, but I am going to share as much as I can with those around me, to enrich their lives and encourage them to do the same. So if you're going my way, come walk alongside, and let's boost each other toward where we want to be in the here and now!
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