There is One Power, One Source, One Divine Presence. This Oneness is All Powerful, All Knowing and Everywhere Present. What would our lives be like if we really, deeply knew this to be true? What would we let go of , what would we welcome into our lives and what would we rejoice in knowing?
We typically move through our lives giving our power to all sort of things which are not the One Power. We give our power to worries, to fears, to the argument between our brothers, to what should have happened last month, to what may happen next week, to the demands of our job and perhaps even to the voice in our heads to “go ahead and buy it, you deserve it”. This has the effect of diluting the full presence of the One Power in our life.
It is our choice as to how we spend our time and what we put our attention upon even though at times we see ourselves as sacrificial beings to others. We have free will to give our attention and concern to anything we choose to, anytime we choose to do so.
As long as we choose to give our power to material things, problems, making money, pleasing others at the expense of ourselves, we have a “dim” and somewhat disconnected view of the Power of the Divine Presence. Focusing our power, energy and attention completely on the outside world dulls us to the intensity and magnificence of All That Is. What we have focused on and attended to, grows and grows.
What does giving our power to the material world look like?
Joe lives in Vienna, VA. He is an insurance executive with two children. He goes into work 6 days a week though Saturdays are not required. He has Sundays off and spends times with his kids and wife that day when possible.
In talking with him about his life he said, my life is pretty routinized. I put on my suit every day, drive to my parking spot and then begin going through all the tasks for the day. Sometimes I look up and 3 hours have simply passed me by. I am never bored as there is always more to do. I miss seeing the kids more, though. They are often headed for bed by the time I get home and eat. I know that Kate is doing a great job with them. I am simply not around much, not as much as I would like to be, anyway.
DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES? No, not really. I’d love to have the energy for something like that. I am usually beat when I get home though. I try to catch a ball game on TV or perhaps watch a show.
I sometimes try to get some things done around the house on Saturday afternoon if I can get away from the office a bit early. Seems like my life is just passing on by while I give it all I’ve got.
ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE AT THE MOMENT? Not really, that is pretty rare. The insurance business has really clear mandates about serving people and making money while doing that. So, that is what I work with every day.
Joe came in saying he was tired all the time and had very low energy especially on Sundays.
In contrast to this scenario, Dan works in an advertising company in McLean, Va. He is the strategic adviser in the financial section of the company. He works 5 days a week and sometimes has work deadlines over certain weekends. He is married and has three kids.
In talking about his life, he said, I made a decision a few years ago to be in my kid’s lives. I try to get to their games and special presentations at school. If there is an issue about this at work, I take leave. Usually nowadays there is no issue with my taking the time to see their activities. I did not want to be absent while they grew up without me.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES OR HOBBIES? I play basketball one evening a week and serve on the board of a hospital near our neighborhood. I love to garden and most times I can wrangle one of the kids into playing with me in the dirt. I also love to cook but we have had to make some adjustments so the kids can eat early enough. I cook on the weekends now mostly.
ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE AT THE MOMENT? Yes. We have recently found a super young woman from Italy to live with us and help with the housework and the children after school so Terry can pursue her passion in therapeutic dance.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LIFE NOW? Well, it is like one endless surprise. Every day is different. I try not to get too concerned by any one thing that comes up. Things usually work out though sometimes in really crazy ways.
Dan came in to discuss meditation and how it might help him be more present and centered.
Which life description most closely fits how you see your life at present? When we make choices for the expansion of love of self and others, we attract experiences and energy in the world which reflect these choices we have made, including the actual jobs we are currently doing. If we are making choices while attending to the One Power, love and balance manifest. If we are making choices which leave us feeling down, depressed and exhausted, we are not making choices for Love in our lives or the lives of others. This does not mean that we don’t love ourselves or our families. It does mean that we GIVE OUR POWER, time and attention to problems, concerns and demands in the outside world rather than to issues of the heart.
If you are feeling stuck, you might ask, what am I letting run me? What am I doing which separates me from things which bring me joy, balance and connectedness?
Invite the One Power, One Source, into your life. Ask and you will receive even if you don’t know how any changes might be possible. Simply call in this One Power out loud into your daily life and watch what happens. Then write in the comment box and let us all hear about it!!
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