Spiritual Things Matter

Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies. ~Charles E. Jefferson

I love this quote because I find it so true.

Life presents us with many choices in so many areas of our lives. We often make just the right choice for our present circumstance, and often simply think of it as luck. Then, there are times when we make a wrong choice. We miss calculate and we make a mistake. We are then devastated, and it tears away at us because we are at a loss of how to make right what has gone so wrong. Sometimes, despite our intense efforts, there simply is no answer at our disposal, and we must go on and do the best we can hoping to never repeat such a mistake again.

Such an experience can break us inwardly until we learn to gentle ourselves…toward ourselves, and realize that our humanness brings us so many hidden gifts. A profound breaking can often be the most profound gift for our hungry and longing heart.

Pain often drives us to want to look inward with a much more honest look. There, we begin to discover a deeper well within us.   Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,  “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

An inward look of honesty brings a heart of gratitude because we begin to realize a deeper meaning and purpose to our life.  We realize indeed that we want to change, that we want to grow, that we want to mature out of our childish ways into mature men and women.  We are thankful that the generosity of life places people into our lives that love us and accept us simply for who we are.

It is very sad when you meet a person who has never been able to allow the breaking of life to gentle them.  No time seems to be given to look at ones inward landscape with an honest eye and without fear, but rather they choose to project blame, criticism, and anger towards others which only serves to intensify their own anger as their ego of victim-hood goes on a rampage. Their minds become cloudy and diseased, having forgotten how to be truly thankful and grateful for the life that they have been given, and for the people that have been placed in their lives.  I wish for those people an awareness of a more gentle and more forgiving nature so that they may be able to find peace for themselves once more.

This Thanksgiving, I am deeply grateful for many things. Daily, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have my family.  Daily, I recognize that people are sent into our lives for reasons, and I feel profoundly thankful for each and every one of them.  Most of all, I am thankful for the grace that helps us to look inward, and to allow our thankful hearts to be transformed into a life of gratitude.

Wishing each of my dear readers a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Tags: Gratitude, Humanity, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be. ~Socrates

Being honest with oneself, without any sense of pretense, pride, or shame, is one of the most significant undertakings of a human life. It is at that moment that our outlook on life begins to change. One comes to a place in life where pretense is tiring and unless authenticity of existence takes place, all will have become a farce and a big lie that begins to build upon the next lie and then the next.

Self-honesty is also one of our most difficult undertakings and those who choose to take this path will find that they spend much more time in the process of becoming a loving and compassionate human being than they ever did in trying to “fix” others or the world around them. With much contemplation, it will become apparent that each human being has much work to do if they desire to evolve and grow in this lifetime.

I love this quote by Socrates, which I used today, because it brings this work down to the level where we all live. Each and every one of us projects our ideal onto the world. We want others to see us in the best light possible. We want to be seen as good, as caring, as intelligent and as someone who cares enough about others to contribute positively to their lives in some fashion. In short, we all desire to be good. These are tangible ideals and desires, and not at all impossible to attain. Yet, within each of our lives, it seems, there are many struggles and much pain to face. Motivations must be looked at honestly.

I have mentioned before how impressed I was by the work of best selling author and Psychiatrist, Dr. Scott Peck, and the conclusion he had come to after many years in practice. In one of his later books, Dr. Peck mentioned that the greatest healing a human being can encounter is through a total spiritual surrender and commitment. Similarly, the famous Swiss Psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, once had to be completely honest with one of his hopeless patients, Roland, when he told him, “Alas, neither I, nor my art, can help you, and your only hope is to throw yourself wholeheartedly into a spiritual program, for it is recorded in history that, although rare, recoveries have occurred under those circumstances.” Roland eventually had a dramatic recovery and he set the stage for what is known around the world as the “Twelve-Step Movement,” as well as other faith-based programs (Hawkins 2006). As a result of this advice, millions of people have been helped and healed in these types of programs.

A friend of mine, Dr. Steve, introduced me to a spiritual teacher by the name of Dr. David R. Hawkins who has changed my outlook on life more than anything else ever has before. Steve has also profoundly touched my life for the past three years. The result of our meeting has been a clearer understanding of my own inner workings, my desires and yearnings, and even of my greatest fears. This understanding has taught me the need to reach deeper within myself to find answers to some very difficult questions and the findings have been well worth the search. Steve has been very influential in solidifying my deepest convictions of God’s presence in my life as he has worked with me with understanding, kindness and compassion. I am very thankful for his life.

Dr. Hawkins explains beautifully, in his work, the reason why we struggle so much. He explains clearly and concisely that our ego, the lower and more primitive part within each of us, is tenacious in holding on, insisting on its own way and wanting to stay in charge. It plays havoc with our emotions and our lives when we allow it to be in control. Dr. Hawkins also explains though, that it is not something to be shunned or hated, but rather to be embraced and accepted. It is a matter of the “will” and re-training ourselves in recognizing that the God, who lives in each of us, has a much nobler path for us to walk. The experience of finding, choosing, and walking that path will prove to be life changing. Self honesty will lead this way.

Thomas Jefferson said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” It takes enormous courage to be honest with oneself. Looking at every detail of our lives and at every corner of our heart will bring to the forefront those things that need to be turned over to the grace of God. Such radical authenticity will bring greater freedom, peace, and happiness into one’s life.

I am honored to be able to attend a “one-day seminar with my husband,” presented by Dr. David Hawkins that will be held this November. This man is 80 years old and has committed his entire life to helping others and to spiritual research. His work is, I believe, profoundly important in the day and age in which we live. I am deeply thankful for the work he has contributed to our world!

No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the Kingdom of night. ~ Elie Wiesel

Gratitude is an amazing gift that we can and should utilize often. Gratitude adjusts our vision and it adjusts our purpose and desires in life. Gratitude brings a lift to a downtrodden spirit as one feels encouraged by the mere fact that one can indeed be thankful for something.

I have a note book sitting in the middle of our kitchen table and have numbered the lines from 1 to 1000, after which I simply put “and more.” I strive to teach my children that we have so much and I encourage them to write in this notebook the things for which they are thankful for. I don’t insist on a daily entry but I will gently remind them after a number of days have gone by, to think about the things they appreciate in their lives. It is amazing just how effective this has been. I often write in it myself because I value the importance of this principle.

Gratitude of heart is a wonderful habit to develop. We in America and the Western world in general, live in such a prosperous country that even those who are considered poor among us still have an abundance in comparison to so many people around our globe who are truly considered poor. Elbert Hubbard once said: “I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have than have things I am not able to appreciate.” I notice in my children that they often seem to appreciate a thing more while they desire and wish for it - yet, once it is owned, it is all too easy to simply take it for granted and even neglect it much of the time.

As we go through the “night seasons” in our lives, it is good to remember our blessings and to whisper a loving and thoughtful “thank you.” “Gratitude is the heart’s memory,” a French proverb tells us so beautifully. I find this to be so true and so meaningful because when we are truly grateful for someone or something, it has become part of us, it has become part of our very heart.

Of course, one is thankful for the home they live in, good vehicles to drive, and plenty of nutritious food to eat. Certainly one is thankful for jobs and financial gain in order to make a more comfortable life. But when I think of gratitude, other things come to mind as well:

I think of a sound mind and good health. I think of meaningful friendships and the laughter of our children. I think of husbands and wives who love and support each other no matter what their circumstances. I think of siblings who have known one another all their lives and the support and strength that relationship can bring. I think of parents and grandparents who have often sacrificed much in order to bring their children stability in this life. I think of integrity and honesty of character, which brings enormous personal power into ones life. It then aids us in making our choices in this life.

I think of the freedom we have to choose any belief system we desire and the freedom we have to worship God precisely as we see fit, openly with out fear of reprisal of any kind. I think of the gift we have to reach out in love in order to bring some healing to others. Yes, I even think of pain and losses as I realize that it shapes humans into who they are, and can often give us the grace needed of seeking higher meaning and a greater purpose in life.

Most of all, I think about our hunger for God Himself. A force that is so powerful and so strong that the mystery of Him who created us brings us into realms of possibilities never before imagined. It is in devotion to Him that He gives us glimpses of all that can be. In our gratitude for His beauty and for life itself, all fear seems to be dispelled and the abundance of possibilities emerges within us.

Gratitude, oh what a gift!

Gratitude is the heart’s memory.
~French Proverb

When one becomes more centered and focused on spiritual growth, one also becomes more grateful. Gratitude is one of the most powerful spiritual forces one can cultivate.

There are so many things in life that one can be grateful for. For every challenge that we may encounter, we can counter-balance that with many more other things that we are grateful for. If this is practiced often enough, the challenges set before us become increasingly less painful. It then allows our bodies to heal and our emotions to settle.

It also facilitates a discovery of our true self. To have a heart of gratitude involves a constant looking within and a willingness for self examination. It is a life of honesty! One must be willing to look at issues in a broader sense, willing to see things differently. And, by the sheer fact that one has broadened their understanding, obstacles often fall to the way side and gratitude is the only thing in ones heart. Gratitude in short, is a contemplative life of humility.

The most important principles are the ones that are timeless and most basic. Principles such as: good will, respect, integrity, lovingness, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, and above all, “gratitude.” These abiding principles will solidify our lives. And, with gratitude in our hearts, it will only lead us further into a path of a true spiritual seeker.

A heart that is grateful for all that God brings into ones life, may it be laughter or tears, is a heart that will sing with joy. It is a wise heart indeed, for in the discovery of all the things to be thankful for, one discovers God!

I am deeply thankful for all that has touched my life! ALL!

Viola Jaynes