Sunday, October 11, 2009

This Journey Called Life

Life's Journey. This is an unusual entry for me in our blog. I've been thinking a lot of life and all the places I've been, the roads I've traveled, the changes that I've been through in my life. How I arrived here where I am now. I'm 54 years old, I have two grown sons in their early 30's and five grandchildren from ages 1 to 11. I've had a hard life, it has not been easy. I guess I've always escaped my reality by dreaming and living in fantasies I create in my mind. At the age of 35 I went through a profound spiritual experience. I won't go into all the details of how that came about or I'd need to write a book. Let's just say I arrived at a crossroad and had to decide if I was going to continue down the hard road alone or accept some help from something greater then me.

Out of sheer desperation I made the decision to accept help. So I began a new way of life and developed a spiritual belief system that I believe will help me get through any other obstacles I may have to face as I continue my journey in life. First let me say I believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience. I am human with all my faults and vulnerabilities just like everyone else. I shudder to think what my life would have turned out like
if I had refused the help that was placed in front of me. All I had to do was bend over and pick up the bag of spiritual tools and start. All I had to do was be willing, just willing. Since then I have realized some of my dreams I had never accomplished, I have learned that all that really matters is love and that we are here to enjoy life. For me art and gardening is how I enjoy life!

I feel a profound need to write this entry and I am going to quote from a book called "A Return To Love" written by Marrianne Williamson. Because she says it better then I can.

I've changed a couple of words so that it will fit anyone's spiritual belief system, rather they are Christian, Pagan, Jewish or any other faith.

"You will never lose your way for something greater then you leads you."

"When we surrender to something bigger than ourselves - to a universe that knows what it's doing. When we stop trying to control events, they fall into a natural order, an order that works. We're at rest while a power much greater than our own takes over, and it does a much better job than we could have done. We learn to trust that the power that holds galaxies together can handle the circumstances of our relatively little lives.

Surrender means, by definition, giving up attachment to results. When we surrender, we let go of our attachment to how things happen on the outside and we become more concerned with what happens on the inside.

The experience of love is a choice we make, a mental decision to see love as the only real purpose and value in any situation. Until we make that choice, we keep striving for results that we think would make us happy. But we've all gotten things that we thought would make us happy, only to find that they didn't. This external searching - looking to anything other than love to complete us and to be the source of our happiness - is the meaning of idolatry.

Where we have an attachment to results, we tend to have a hard time giving up control. But how can we know what result to try to achieve in a situation when we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow? What do we ask for? We say "My desire, my priority is inner peace. I want the experience of love. I don't know what would bring that to me. I leave the results of this situation up to the Universe. I trust it's will.

To relax, to feel the love in your heart and keep to that as your focus in every situation - that's the meaning of spiritual surrender. It changes us."

So once again I am at a crossroads. I want to hold on to my idea of what will make me happy but I seem to be being led in another direction. So its time for surrender again as I continue my journey through this experience called Life.


12 comments:

Haunted Swamp Designs said...

Sherry, Dear sister,
What ever choice you make will be the right one for you. Stop at this cross road and look in all directions, stop, think, reflect. Maybe you only need to travel a new road to learn from it. Maybe you will only travel your new road for a short time and return to the old one you detoured from. You may even keep on your new road to learn more of your self, what your needs are.
Travel well my friend and remember we will surround you with light and power.
Blessed Be!
Lynda

Sycamore Moon Studios said...

Thanks for sharing this. I needed it today.

Hilary said...

Thanks for adding my button. I put yours up on my blog.

Unknown said...

Thank you Lynda! Just what I needed to hear!! I love my online friends and you are certainly one I appreciate! :)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a beautiful post. We are all in this together and share so many of the same difficulties. I think one of my most profound lessons is learning to not worry...to know that I am not in control and that I can turn my problems over to a higher power. I share that with anyone that will listen! I love the wonderful quote. Blessings to you.

Sarah Sullivan said...

Oh Sherry...I am in tears hon.. I so understand what you are saying here! So deeply feel your struggle here!! You are surrounded not only by love and light but those of us who love you and value you!!
The passage was wonderful hon..I so deeply believe this is the truth.
I am standing beside you Sherry can you feel me there? I am here you know this..what ever you need!
Love you, Sarah

Anonymous said...

Hello Sherry...it's lovely to meet you...thank you for your comments on my post about "Christian Witches"...I am enjoying everyone's feedback...

And thank you for snaffling my button!
I am going to snitch yours too right now!

This post of yours is very profound...I hope you have a safe journey...wherever it may lead you...Celia.

Anonymous said...

I'm now following you too...so I can find out where your path leads...not that I'm a nosey pants or anything...he he!

(us artists have to stick together!)

Suzie said...

Sherry, I've always felt that for whatever reason, creative people face more challenges and cross roads in their lives, but maybe it only seems that way because they are more sensitive and aware of them.

By its very nature, creativity is a restless energy, always driven by that need to express yourself in a way that pleases you, but like the double headed dragon, when you are feeling the most content, the other head breaths fire, stirring up that restlessness again, and the quest is on. It keeps you from becoming complacent, although at times, the journey can be exhausting.

You are wise beyond your Earth Years, to have seen, acknowledged, and accepted your spiritual path when you did. You are right, it will continue to hold you in good stead in your continued path.

The direction that your energies are drawing you, can be both exhilarating and a bit frightening. .the unknown has that affect on us. But the path isn't bordered by solid walls. It is your choice to explore off of the path any time you choose, or to retrace your steps, if you like.

With your Spiritual Guidance in place, along with your very supportive friends, I'm sure that you're going to discover new horizons, new insights about yourself that will only enhance your creative soul.

May the Spirits protect you, and keep you safe in your new journey.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much ladies! All of your responses have touched my heart! I am blessed to be in the company of such beautiful souls.

Bridgett said...

We'll always be here to help you through this latest transition in your life. :)

)O(
boo

Kreativbua said...

Thank you for that beautiful post! I am so glad I found this blog ;o))

Blessed be