Tuesday, 20 November 2012
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The Path of Growth and Healing
There are many obstacles that have to be faced in order for growth and healing to occur. My own background is both a help and a hindrance, for all of my strengths come from it as well as weaknesses. Failures can be an important part of the journey, for they are what lead to greater self-knowledge, along with the necessity to develop patience towards the slow -- often laborious -- process the spiritual path is about. Not too many shortcuts, if any.
It is about one step at a time, getting up when needed, along with self-forgiveness and a form of stubbornness that will not allow leaving the path, or the call of grace. It is not about good feelings, though they can be helpful, but about dealing with those times of life that wake us up and push the process of making choices based on what we believe to be right, or to give up and seek to escape the endeavor that I believe that life is all about. It can seem easier to leave the path, but in reality it is not.
St. Paul uses the simile of running a race and the need for stamina, which is built up over time and use. Things are not what they seem. Our lives and choices are important, for they have a deeper and wider affect that most realized. Seeking, striving and the search for truth are I believe a response to a call that comes from the very center of our being.
To run from this process invites chaos and death into our lives, both inner and outer. We choose; to walk a path towards truth is to break away from the deep, often unconscious influence of whatever time and culture we live in. Waking up can be a painful journey, but one we are called to. In any case, our individual deaths will be ‘the’ wake up call, for then all truth will be revealed and the seed that is our death will bring forth the fruit of our lives. Whatever fruit we bring forth will be what was truly chosen and freely lived out. Each path has its price and sufferings along the way. One leads to the open mystery of reality, the other to and ever smaller world consisting of only the ‘self’ imprisoned in an narcissistic prison that is self made. The fruit of ones life is seen only by God, none can judge the deep center of another, though we try and I believe we always fail.To continue
An open heart,
one that seeks
is a choice,
though the journey dark
filled with both joy and pain.
The path often hidden,
walking over the void.
To continue is an act of faith,
allowing the heart to expand
into infinity.
What are some of the obstacles you face as you walk down the path of healing and growth? Why is growth sometimes a painful process? When have you turned away from growth, and what setbacks did you face as a result?
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About the Author
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- From: markdohle
- Name: markdohle
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- About Me: I am a Roman Catholic, who seeks to ever deepen my love of Jesus Christ.
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Comments (11)
biblical Paul is just another historically mythical Story book character including jebus, Abraham, Moses the apostles to name a few more!
Your mentor & literal Saviour moi!
I have multiple health issues, but my guilt from others out weights those. I was raised in the LDS faith, left at 34, raised my children up until that time. One was 13, one was 10. Now, before I go any further, I tire of people who want to engage in trash talk about the faith of my youth. That's why I love being a Presbyterian. We don't trash talk anybody. That energy is spent on social issues of helping others, filling over 500 backpacks this year for needing kids, etc, and I can relate to that because I was raised in an atmosphere of doing for others. But, and this is the huge one, my children have carried their bitterness with them, and find little use for a spiritual path. My son was kicked out of the deacons there because his hair was too long, and now he's an atheist. I know, petty. My daughter suffered abuse at summer camp because both children are biracial, an anomaly in mormonism, and it caused huge emotional turmoil, hence, she's a buddhist. I feel like I have the weight of the world on me because of their turmoil, because, when I left the church, I moved into fundamentalism, which was more judgmental than what they'd just left, and the deed of leaving church for good was finally done. It's a constant, painful process, and now there's a grandchild involved, and I must respect their wishes concerning spirituality. Had I known then what I know now, I would never have taken my children down that path when I left the LDS church. I would have researched a heck of a lot more, and not just gone with emotionalism, loud music, one opinion of scripture, and nobody there who cared to find out the hell we were living through internally. It would take me somewhere around 8 churches later to find home, a place where I could express doubt, question, and choose what areas I agreed with or not, never once being asked to leave because I was of the wrong political group, or because I questioned. I carry the weight of my children's spirituality on my shoulders, and weep so much and so regularly, I feel like I could fill a water bucket. Sorry for the long post. And I've so much to do today!!!
@Pollypinks@xanga - Just as Christ Jesus worked in your life, slowly bringing you deeper and deeper in trust and love, so it will be with your children. Prayer is the seed we plant, God's time is not ours, but just keep on going. I beieve a mother's love is the closest thing we have to understand the infinite love of God. As usual thank you for your transparent and childlike reply my friend.
Peace
mark
'
@chira_hora@xanga - Thank you Chira, man you can write and expalin things very well.
peace
mark
@Composer - Well thank you for the time you spent in reading, no problem if you don't agree
.
Peace
mark
@markdohle - It isn't simply a case of my ' disagreeing ' it's a case of ' THERE IS NO CREDIBLE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR biblical Story book Paul, nor jebus, nor the apostles nor Moses ' to name a few!
You people claiming to be jebus' believers live a 100% lie! FACT!
Your mentor & literal Saviour moi!
@Composer - Well ok, thanks for posting.
Peace
mark
Yes I knew you would be impressed with the TRUTH, for not only am I a brilliant and successful Cult buster of Cults like yours, your only Saviour and mentor moi am extremely modest & benevolent also!
Meanwhile you, your non-legitimate trinitarian Story book Historical myth jebus & its fellow alleged trinitarian god(s) are and remain as always entirely impotent against moi!
Much much much much better luck should you & they have IF you all want to try your luck against me again?
Your mentor & literal Saviour moi!
@Composer - Your always welcome to post you throughts here.
Peace
mark
They aren't just ' thoughts! '.
They are Unambiguous facts that YOU, your jebus etc. are 100% impotent in legitimately demonstrating otherwise!
The biblical Paul, Moses, jebus, apostles, ALL supernatural god(s) remain as always 100% mythical beings of 100% human invention!
Your mentor & literal Saviour moi!