You’ve heard the expression, “Think good thoughts,” I’d like not to think any thoughts, not forever, not always. When I need to think I want to think. When I don’t need to think I don’t want to think. I want to do. I want to be and frankly thinking gets in the way. I do not need a running commentary on my life and the world at large from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep. A Course in Miracles says there are no neutral thoughts. They either bring peace or war, love or fear and let’s face it, most of the time its fear and war.
If you wouldn’t say it don’t think it is a pretty good rule to follow and that works….most of the time. I don’t know, maybe it’s not having the television blaring at night and being home more this winter but my thoughts have been like a run away train going down hill fast. And there’s no brake.
Imagining that my thoughts are randomly projected on a big assed jumbotron above I285 during rush hour is a good trick and helps, but not enough. Prayer is good. I’ve been praying a lot if only because it stills my mind. “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” I’ve also been praying a lot because it’s the only thing I know to do about well, just about everything. I like simple prayers, “Dear God, save me from my stupid self.” Sometimes it’s simpler than that, “God, God, God, my Father.” Yeah, prayer works. So does staying present in the moment.
I’ve noticed that when I bring my attention back to the moment there are no thoughts. That’s easier said than done but I’m working on it. I’m working on it because I am paying attention and there are no neutral thoughts. And far, far too often they are thoughts of fear that wage war on my soul. We have enough violence in the world without me adding to it. What we don’t have enough of is peace.
This week I passed to the other side of 55. Now seems like a good time for a lot of things. I have goals and dreams some big and some small. They’re fun to set and fun to achieve, a break for Salt Creek and being able to play it during a jam would be nice, a bomb proof roll can’t be out of the realm of possibilities and ya’ll know I wouldn’t say no to a cowboy. Mainly I want peace, peace for myself and peace for the world. If not now when?
“Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.”
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thank you so much Lisa, that helps a lot. I know he tried to blame me for so much stuff, but like I told all of his family and mine none of that added up to a divorce. I do realize it's his needs, it just hurts so bad to think how many years he's
How funny....i only very recently (within last week) read the coconut oil articles on the web. (100 uses, 80 uses etc.) so i bouht some and ordered some from amazon. (Im a stockpiler.)
Have started trying some of the uses. I tried using it a
Thanks Water…I love this song….I sometimes get so caught up in the drama of the moment, that I forget the big picture…..and my part in that big picture…
WM, Welcome to the other side and it’s not bad, it’s about attitude and how you kept yourself leading up to now! I wish you a Happy Birthday n many more. How I wish we could respect and care for what is different, then what we have been taught and programmed for!…TRACK
I LOVED the video and passed it on to my daughter who will probably pass it on….Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, everyone. SB, this is one of my favorite songs that will occasionally play in my head. I love the second verse which I posted here. Living in the moment with a peaceful heart serves all of us in the end. Track, thank you. I had a long conversation with a colleague yesterday after an even longer parent conference with one of my boys. I told her that we need to see differences but not let it change the love that is in our hearts for another child of God. Debi, my pleasure. I was looking for a video of this song and stumbled on this. Cara was kind enough to embed it because it deserves more than a link.
Beautiful….thank you. I SO needed this today. I had two deaths in the family this week – my last uncle, and a favorite cousin. Two separate instances. My first thought was cousin Larry would have loved it…as did I. Thanks for some health salve!
Dr. She, I’m so sorry for you loss. May you be comforted by the peace of the love you shared.
Thank you. I’ve been humming this song all day.
This story was shared with me from a friend at work who reads my blog. I think you will appreciate it too.
“About 20 years ago I read a story about the prayer of a child. A woman was walking in the park. She hears the voice of a child. It sounds like the child is singing or crying but she can’t be certain and as she gets closer she realizes this child, of 7 or so, is saying their ABCs with eyes closed. She stops and speaks to the child, asking if he is ok. He stops and responds that he is ok just praying. The woman tells him she thought he was singing the ABC song. The child says I was. I don’t know how ask God for the things I need so I am saying the ABC song and then God can take the letters and make the words because he knows what I need.
There has been times in my life when I have been so scared or overwhelmed that I couldn’t even think to find the ‘right’ words…so I have prayed my ABCs~ asking him to take the letters, make the words and as always provide what I need.
A freak strom blew through Marietta, Ohio June of 1998. Heather and I were trying to get home. We were tapped in the car by fallen trees and power lines. I was scared to death. I kept trying to pray the Lord’s Prayer…I couldn’t remember the words. I stopped and listened to Heather (2 at the time) in the backseat singing the ABC song. I crawled in the back with her and we sang the song over and over…well she sang the song, I prayed….. it just sounded like I was singing ABC.”
I love it. It’s so true. I have a pastor who said you need to keep up with your prayers and your devotional reading, because a time may come when you need it and all you can do it say help! So true….years ago I got very, very sick. I was too sick to read, to sick to concentrate to pray, to sick to do much of anything but to lay there and groan. Out of my lips came a praise song of healing I’d learned as a child. I sang it often until the strength returned enough for me to do more.