Pushing Past Outside Influences; Just Do It

I never knew I had so many flaws in need of fixing til I came
around a church of any sort! And what cures the sickness?
Coming back to the church!

I can't subscribe to a fairy tale belief system of asking and
receiving gifts. Even important gifts are only found through
happenstance or hard work. Life has an abundance of things
both good and bad; everybody has a need and a theory for
explaining life the way they do.

I would never endeavor to change the mind or heart of one
who believes and believes fully. Universe bless you.

It has not been my experience that life can be handled
through release and submission to something outside of me.

In fact, the exact opposite is true. Only through self-reliance,
self-discipline, self-will, and being strong enough to endure
endless pain can I persevere.If not me, then who?

I can't put forth to Jesus or whomever that I just 'trust' my
problems will be solved. Even the followers know they have to
provide hard work, discipline, effort, action, devotion, and
dedication to get their results! So what's the diff? How do sinners
receive blessings and prosperity?

(There are of course magical caveats to "God answers prayer.";
1)that not all your prayers get answered the way you want
2)that the answering of a prayer may not come in a timely fashion
3)that unanswered prayers are a test of faith
4)that sometimes God says "NO"
5)that you aren't praying the right way
etc, etc....keep spinning the wheel til you come up with one that suits
you/is a sign from God.

The power of religion and the business of God are all self-fulfilling
prophecy; one assertion begets the next. If I believe myself to
have no capability or self-control, then I surely won't have it.

Would I like the idea of a Supernatural Daddy that erases tears
and fills me with happiness and peace and promises of another
world where all this is a distant memory? Sure, who wouldn't.

But I have not found this to be the case, no matter how desperately
I have worked towards it. Those who need to believe will of course
say that I didn't work hard enough, feel motivational pain deeply
enough, or have enough faith. That's fine as well.

I can assume three potential possibilities based on others' assertions;

a) That the idea of man's inability to handle his own life was created
as an impetus for promoting the idea of an outside source of worship
((a.k.a.; They lied))

b) That such a creature exists and I am too wretched and lazy and
broken to be able to communicate with or find it; the problem lies
solely within me.

or c) This mystical creature doesn't exist.

Reminder Notes

Robert:

A few memos to keep you stitched together
for another 24 hours!


Be glad in all you do.
Not everything is exciting; cat boxes still need changing
and rude people still exist.
Carry a positive attitude with you and know
that it's all just part of the way of the world.


This moment is all that we have.
Stay focused on it, experience it fully.
This moment is everything.
Slow down, and focus.


You can't avoid conflict; you can control how
you respond to it. Choose wisely.


Who you surround yourself with, what you think,
the things you do, the words you speak all lead
you to the next step of your life.
Decide what is worth your time.
Where possible, don't let your day be dictated to you.


There's no time to waste.
Quit procrastinating, quit spinning wheels,
quit avoiding, quit letting fear rule your mind and
decisions. It doesn't have to work out perfectly;
it doesn't even have to work out. Just do it.

Bad stuff happens. It's part of the whole of life; it isn't
the entirety. Sadness isn't the end of the show.
Setbacks aren't final. "To everything a season..."
There will be difficulties; they are unavoidable, but
not insurmountable.

Loving everyone equally--even when our heart isn't
in it--eliminates a lot of problems. Stop keeping score.
Stop paying attention to annoyances. Stop criticizing.
Make a point to say something nice--and true-- and
recognize the similarities and commonalities.

It's okay if people/activities/relationships don't work
out to your specifications, standards, or demands.
Be loose and be free, appreciating things as being okay
without my interference.

A final word--

There's a lot to apply from these memos. I don't
expect the work to get done today. Consider this
an open-ended assignment; something to work
towards and keep working towards. So long as I
see some progress, it's all good.

Keep in touch, regardless of how things go. I'd like
to be kept abreast of your changes. And, as always,
if you need help, I'm always able to be reached, any
time of the day or night.

I'm really a dream boss; open, easy to talk to,
supportive, and the provider of all benefits. Just get
the work done, and know that I appreciate your efforts.

I try not to involve myself unless asked; people seem
to misinterpret my efforts to help. I find some simple
suggestions for keeping things on track work.
But if there are any questions, or you need feedback of
any kind, I'm here for you.

Thanks,
Good Orderly Devotion
Director of Operations

Devotion

This is a little something I pulled together to say for myself before
my support meetings. I finds that I need to center myself and get
'right' in my head before I can interact well with others.

I'm a work in progress, and I am far from perfect. When I overlook
doing what I know I need to do, like respect others and myself by
acting intelligently and maturely, everybody pays the price.

Some of these are comments I have heard other wise people use, some
are my own thoughts, some are reinterpretation of written ideas put
in words that suit me better. The purpose of this devotion is to change
my old, stinking, self-involved thinking--not to be lauded as Shakespeare
or steal credit for good sense!

These are my goals, my intentions; I will falter. There are three very
important factors to remember when I fall;
1) Don't drink over it.
2) Get my ass back up (Don't quit)
3) Keep on coming back. A 'time-out' is different from 'game-over.'

**************************************************************
Pre-meeting devotion

I choose to accept each and every member of this fellowship
as the blessed child of the Universe that they are.

I give myself permission to be free and honest and open
with my soul, and no longer depend on others' approval or
permission. I, too, am a blessed child of the God.

I allow others their resentments and judgments, knowing
it reflects on their real pain and suffering--their own issues--
and doesn't reflect on my value.

I will love these people as my Brothers and Sisters in warfare,
based on my understanding that it is the right thing to do,
not based on specific actions or words.

Through the grace God has bestowed upon me, I will learn to
channel that grace in my dealings with others.

Other people-- how they dress, how they talk, what they talk about,
how often they attend, their motivations, their habits, their involve-
ment, their reactions--are none of my business. My opinion of them
is neither required nor desired. I need not speak every thought that
enters my mind.

My focus needs to be on being the best person I know to be; nothing more.

I will love you in spite of yourself. I, too, know rage and fear.

I will love you when you pull away. I, too, know hurt.

I will love you when you don't reciprocate. I know not to take personally
another person's woundedness.

I will love you, and there is nothing you can do about it.

If I feel alone, I will approach you.

If I need attention, I will ask for it.

If I am feeling hurt, I will not accept it as fact.

If I feel the need to complain, let me be at peace.

Let me exemplify to others the calm and compassion I wish to experience.

Pain may be a part of the process, but misery is optional.

Just for this moment, let me be alive in life, focused on what is truly important;
Love,
Truth,
and Kindness.