Drift Away

Sometimes I come up with an idea that sticks in my mind until I finally decide to write about it. This is the case today. For some reason over the last three weeks it has wrested on my brain to write a reflection called "Drift Away". I had no idea what it would be about I just knew what it was suppose to be called. Over the last three days based on some of the emails I have received from people reading my reflections the basis of what to write began to take shape.

Many have read my writings about our spiritual ups and downs and ebb and flows. No matter who you are or where you are at in life there will be times that challenge your core belief. Funny how a thing as simple as pleasure can move one's spiritual being away from center. As we were growing up our pleasure balance was "if it feels good do it". As we got older we realized the bullets that came with that youthful thought and action stung a little harder when we went through with the "if it feels good do it". We simply thought it out for a few more minutes or hours prior to our action. Never the less the pleasure point often overshadow the rational realization of self. The ego part of the brain tells us to go ahead we deserve it yet the moral part of the brain says slow down this may not be so good. Ego derives much of it's power from pride and pride derives it's power from ego. Seems crazy I know but stop and think about it and it will make sense. Ego needs pride to survive and pride needs ego to thrive. The combination can be lethal if used for immoral purposes.

When you combine pride and ego with unbridled pleasure we often times drift away from whom we were created to be. We walk over people, push them down while we elevate ourselves to a status we are not worthy of sustaining. That action causes us to drift away from the core of our being. 

Bad things happen to good people!! Yes they certainly do, always have and always will. But the question here becomes what defines good and bad. Who are the good people and what are the bad things. When we drift away to a point we have zero faith and even less spiritual direction it becomes difficult to see what is bad when our belief says we are good. 

How cool would it be to see ourselves through the eyes of others. Do they see the real me? Do we see the real them? Does anyone know who anyone really is? You see at any given time circumstances and choices can drift our minds to believe something that isn't real and has no foundation. The view we see the world is not how the world really is. How others see us is not the way we really are. Think about the people that think you are a walking saint yet your heart knows they are missing the mark. Same goes the other way when people think we are terrible yet the reality is they do not have enough information to change the belief they hold to be true. 

Do you believe in God? Simple question I think but the answer may very well be the deepest and most profound known to mankind. If you do believe in God then what do you believe about this mysterious person that created the world. Does this God send his approval or disapproval when we do the so called good or bad things. Are we offered guidance when we drift away to a point of seemingly no return. 

As you can see life is dynamic not static, so too is faith. Faith is a moving living breathing part of who we are. You can't live without it yet you struggle to live with it. What makes it so hard to hold on to? Is it what is preached to us on Sunday's at our religious institutions? Is it what others tell you what they think the Bible means? In your heart and mind resides the ability to feel the love of God and people. Reflect on that a moment, you have the power to feel love. The drift is often caused by the righteous that so kindly inform you that you are not worthy of being loved much less forgiven. That my friends is pride and ego on their part BUT WAIT you do it to others as well. Remember when it pertains to us we want fairness when it pertains to others we want justice. 

I would like to ask people to allow themselves to drift to and not away from the very self God created. Seek the faith and spirituality that was formed in you from the day you were conceived. Life is not easy and never will be but it can be great. If you have the ability to read this trust me you are in a wonderful position to change your life for the better. If you have drifted away from your spiritual core, fear not you have merely taken a break and rested for the journey ahead. Your life has meaning and you are worth your weight in gold. Trust that you are loved and in that love you shall become an expression of what God created in you. Set aside all the bitter emotions that got you to this point and look forward to breaking the chains that bind you. Even though you will find yourself drifting away many more times in life at least from now on you can smile and know that God has set your feet on high ground and the gravitational pull will draw your drift back to center. 

Live life, have some fun, be you, climb mountains, skydive, do whatever you can to wake up the spirit that is asleep in you. Once awake you will fully recognize that which causes you to drift. Life is great when you are living a dream. Dream big and next time you drift away let it be to a place that causes wonder and amazement. 

peace to you

Dale