Author: downtoearth333

To worship God or god(s) V5 P1

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To worship God or god(s)

Definition of worship

transitive verb

1: to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power

2: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion

Questions to be pondered upon:

In general, do we (humankind), show more or less reverence to God (divine being/supernatural power) than we did 5000 years ago? 1000 years ago? 100 years ago? 50 years ago?

In general, do we (humankind) regard money/power/material things with more or less great or extravagant respect/honor/devotion than we did 5000 years ago? 1000 years ago? 100 years ago? 50 years ago?

What drove human behavior in the past? What drives it now?

With respect to the human mind, body and spirit – are we more developed now than in the past? Are we more fulfilled? Are we evolving as humanity or did we peak at some point previous to the present?

Are we confusing ourselves (modern humankind) now armed with science, technology, and the ability to do more (but not necessarily better) things quicker and in an artificial manner (rather than through natural means) with God? Are we too mod for God?

Do we strive for money and other forms of material wealth over and above our ambitions to further our spiritual development?

Have we moved down the path that will lead to selling the souls of humankind in exchange for some human made, human contrived material end goal?

Things to remember from St. Thomas Aquinas:

To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.

The things that we love tell us what we are.

A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.

Because we cannot know what God is, but only what He is not, we cannot consider how He is but only how He is not.

Not everything that is more difficult is more meritorious.

It is necessary to posit something which is necessary of itself, and has no cause of its necessity outside of itself but is the cause of necessity in other things. And all people call this thing God.

Human salvation demands the divine disclosure of truths surpassing reason.

KGM

Eternal Thought vs. Short Term Thinking (V3 P2)

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As you may know from reading previous issues/posts, I am a firm believer that we are spiritual beings in a physical package; that this material life is finite; that any past or subsequent physical life was or will be finite; and that only the soul or spirit is eternal.  

Yet so much investment in time, effort and money goes towards the physical finite portion of our whole being. And by contrast, so little investment goes towards our eternal spiritual fulfillment and perpetual improvement or advancement of that spiritual self. 

That is truly short term thinking. Not only can it be selfish, materialistic and spiritually ignorant; it can be detrimental to progress down the path of spiritual development and enlightenment. Surely, some forms of physical priority are essential and allow for a better platform from which to pursue spiritual growth. Mind, body, spirit; the body is a temple; etc. Physical health and an economic foundation from which to take responsibility for yourself and your family are very important to living the finite physical existence in which we are in at this time, but they are also integral in providing a solid healthy body and mind-set with which to prioritize and pursue perpetual spiritual development. They should not be priority one, however, but rather part of a foundation that places the soul and spirit at the forefront of our life – our eternal spiritual life. 

Much like a cocoon that will be temporary, this physical package will be shed and the spirit will journey onward. 

This may sound extremely generalized and narrow minded, but dare I say that all good things come from prioritizing the soul and spirit and many bad things come from prioritizing the finite physical body or package that envelopes each of us in this life. Prayer, sacrifice, meditation, being kind spirited, being a gentle soul – these are all good things and they bring about changes to both the finite physical world in which we currently exist as well as changes to the perpetual spiritual developmental path that we are on at this point of our eternal, spiritual existence. And the changes that they bring about are good, for the good, to the good, etc. Greed, self-centered thoughts and actions, lust, physical pleasure as a result of sinful acts, deceit, being mean spirited, being cold hearted, etc. – these are all bad things that bring about negative changes to both the finite physical world of others (even if they satisfy one’s own selfish physical desires) and to the spiritual development of oneself. 

As we move further and further into a world of instant gratification, physical desire fulfillment at the cost of others, taking advantage of situations and of others, pettiness, mean girl mentality, bullying mentality, and other negative actions become the norm; we surely, as a whole of humanity, are spiraling to a place of spiritual diminishment and destruction. If we could harness the goodness within ourselves and each other and progress in tandem down a spiritual path towards enlightenment, oh what wonders of the soul would await us all. Towards a brighter and more advanced state of soul development each of us, and all of us collectively, would be moving. 

The pace of the movement is not as important as the direction of the movement. This holds true not only for the spirit and soul of one being but for all of humanity. To stem the tide of the swing towards spiritual decay and to swing it back, even if gently, towards that of enlightenment would result in a tremendous positive vibration from which we would all gain momentum in our individual journeys of the soul. 

Meditate on this. Pray on this. Make a concerted effort to align yourself towards these positive priorities in your own life. It will make a difference instantly. It may stem the tide in some small way and it may put us all back on the path that we were meant to meander down for eternity. It starts with one and it is exponential in its impact with a collective concert of souls working together. 

God is for all of us, as one and as all. 

KGM

 

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda (V3 P1)

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Inherently, within each and every one of us, is a template from which our lives will unfold. The base template is filled with human characteristics and includes a sprinkling of “extras” from the universal field. It is the proverbial clean slate. It is ours to change, edit, transform, progress from, regress from, beautify, desecrate, etc. Our free will allows us to mold that template into something beautiful and everlasting or terrible and decaying.

If we think about all of the alternative paths and meandering routes that we have in life, it is pretty eye opening. Spending some time before making those pathway decisions is crucial, for then and only then can we alter the template for better or for worse. Stagnation has no effect other than to maintain the present state of the template. Moving forward with perpetual molding of the template is the only way to change oneself. The question is, will the change be for the betterment or the worsening of the template.

Should we think of our lives deeply and consider not only what we would have done differently, but plan to take action to change for the better from here forward, we can really take command of our future and of ourselves.

The decision process from here forward, however, is clouded by two very distinct alternatives. One being what we could do – because of our freedom to act, speak and live; and one being what we should do – because of what we know deep down to be right, and just, and impactful for our souls and for the world.

We could use our time in pursuit of leisure, materiality, the finer things, making our social status envious to others, trying to fit in, trying to stand out, etc. These are the “coulda” items that so many of us are bogged down in for both the short term and the long haul. Life passes, memories and material accumulations are gained and enjoyed, but has anything really fruitful taken place?

Instead, can we not think about what we should be doing. Soul searching, praying, lending a hand, giving to others instead of receiving a perceived entitlement, building a base of hope for ourselves and those that we love, being a good example in all ways that we know really mean something, smiling and acknowledging others in our lives and others that cross our paths in life, trying to analyze world events by asking what is right for mankind and what is horrifically wrong, etc. We should be evolving in a positive manner, each and every day, and in doing so helping the world and mankind evolve in a positive manner as well.

We cannot do this by thinking of ourselves and living under the spell of surface things, but rather only by being selfless and living under the infinite glory of substance and righteousness. By doing so, we do not really sacrifice anything that we should be truly missing in our lives. By doing so, we will have everything that we truly want, need, and desire in our paths to spiritual evolution and true happiness.

Think about this. Because we can does not mean that we should. Because we should does not mean that in doing so, we will be missing out. In fact, we will inherit the earth.

KGM

 

The Ripple Effect (V2 P4)

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The Ripple Effect…of Prayer 

Humankind has known of the power of prayer since the dawn of human time on earth. But we have lost it as collective humanity and it resides within smaller pockets of faith based communities and individuals. 

Chanting, meditation, prayer and invocation, and other means of communicating with and making requests of God is the most sacred and powerful tool we have as spiritual beings. It is our lifeline to the source of life. It is our eternal tie to the eternal source. It is our two way communication means via the Holy Spirit between us, as sons and daughters of God, and God. 

There are countless examples in human history of the powerful effect of collective prayer for a common goal or purpose. Priests huddled in a house praying the rosary surviving the atomic bomb, battles won, lives changed, healings, miracles, and simple bequests. Because we, as a “collective soul” of sorts, have regressed as spiritual beings and not progressed as a group (humankind) – we will have to push aside the “clutter” of the material and self-centered world and focus on getting back on track as spiritual beings. 

It all starts, as many things do, with the efforts of one – yourself. Through meditative reflection and prayer, by living a selfless and spiritual life, by shining in the eyes of others because of your selfless devotion to God and your inherent goodness, you can and will spread these sacred practices to those around you. To those with eyes to see and with ears to hear. To those receptive to all that is truly important. 

Those affected will do the same and it will spread to others who may not have been receptive before but have been impacted in such a way that their mindset, over time, has changed and they become newly receptive. It is truly a powerful ripple effect and it cannot be contained once it has begun to form and take shape. The universe has no choice but to meld and morph based on collective spiritual intent and hardening of the will. 

It is never a waste of time or energy and it is always a necessary and productive part of the journey. We are, as mentioned in previous posts, spiritual beings inhabiting physical bodies during this lifetime. What is real and eternal is that which resides within you. What is temporary and what passes in the blink of an eye is that which is physical matter and form. True progression and evolution can only take place from within. And yet, so many of us prioritize and live for the short term and quickly extinguishable clutter of the material world. 

I write these words not to be judgmental and not to diminish the accomplishments of persons within the material and physical world here on earth. I only mean to impart the necessity of evolution and prioritization of the spiritual being within all of us. For that is where true eternal peace and fulfillment can be found. 

Make a point to develop your inner self. Pray, meditate, focus, make a true effort at perpetual communication with God. Clean off the cobwebs of the material clutter in your life. Become pure in thought and spirit.  

One at a time. It all begins with each of us as individuals. It all begins with you. 

KGM

 

 

Addition by Subtraction (V2 P3)

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Addition by subtraction is an interesting concept and one that deserves some in depth analysis and serious consideration for placement into the spiritual evolution process.

As one reflects upon the state of their spiritual being, there should be some resulting scorecard in which areas of progress and achievement are separated from areas of struggle and those in need of improvement. As discussed in several posts from V1 (2017), the importance of focus on the core and the attempt to minimize and eliminate the periphery clutter around us is greatly aided by this periodic accounting of one’s spiritual progress. This will invariably lead to an assessment of what next to prioritize for improvement in life.

One of the quickest and simplest forms of growth, step by step success, and spiritual component achievement is not to jump into pro-active improvement in several areas deemed to be “in progress” or “under developed” but rather to pro-actively eliminate from your life the negative forces that have accumulated in your spiritual garden.

The choices may be difficult to follow through on as they may include distancing yourself from “friends”, parting ways with habits and routines that are dragging you down but none the less difficult to break away from, and making clear cut choices that you may have previously dodged due to indifference or inability to accept as part of an overall negative part of your persona.

But you will find that once these areas negative or anti-spiritual development are identified, your true inner self will shed the emotion out of the equation and provide you with the impetus to use logic, reason and spiritual meditative learning and reflection and move forward in your evolution by letting go. Let go of the negative and the scale of your spiritual being will inherently tip further towards the positive.

You will shed darkness and more light will appear. You will shed greed and more generosity will fill your heart. You will shed anger and hatred and calmness and love will envelope you. You will part ways with negative and self-serving beings and you will be surrounded by more positive and selfless supporters and true friends. It cannot fail for the very thought of pulling something off one side of the scale will open your eyes to the soon to be heavier and more weighted other side of the scale.

If your complete state is 50/50, removing from the negative side will tilt the balance to the positive side. Without pro-active seeking to add to the positive side of the equation, your removal of the negative will make the positive tilt that you, as a spiritually evolving being, will feel and thrive on. In time, you will add more positive because your focus will be minimized on and your previous bad habits will be shifted away from the negative aspects of your previous spiritual state. The focus away from the negative and to the positive elements of the universe that are here for you to learn from, absorb, and develop from will result in an exponential change in your spiritual state.

Eventually, you will indeed be pro-actively focused on accentuating every positive aspect of your spiritual being and on pursuing a path towards gaining more positive elements previously missing from your spiritual life because over time your mind set will have completely shifted. The negative habits and routines, negative energies and persons, that you made a determined effort to subtract out of your life not only left you with a less corrupt and cleaner spiritual state, but the act of removal made a permanent change to your mindset in all that is important to you and all that you will attract into your life as a spiritual being.

Addition by subtraction. Consider it. Let the concept immerse you and put it into practice. We are spiritual beings in a physical body and the true priority should be positive evolution of that spirit. All else, barring basic and simple necessities, is clutter along your path. Much of the “all else” is truly negative and a road block along your path. Take the time to remove it and enjoy the soon to be cleared and wondrous path towards your slow and organic spiritual march.

To become one with God. Is that even attainable? To be closer to God – this is not only attainable, but your spiritual evolution can lead you only towards that end. The tie that binds you (sons and daughters of God) with God is indeed the Holy Spirit. Allow that universal spirit to aid you in your path, your journey, your longing for true spiritual perfection.

KGM

 

From the Material World to the Spiritual World (V2 P2)

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Mankind -> Spiritual Beings -> Material Beings -> Spiritual Beings

The lust and longing for material/earthly possessions has decayed the innate spirituality of mankind and resulted in a world in which the goal and ambition of the vast majority is to accumulate brag worthy post-able moments and gluttonous portions of meaningless material possessions. There has been an altering of the moral compass to the point at which it no longer exists nor is monitored for balance in life. I fear that we are at or near a potential point of no return from which we will never regain our spiritual connection to the universe and to the All Powerful Creator (whatever name you assign to God). 

From all indications and historical perspectives, ancient mankind was a spiritual being whose purpose in life was mainly dictated by his or her belief system. Certain material possessions were necessary and sought after for survival sake. Leisure time, if any, was mainly committed to tribal or family bonding/training, communal rituals and worship, and spiritual reflection. The pursuit of knowledge and new skills was of the utmost importance and priority. The pursuit of happiness was normally a by-product of this and not a separate and exclusive act. A spiritual being’s pursuit of further evolution and of perpetual improvement was noble, respected and self-satisfying. 

Only when one becomes obsessed outside of the realm of spiritual fulfillment and evolution and covets material possessions and gratification does one begin to self-destruct. This is not a self-contained problem as it leads to negative influence over others. We are, after all, imperfect and subject to temptation and poor judgment. First one human at a time and then whole communities, kingdoms, nations, etc. 

One covets another’s goods and nothing positive can come of that as it only leads to jealousy, theft, destruction, and other escalated crimes. One covets another’s spouse or a non-willing potential partner who does not reciprocate with the same feelings. This can only lead to jealousy, depression, feelings of emotional deprivation, and more serious crimes of passion such as adultery, rape, incest, abuse, etc. I think you get my drift here. 

When the world, in general, seeks instant gratification and material happiness it can only lead to bad things as some will seek and find (if only temporarily) and others will aspire and come up empty. The class system and its inherent division of humans into groups based upon various man-made scales glares upon those within and those without. Nothing that should be important, respected and attained is sought after in mass and the spiritual growth of man-kind is stunted and even reversed over the course of years, decades and centuries. 

I, me, mine – give me, get me, look at me – look at this person or that house, oh how I want it, how I have to have it… 

How close to the edge have we as a human race ventured. All that is great is within us and is provided to us. Everything else, outside of true necessities, is mindless and wasteful clutter that takes our focus, attention, time and robs our spiritual being of its true purpose in this life – evolution and further development.

How can we all save ourselves from what seems to be in store for man-kind? We have to turn within and forge ahead with “collective spiritualism”. Individual purpose must be restored and then as a collective group we must strive to turn our attention (thoughts, prayers, actions) towards the greater good. And that must be redefined for us as a race of fellow humans. 

Take a deep breath. Understand that all can be as it should be. Dedicate yourself to making an individual choice to move towards spiritual development and evolution and away from lust, greed and a state of coveting all that is not ours. Self-control over self-gratification at any and all costs. It all starts with a prayer and it starts with you.

 

What Reflects from Within? (V2-P1)

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Think about the countless hours that many of us invest in our outward appearance. There is the daily hygiene that goes beyond health and stretches into the realm of vanity. There is also the work outs – walking, running, the gym – that go beyond keeping fit and perhaps cross the line into body image addiction. What about the clothes that are important to us – a requirement, yes, but also sometimes something more than that. We want to look good, feel good, be confident with ourselves.

All of this, within reason, is necessary and healthy. Some of this, beyond the bounds of humility and health consciousness, borders upon pure vanity and self-serving arrogance.

Picture this. What if humanity, in general, focused on projecting a flawless inside – a beaming inner beauty – that was genuine and pure? Imagine the life changing,  world- changing consequences…

Dwell for a minute on what your soul and spirit emanate to you when you close your eyes and visualize your inner self. Is it something to be proud of? Is it something for others to emulate? Are you focusing on what is really important and trying to be as perfect as you can be from the inside out?

There are so many material things and distractions. Outer clutter. To push aside this outer clutter and to dig deep within the well of the universal spirit, to purge the dust and vanity from the inner self and to cleanse it, protect it, nurture it, evolve it, shape it and seek guidance towards perfecting it – now that would be a journey worth taking for all of us.

Consider it. If you had one car for your entire life, would you treat it differently than perhaps you treat your car now? If you had one friend, would you treasure that person any differently in your life than how you may do presently? You have one body – and to honor it and treat it properly from a health and respect perspective is certainly to be strived for. You have one soul/spirit. It lasts you for eternity – through this life and beyond. This should be our primary focus. To cherish it, love it, nurture it, cleanse it and protect it, allow it to grow and evolve and to be the shining example of what we are.

We are spiritual beings within a physical body. Reflect upon your being. Be true to it and never stop the perpetual improvement process that it deserves and demands from you should you truly succeed in spiritual development.

Goodbye for now. – KGM

 

Prepare for Massive Change in Mindset (V1-P21)

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forest-pathway-beautiful-brown-path-rain-89658974 The year 2017 is winding down. All of the past experiences of this year and of our lives to date have culminated in shaping your present outlook of yourself and of the universe outside of you. Are you fully satisfied with who and what you have become?

Take these final weeks of the year to cleanse your mind of the clutter and nonsense that only serve in slowing you down and perhaps even keeping you from reaching your goals and objectives. Refocus on the core belief system from which you hope to live your life on a daily basis (short-term operating focus) as well as on a life long perpetual improvement basis (long-term strategic focus). Shed or reshape from this core the principles that no longer fit with becoming the greatest person and spiritual being that you can become in this lifetime. Add or fine-tune to this core the beliefs and traits that will further your cause towards a continuous improvement process of the self.

Pray, meditate, enjoy the simple pleasures around you. Prepare your mind, body and spirit for a year of great change and progress. The journey is eternal. This life is but a small parcel of your spiritual quest in totality. Yet, it is of great importance and the choices you act upon will be very significant in your hopes of making the best of what this life represents for your spiritual growth.

Dig deep. Practice soul-searching excursions through which you emerge with a more clear and determined focus to keep moving forward. Onward and upward. Elation awaits you as you become more clear on what role your spirit possesses in this universal masterpiece of which we are all a part.

KGM

 

Summers End – Day at the Beach (V1 P20)

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The gentle pulsating and relentless sound of the surf. Wave after wave. It is one of the most relaxing and hypnotic of nature’s portfolio of beautiful and meaningful sound.

I long for it rarely, but once under its spell I vow to myself to not let the separation between this beach visit to the next be more than minimal. Sometimes life works out and other times not so much, but it is always worth the wait.

The time for me here is fleeting, as I write this. My family dreads but embraces the final last few hours before our departure back to our home – 6 1/2 hours away by drive. We try to finish with a flourish, but the knowing of the impending end of our trip is somber. But the memories seep out and stories in stories on the way back home and they become lasting and impactful. Our daughter has grown up from a kindergartener to a 7th grader with stops each summer along the way at this Michigan respite. She has the alluring call of the small lakeside town in her veins now and perhaps will until she has children and can share this place with her family.

There is a time and a place for all of the things that comprise our lives. And the times for get away family time, vacation from the work and school life, a respite for body and spirit, are all probably chosen with care and planning. As they are precious and make up a minority of all the time on our schedules. We have and will continue to choose this place. For all of the wants, needs and desires that it fulfills with flying colors. We come, we savor, we depart and we yearn for the next time(s).

I, of course, love my family. I love the down time that we can share together. I know that they also enjoy these moments. It is one of the ties that binds us together as a family.

In a few weeks, I will be taking my oldest son on a different kind of trip to a vastly different place. We will celebrate his 30th birthday. I hope our love for each other grows as we share this time together. I hope that he will take part of me with him as I share my time and fatherly wisdom, as best I can, with him at this milestone of his young life to date.

All is good at the tail end of summer.

KGM

Down to the Core (V1 P19)

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core-values-blackboard-cloud-words-black-chalkboard-65245027

All short term and long term progress is only attainable if one has identified the core values and principles that one will strive to uphold and attain/achieve throughout their lives. 

Who are you? What are you all about? What drives and motivates you? How do you strive to be seen by yourself upon deep and honest reflection? 

Identify the core values that you represent and that you hope to represent in the future (aspirational values). All of your decisions should be predicated upon that set of values that comprise your Personal Mission Statement (PMS). If something does or does not align itself with your PMS then the decision should be clear cut. This set of principles should be your road map to physical and spiritual evolution. 

Companies hire and fire by the doctrines that make up their Corporate Mission Statement, or at least they should if they are truly dedicated to furthering their adherence to those core values. Whenever possible, you should do the same. Sometimes you may need to make short-term exceptions to this in order to satisfy basic necessities. But, when faced with a choice, the path upon which to embark should generally be that which is in alignment with the core values of your PMS. 

The basic foundational principles should be core and be present throughout your life. Some values will evolve and change over time. Short and long term goals and objectives will come, be attained, and then be maintained and substituted for newer aspirational values. All of which should not be counter-productive to your PMS. 

Focus on the basics, the extreme core, and work from the inside to the outside – your inner core to other important but less vital values. Think of concentric circles in which at the center resides your core foundational principles upon which your PMS is built. Which each adjacent circle from the center towards the outside come goals and ambitions, long and short-term, that are in alignment with your PMS. Outside of this series of circles lie things that are either out of your control or that do not align with your PMS. Do NOT enlarge your circle to encompass them – but rather continue to focus on what is within your sphere of control, your core spiral, your inner circle or sanctum. 

All of the power to maintain and manifest the core attained and aspirational values within your Personal Mission Statement resides within you. But you must maintain focus upon and within the concentric circles which comprise the extreme core of what you are and what you hope to become. You can and will manifest this evolution – both physical and spiritual. You are what you choose to be. 

KGM