Thoughts Are Things

“This isn’t a journey about becoming something. This is about unbecoming who we are not.”
-Adyashanti

Today I had this come up during meditation, “Are we liberated by or trapped in our spiritual practices?” I think the question is related to yesterday’s blog and podcast on allowing our practice to become rote. When practice becomes rote it eliminates effectiveness, and we cease to benefit from the growth. That is the time when I believe we are trapped. There are many other ways, I think, that we become trapped.

One major trap is in thinking we have all the answers. Perhaps we do, but the answers are only for ourselves. They may or may not work for anyone else — it all depends on the receptivity and acceptance of the other. We become trapped in telling others how to be rather than being the light that shines a path. Others may choose to walk that path, or not. Whatever their decision, bless them on their way. We cannot force anyone else to awaken to their magnificence. All we can do is know it for ourselves (and for me that means there are no exceptions — either everyone is the magnificence of Divinity or no one is). When I know it myself, I become a mirror to others. They may begin to see themselves in me.

Another trap is allowing our practice to become meaningless. This, too, is in alignment with aspects of practice becoming rote. As soon as a practice becomes meaningless to me I move on! I discard it and open up to something new. If I am just going through the motions, then there is no value left in the practice.

Along the lines of meaninglessness is the potential for us to begin thinking that our very existence is meaningless. Why does this happen? It can happen when we disassociate the absolute and the relative. While we experience the absolute from the relative perspective (that is we experience Infinite Spirit as physical form) there is no separation between the two. God in man is man as God. There can be no separation between the two because if there were separation, the Infinite would cease to be infinite. If there is something separate from infinity, then by definition each thing is finite.

Maybe that is too deep to consider. If so this is the simple expression that I use: I AM God, you ARE God, All that exists IS GOD! Our work is to let go of the tendencies we have to believe otherwise. To know this truth means we can step boldly forth with the knowledge that our very existence matters, we matter, our lives have meaning. We are necessary to the expression and experience of infinite life. We must be, or we wouldn’t exist.

How do we find freedom in this? Well, practical application of spiritual practices is the one thing that I have found to be most effective. If something ceases to feel effective (note that I am interested in the FEELING of it, not the BEING of it) then I chose to lovingly bless it for the benefit it has brought to my life and I then let it go. It is a sort of “Kon Mari” method of practice. If a particular spiritual practice doesn’t spark joy, let it go. We become liberated in the moment we do this.

The magnificence of Spirit is that it is infinite. So there are infinite ways of experiencing our Spiritual nature. What works for one doesn’t work for all.

Today, review your practices and see what works. Be honest with yourself if there is something that has lost its effectiveness. Can you liberate yourself and your practice by letting go of the thing that is keeping you trapped?

Remember you are worth the work. You are the one who is experiencing Infinite Spirit in only the way you can.

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
-Rumi

In alignment with the concept of spiritual bypass I covered yesterday, there is another detrimental aspect of the spiritual life that can begin to take hold… if we are not paying attention.

I have been in spiritual centers and around many people who seem to forget sometimes that it is feeling that is the fuel for creation. What happens when we have adopted a particular way of phrasing something out loud and it becomes rote? The answer is pretty simple, the power of that thing is diminished in our life experience.

I have a friend who is steeped in the Unity tradition. One of his practices every time he would get behind the wheel of a car was to invoke the Unity prayer for protection. This prayer is written by James Dillet Freeman

The light of God surrounds us;
The love of God enfolds us;
The power of God protects us;
The presence of God watches over us;
Wherever we are, God is!

It’s a wonderful and easy prayer to memorize and utilize. It’s effectiveness, however, is diminished when there is a lack of feeling connection to it. This is what seemed to be the case with my friend. He would get in the car, fumble with his keys to get them in the ignition, start the car, and put the car in gear while he rattled off the prayer. It was almost as though the invocation of the prayer had become a superstitious reaction to entering a car. I didn’t get the sense that he felt the power of feeling behind the words, or payed attention to the power in any way to let it inform his soul.

I would never want to let that become the case with my spiritual practice. To get to that place, requires constant attention. To stay away from rote recitations and behaviors we must constantly look upon the world with fresh eyes and an open mind.

The world is in a constant state of change. The nature of God is not to be unfolding creation in a rote way, the nature of God (and therefore the nature of each of us) is to evolve through creation. We can either participate actively in the practice of evolution, or we can detract through our disinterest. When we participate we can set the tone and direction, when disinterested we are subject to expressions and experiences we might not want to have in our lives.

So the question today is, what have we begun to take for granted? In this are we settling on habitual behaviors that are no longer connected to our soul? If we are settled in that place have we given up our freedom to choose the lives we would like?

Go deeper into practice. Chew on the meaning of the things we claim out loud. Let your heart and soul space be informed deeply by the feeling behind what you claim. Let your voice be spontaneous and allow your life to follow suit. Let anything unlike the magnificence of your own divinity melt away and be left with your true essence.

You are. That’s that!

“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”
-Carl Jung

Last week, I completed five days of presenting some of the spiritual practices we utilize in this teaching. It was a good reminder to me that I deeply believe this approach to the experience of life has value and works to establish a new way of being.

There is something that needs to be addressed, though, and it is this: avoidance. Using spiritual principles and practices to avoid the experiences we would rather not face can become problematic. It’s called spiritual bypassing. The value of the deeply embodied utilization of spiritual practice (that is, not just giving it lip service) is that it can support us through the darker times we may experience in life. To simply say, “all is well, and life is good,” is more detrimental than feeling the wellness in our heart and soul.

I trust you will never hear me say anything about “deflecting negative energy” or “only letting in positive vibes.” To think that is possible is simplistic. The very concept is impossible and unrealistic. Here’s why… we are having an experience in the world. To set up an expectation that we will never face negativity is just plain wrong.

So what is the point of spiritual practice? I say all the time that through practical application of spiritual tools my life has gotten better. Doesn’t that sound like prayer, and meditation, and affirmations have worked to abolish negativity? Perhaps that is how it can be interpreted, but it is not the case. What spiritual practice has done is address the tendency in my thought which allows me to go to a place of overwhelm when negativity appears in my life. Spiritual practices have given me a way to contextualize the negativity so that I do not become overrun with those feelings.

The negative feelings, emotions, and experiences can be our greatest teachers. Through spiritual practice the lessons can be learned constructively rather than destructively.

Another aspect of challenge with the tendency to engage in spiritual bypass is the desire to think others should “just be positive.” This is especially dangerous for anyone who is experiencing mental illness. It perpetuates a stigma around true issues of mental health. If we falsely provide a narrative where we think that someone experiencing clinical depression can improve their condition by just focusing on the positive we can actually perpetuate the opposite. I am not a clinician, and I know that my personal experiences with depression have not been helped by this type of rhetoric. In fact, in the past, before I knew the power I had within, it would perpetuate the feelings within me that I was broken.

The best we can do as practitioners of new thought is to be a beacon. The beacon is illuminated by the light of divinity within. As a beacon it is one truth we are illuminating: everyone of us IS God. God, as us, has experiences and feelings that are negative… but that doesn’t mean they need to be destructive. We are never denying the feelings in spiritual practice, what we seek to do is provide a constructive method for moving through the feelings, learning what we need to learn, and creating a context for expansive growth.

You have value to this world just as you are. All the aspects of your being and experience provide value. You are a magnificent and whole expression of life, and when I look upon your face I see only the face of God.

That is my truth.

“All illumination, inspiration, and realization must come through the self-knowing mind in order to manifest in man. Vision, intuition and revelation proclaim themselves through man’s self-knowing mind.”
-Ernest Holmes

To wrap up this week’s offering of spiritual practices to carry with you I am choosing to end with the practice of visioning. Visioning is a process whereby we purposefully and actively seek to tap in and make ourselves aware of the unlimited flow of the Infinite Mind. It is a practice of allowing, creating a space of receptivity within ourselves. Visioning is a tool we can turn to to find direction in our lives.

Have you ever created a vision board? You know, you find pictures and printed words or phrases which you then paste on poster board? What is the purpose of that practice? Is it intended as a guideline for what you desire in your life, or is it meant to invoke something deeper within you? I believe, and it has been my practice, that the vision board is about that something deeper. That is what visioning is all about. It is moving beyond visualization, or imagination. It is tapping into intuition and that deeper sense of possibility beyond our perceived limitations. In visioning we are making ourselves available to that something greater which is the core essence of each and every one of us.

In visioning we are actively involved in embracing the Divine idea for the highest good of whatever question we bring to the process.

I also saved the practice of visioning until today because it utilizes spiritual practices I’ve already explained.

While visioning is often done in a group, you can vision on your own.

Here is the process…

First make sure you’ve carved out a time and a place where there will be little distraction. This is a time you have decided to be fully present to the Divine without interruption, honor that decision. Sit comfortably and begin the process of centering. Remember that centering is actively focusing our attention on what we perceive as our inner self. As you become more focused and attentive begin the first two steps of spiritual mind treatment. First recognize that God is all there is, and that you are the individualization of infinity (those are the recognition and unification steps — if you missed yesterday’s blog and podcast, go back and check it out). Settling deeply into the loving space you’ve created ask the questions and allow the answers. Here are some questions that you can use (although you can create your own questions):

• What is the highest vision or perfect idea for (whatever it is to which you’re seeking answers)?

• What must I become in order to empower this vision?

• What must be released?

• What must be embraced?

• Is there any other information required in this moment?

As you move through each question, truly allow time to consider the question. During this time, let whatever comes come through. It may be in the form of words, it may not. It could be a feeling, or an image in the mind’s eye, or a color, or sound. Just let whatever presents itself to be present without judgment.

It is helpful if you write down, as best you can, what comes through. I live by an axiom in my life… paper never forgets. So let the vision through and record it as it is happening so you don’t have to struggle to remember later what happened.

Also, don’t step into interpretation. There is no need at this time to interpret what is coming up for you. Just let it present itself freely and openly.

When you’ve moved through your series of questions (whether they are those above, the questions you’ve developed for yourself, or a combination of both) complete the steps of treatment with gratitude and release.

That’s the process. Once complete the question becomes… what came through? Review your written notes. Are there any themes? Did something come through so strongly that the vision can’t be denied? Essentially, what has been revealed through the process? You may need to give time and consideration to what has revealed itself. Don’t be afraid to do that. There is infinity infused in the answers that have presented themselves. The deeper meaning and sense of them may not be immediately apparent. It’s also okay if you don’t feel you received anything. You can recenter yourself and listen and receive. It’s up to you.

The great thing about visioning is that you get to decide how to move forward with the vision. It is not a dictate from some father figure — it is just a reflection of the current conscious potential at this point in time.

How will you proceed now that you know what you know? That is the work that follows visioning.

Relish in the process. It is there for you and you are a visionary!

“Through prayer , life can become a continuing experience of health, happiness, success, joy, and abundance.”
-Ernest Holmes

Prayer. It is the primary tool we use in New Thought to change our lives. In my branch of New Thought, Religious Science, we use an odd sounding term to refer to prayer. We call it spiritual mind treatment. In the teaching a common test question for students is, “Are prayer and spiritual mind treatment the same thing?” It is, of course, a loaded question. The answer is both yes and no.

To understand it is probably easier to explain how treatment differs from prayer… but it also depends on your understanding of prayer (which may be different from some assumptions we make). I am going to consider the most common understanding in alignment with a standard definition of prayer. That definition: the act or ceremony of speaking to God or a god, esp. to express thanks or to ask for help (thank you to the online Cambridge Dictionary). That seems pretty straightforward, right? It is, but it is not exactly in alignment with treatment.

In prayer we may believe in a supplication approach. This is implied in the “asking for help” part of the definition above. As we descend to our knees and place our hands in “prayer position” is there any possibility we are subconsciously (or even consciously) begging? The approach is from a belief in the negative.

Also, are we speaking TO God? The definition specifically indicates that in prayer we are doing just that… speaking to God (or a god).

The part of the definition that is completely in alignment between prayer and treatment is thankfulness. We do express gratitude in treatment… every single time we utilize treatment.

Treatment differs from this well established understanding of prayer in that we are not begging or supplicating, we are announcing. Also, we are not speaking TO God, we are speaking AS God. That is how treatment is different from prayer.

So what IS treatment?

Treatment is a method of praying affirmatively and constructively. When first learning the method of spiritual mind treatment it can be challenging to move away from the idea of what prayer has always been for so many of us. Again… the more we do it the more it becomes easy. Every master was once a novice. You can master the technique.

Now I am going to quickly outline the steps spiritual mind treatment. This is something that is normally taught to new thought students over the course of many weeks of class. If you want to master the technique, look into classes in your area at a local Religious Science center or Center for Spritual Living.

The technique is in five steps: Recognition, Unification, Declaration, Gratitude and Release.

First recognition. God is all there is. That’s it. Recognition is to align consciously and actively with this understanding of Divinity.

Second is unification. Simply put… if God is all there is, and we are a part of all that is, then we must be some part of God. While the term unification is the most common word used to describe this step, I lean more toward using the term, Identification. In this step of treatment I am identifying myself as the Divine presence.

Third is Declaration, also referred to as Realization. In this step we are affirming what it is we require. This is our announcement. Remember yesterday’s blog and podcast on affirmations? You can use those affirmations in this step.

The fourth step is something I’ve already mentioned as present in all treatment, Gratitude. In gratitude, we are not necessarily saying “thank you” (after all, if we are speaking AS God… whom are we thanking?), but rather acknowledging the feeling of gratitude as it fills our heart and soul.

The fifth and final step is Release. There are two aspects of Release that I like to embody in this step. The first is the energetic letting go of the claims I have made in the steps prior. I energetically let go from the point of view of faith, that as I have spoken the words of treatment they become the law and expression of my life. The second part of release is to let go of HOW I think the answer to my treatment should show up in my life. Although I am specific and direct in the expression of my requirement, I step back in faith that there is infinite possibility in the expression of my requirement. I don’t get in the way of that expression.

In my tradition we end each treatment by saying, “And so it is.” That’s a statement of finality if there ever was one. We are not saying, “And so it may be, someday, if I am really good and deserving.” Nope. And so IT IS!

Just a side note, you can say, “amen” at the end of treatment. The word amen means “so be it.” Looking at the etymology of the word it traces back to Hebrew meaning “truth, certainty.” It’s all good… and I am certain that is the truth.

Have a great day!

“DAILY WE MUST CONTROL ALL THOUGHT THAT DENIES THE REAL; AFFIRM THE DIVINE PRESENCE WITHIN US; then, as the mist disappears before the sun, so shall adversity melt before the shining radiance of our exalted thought!”
-Ernest Holmes

In the quote above, Ernest Holmes is trying to drive in the point by making the majority of it fully capitalized in the writing. I think he was pretty serious about the importance of this concept. While we consider all caps a form of yelling… maybe this is the way we get through. I don’t believe I need to yell, but I will stand strong in my belief that daily affirmation of the divine presence is necessary to release life’s adversities. Our mental approach to life colors the experience of life. So affirmation sets a tone for the expression of our day.

Today’s practice is simple affirmations. As I am considering this today, I am reminded of a video I saw online of a four year old girl doing affirmations in the bathroom mirror. Some of them are hard to understand, but the essence is real.

In the video, the little girl, Jessica, is presenting affirmations in the way that we teach affirmations.

The thing to know about affirmations is that they are spoken in the first person present tense. Why? Try these options on for size.

Say this out loud: Life is amazing!

That works pretty well… but feel the difference when you state it like this out loud: “I have an amazing life!” Recognizing the self in the statement does something at a deeper level. Being more specific, and claiming the amazing life for yourself carries with it an energy that is palpable.

Also, it is important to make the claims in the present tense. Whatever the affirmation is, it is happening now. If we were to make the claim in the future tense, for instance, “I will have an amazing life,” keeps the affirmation in the future… always. I don’t know about you, but I prefer my amazing life in the here and now.

So what do you want to claim for yourself? Make a list and start to affirm the good each day. While you don’t have to look in the mirror while you do it, it can be helpful. If you are uncomfortable looking in the mirror, keep at it so that you develop a comfort level. See what it does for you!

Daily affirm the good, know you are the Divine presence expressing here and now. You are Infinity expressing as individuality. Celebrate that through affirmation!

Namaste.

A little follow up to the video. Jessica, was four at the time the video was recorded. The video went viral when she was 12 and she is now 21 years old at the time I am presenting this. She was interviewed a few years back while she was a sophomore at Southern Methodist University. In the interview she explains, “I can’t tell you how many times people have said I should re-create the video now that I’ve had time for life to suck the happiness out of me. That’s just not realistic for me. I don’t stand on the bathroom counter these days, but that video’s still a good representation of who I am.” (Link to interview https://bit.ly/2N23IqU) The proof is in the pudding, Jessica can do it and so can you! Have a great day everyone.

“There’s only one life. That life is God’s life. That life is perfect. That life is my life now.”
-Ernest Holmes

What do you think of when considering the word meditation? Are you like me when I first considered meditation? I could feel the anxiety well up, my heart felt like it was in my throat, my breath would quicken, and the first thought in my mind was, “I can’t meditate, what’s the point?”

That was decades ago, for me, and I am grateful I worked through my anxiety (which in fact was supported by developing a meditation practice). My first knowledge of the practice of meditation was from around age 6. I was visiting my uncle in California, and I recall he had a dedicated space in his home for meditation. I was not allowed to enter that space. I thought it was strange that he would just sit there and do nothing.

I would, more than a decade later, dabble in meditation myself. The first time I had any “formal” instruction was when I was living for a summer on an archeological dig in southwestern Colorado. I spent that summer living in a tent, and my friend who lived on site with me (we were the only two who lived full time at the site — the archeologists would drive in each day) happened to be a Dharma teacher in the Buddhist tradition. He created a meditation space for the use of anyone who desired to use it. It came complete with a singing bowl, meditation pads, incense, orchids, and quiet. He taught me a very specific form of concentration meditation.

Meditation techniques are as varied as there are people to practice them. That’s the first lesson in meditation, you are the one receiving the benefit so what works for you is yours to discover.

Another aspect of meditation that can be confusing for beginners is the timing of meditation. Is there a hard and fast rule about how long you should meditate? No. There are studies have been done suggesting that 20 minutes of meditation begins to take us to the place where we receive the greatest benefit. I have meditated for as little as 60 seconds and still received a benefit.

There are two methods of meditation I will provide today, and you can determine if either works for you.

The first is mindfulness meditation. This is a common form of meditation. In mindfulness meditation our job as practitioners is to allow the various thoughts that drift and wander in the mind to simply be. This is not about trying to clear thoughts, it is becoming aware of thoughts. The intention in mindfulness meditation is to refrain from any judgement about the thoughts, but simply be aware of the thoughts as they arise. If you practice this method on a regular basis you may begin to see patterns arise. These tendencies of thought and feeling may be the basis of your life unfoldment. There is a lot to be gained in mindfulness meditation.

The other method of meditation I want to provide has already been mentioned, concentration meditation. A form of concentration meditation was the first specific technique I was taught. In concentration meditation the practice is to focus on a single point, allowing the breath to be an anchor. Perhaps the point is a visual point, like looking at a flower or the flame of a candle. Perhaps it is aural, listening to a gong or the striking of a singing bowl. There can also be a tactile focus, counting mala beads or a rosary, or the repetition of a word or mantra. In all, whatever you use to concentrate has benefit. It can also be a combination of these things.

I am going to invite you to join me for the next sixty seconds (yes, you can meditate for only sixty seconds) in the practice of repetition.

Sit comfortably. You don’t have to be on the floor, you can sit comfortably in a chair. Close your eyes and repeat to yourself in mind this mantra (which I often use) over and over for the full minute. If you find your mind wanders, just refocus without judgement. Here is the mantra:

“There’s only one life. That life is God’s life. That life is perfect. That life is my life now.”

When you are complete with that full minute, gently open your eyes, take a breath and smile! You have just meditated.

As you continue developing a practice you can extend the time frame of your meditation. As you practice it gets easier.

I wish you happy meditating!

“I would rather see a student of this Science prove its Principle than to have him repeat all the words of wisdom that have ever been uttered.”
-Ernest Holmes

Practice.

The actual application of the method.

Moving beyond theory.

To become a living embodiment of the theory through practical application is what is requested of New Thought followers. So this week I am going to offer five practices to try, one for each day.

We are going to start with something that is actually pretty easy to do. It doesn’t require any special considerations, just a willingness to participate.

Let’s begin today with centering. As a practice, centering is different than meditation because there is an active element, and it is the beginning of developing a meditation practice.

Centering is actively focusing our attention toward what we perceive as the inner self. Many people will say, “turn your attention within.” In doing this you have an opportunity to shift the predominant focus you may have on the outer experiences of living. When we practice centering each day we are actively engaged in reminding ourselves of the truth of our being (and you get to decide what that means for you).

When we turn our attention to to core of our being, we may find the spark of creation at our center. That is our inherent Divine space that is untouched by anything in the material expression. What we may find, as we continue the practice is that our focus within begins to shift the material expression of life around us.

Let’s try centering right now… and make sure you are in a place you can easily engage in the practice. If you are driving the car… it’s probably not a good time, but you can take a moment to do it sitting in your parked car. The nice thing about this practice is you can do it anywhere.

Begin first by bringing an intention to mind to allow yourself the luxury of deepening into your inner knowing. Be willing to release old paradigms and outdated concepts of being. Whatever is happening in the world around you doesn’t require your attention right now, so allow yourself to let any attention to those worldly things dissipate.

Let your focus simply fall now to your breath.

Your breath is natural and easy. It is the reflection of the infinite flow, the infinite giving and receiving.

There is nothing you need to do to make it happen, you can just let it happen.

Settle even deeper in this moment to the recognition of the safe space in your heart, the center of your being. Within this safe space is your point of power. Claim it for yourself that at the center of your being is a perfect sanctuary, it is always available to you.

Now deepen into the inherent feeling of power at your center. Your center is the point from which all joy, love, light, peace, beauty, life, and power spring forth.

Your center is the core of creation.

Make the active decision now that this is your point of view.

Now begin to broaden your awareness to outer experiences. Decide here and now that those outer experiences are seen through the lens of your centeredness. Each outer experience is rooted in joy, love, light, peace, beauty, life, and power.

As you move forward in your day, carry this centered experience with you. You have just changed yourself through centering. Celebrate it! You are a way Infinity is expressing as individuality!

“The question, ‘What’s in it for me?’ is the internal dialogue of the ego. Asking, ‘How can I help?’ is the internal dialogue of the Spirit.”
-Deepak Chopra

What is yours to do?

I just finished a great conversation with a dear friend and this question is what has come through as a result of that conversation. I have been telling a story for some time now that I had an awakening, an illumination moment in Toronto on Easter 2017 that has led me to this point… the point where I am now. On that date I stated aloud, “what was mine to do here is complete.”

I didn’t understand at the time. The more I have taken it into consideration I have more deeply realized an inherent truth in that statement. Let me start by explaining how this statement can be misunderstood. To consider that there is anything that is ours to do seems to have a tacit implication of destiny, kismet, or preordination. To believe in these things we give up our control, we essentially say, “I have no choice, this is mine to do and I must do it.” This is fundamentally in opposition to a basic premise in New Thought which is infinite choice. We get to choose every aspect of the expression of our lives. “Freedom is the birthright of every living soul,” Ernest Holmes states. If this is the case, how can we believe that there is anything that is ours to do?

It is simple. We decide what is ours to do. We do this at both the level of awareness and below the level of awareness. When the choice is below the level of awareness, we may define that as destiny.

When I left Toronto, I had come to the realization that what was mine to do was complete. It is a great gift that I know that it was ME who decided what was mine to do.

You may be thinking at this point, “Yeah, I get it… I know that I get to decide and that there is no kismet at play in my life.” If this is so, now deepen into your sense of self and look at any of the ways where you may feel you have no choice. That’s what we are really talking about here. We embody the consciousness of our choices and there are no choices we can make that can’t be unmade (or rather re-made).

I have a desire to be fulfilled in life. There is no reason why I shouldn’t feel fulfilled. If I am not feeling fulfilled there is only one person who can do something about it… me.

So what is mine to do? Whatever I decide.

I expect fulfillment in life, and I should never expect anything less.

Yes… that is Rev. Jonathan in the top picture.

“The only drag about adulthood is we think we need to act like an adult.”
-Rev. Patrick Feren

I just came across this quote from the time I was on the Sacred Journey of Childlike Wonder about a month ago. It was something I needed to hear today because I have been struggling a little with adulting in the last couple days. What does that mean exactly? It means that I was not finding joy in what may be considered the mundane tasks of living.

My husband, Dane, and I are in the midst of buying a house. Buying a house is one of the most “adult” things you can do. In the decisions surrounding the house buying process we are considering not just where we live physically, but we also take into consideration what it means for our financial future and security? What does it mean in relation to our ability to “get up and go?” There are benefits and limitations in this process, and we are diligent in taking it all into consideration. I guess that’s adulting.

I am excited about buying the house, yet I am not finding joy in the mundane aspects of the process. At least once per day I find myself saying to Dane, “I can’t wait until we close.”

I think the question I needed to have answered today in my spiritual practice was this… what is fundamentally going to be different when we close escrow? Yes, we will own the home… but that’s really it. There is not a thing that will change within me. The act of buying a home doesn’t change the core of my being. I am who I am… and there is nothing in the world of circumstance that will ever change that.

I can own a home and approach life with childlike wonder. That doesn’t mean acting in a manner that is immature. I can be mature in my expression of life, but also look upon all things with awe—like a child. Isn’t that truly the magnificent part of childhood? Everything is new and exciting. The entire world is to be explored.

One of the great things about the house we are about to buy is its location. We are sandwiched between a park and the Pantano Wash. Along the Pantano Wash is a portion of the walking and biking trail recently constructed in Tucson  called “The Loop” (http://webcms.pima.gov/government/the_loop/). I love this location because I can easily hop onto The Loop and walk. Since The Loop runs along the banks of riverbeds it feels separate from city life.

I walk along the nearest Loop path at least once or twice a week. While on the path it is more than just walking, I allow myself to deepen into my childlike wonder and observe the awesome nature all around me. I keep my eyes open and see the world as though it were the first time.

This takes practice and a commitment to not take it all for granted. I can bring this nature to the rest of my life’s experiences… like buying a house. I have never bought a house before. I can revel in the wonder of the process. I get to set the course and tone of my experience because of who I am.

Who am I? I am the presence of God currently clothed in my uniquely inspired form. There is not an aspect of me that is not God. There is a Divine blueprint at the core of my being, and the more I rebuild my experience of life based on that Divine blueprint, the more joy I find… even in the mundane. God is both the adult and the child in me.