Being Present

In Yesterday's post, I asked have you ever been ignored? This is one of the most terrible feelings. However when we live a distracted life we ignore some of the most important relationships in our lives.

First when we live distracted, we live unaware of God's presence in our lives. We in turn do not give to God, our presence. Distractions come in many different kinds, shapes and sizes. Their purpose is to cover, pain or to enable us to cope with life. Sometimes we may feel guilt, shame because of past "sins" or we may fear rejection. Maybe this is because we have a wrong view of God. I invite you to set aside any religious ideas of who God is for a week, and only accept the idea, that God is Love. Allow God to simply respond to you with Love, acceptance. Talk to God, ask God for direction, wisdom as you would a loving parent or trusted friend. Allow God to reveal Himself/Herself to you as the Loving God, God is.

When you awake in the morning, say good morning God. Throughout the day recognize God and discuss what your thinking, feeling, doing with God like you would your best friend. When you face a challenge, ask God for strength, help and direction. When you go to bed, tell God, good night. After this week, what has changed?

Second, the relationship we need to reconnect and be present with, is ourselves. The most empowering life changing thing you can do, is get in touch with your authentic self. Why do I say authentic self? Because all of us form an image or idea of ourselves that is based on our experiences. This may include abuse, rejection and past pain. This self we created to protect ourselves from pain, suffering. This false self is called the ego. We then identify with this false version of ourself to such a degree, that we think it's the real us. We are not our body, we're not our thoughts,we are spirits we are our hearts. We need to allow the real us to live. We need to connect with our authentic self. Don't live the labels you or others gave you. Don't live the same old story and script you were sold. Embrace the real life and story that your heart yearns for. The life that sparks your passion and purpose. If you are not sure what it is, begin the exciting quest to find it, ask God to help you find it, and watch the miraculous adventure unfold.

Third and last the relationship with others is transformed when we become present to them. Give your presence to other's. Hear them, see them, accept them as they are. Be real to them. Don't present them with the prepackaged false version of yourself called the ego. Give the the real you, take a risk, and be present, in your relationships.

Distractions are habits that are not easily broken. There was a time that I was on a long drive and was growing very tired. I began to fall asleep at the wheel. The problem with going to sleep at the wheel, is you don't realize it, until you wake up. Sometimes that is too late. Once I realized what was happening, I stopped and got a hotel room to rest.

Some of you are realizing that you have been living life, distracted. This is not really living at all, it is sleeping at the wheel of life. However, now that you are beginning to wake up, you can take action. This is why it is called an awakening, or enlightenment. Take the necessary steps to reconnect with life, and be present !


- Posted by a fellow sojourner from his mobile office