After Time

If you are like me and believe in an afterlife, something beyond our physical death, do you ever wonder what language it might speak so as to connect?.  I expect the After Life is more than like riding a New York Subway where no one looks or talks to anyone they don’t know.  So if it is going to be very communal, what language will it speak.  My belief is that the language will be “Prayer.”  So, every time that I pray it is like being in language school, practicing for this new place I hope to live in after I die.  This helps encourage me to practice Prayer and meditation.   

Time Is Money

 When I get something that I believe came from God, I cannot really pay God, like I would pay someone for something I got through or from them.  God does not need any payment.  But time is money.  So I can pay God my attention.  This is what I am doing in prayer and meditation.  I am paying attention to God.  Five minutes a day is better than nothing, but it is quite close to nothing.  My “precious” time can be my downfall.  

The Owner

 Do you fixate on things you used to own?  Or on things that you do own, but might need to let go?  If so, things might own you instead of you owning them.  I live in a small space which saves me from having too much stuff.  I don’t have a garage full of things such that the car is parked outside.  Or maybe a couple cars.  So my circumstances save me from myself.  I cannot buy something until I ask. “Where do I put it?”  Since there is little space, I tend not to buy things that I don’t absolutely need, like toothpaste.  Maybe something that I never use, but is useful, might be good for someone else!  What a concept.  

Only One

 I am only one person.  I cannot fix the world.  But then again, I am one person, which means I can do some things.  Some things do not include things I cannot do.  If it is beyond me, so be it.  So I look at what I, one person, can do.  I try not to refuse to do what I can do.  And I try not to get angry at people who do not do what they can do.  Generally, when I do get angry, something else is the matter with me.  And what can be done remains undone.  

Attitude

“I am having a terrible day!”  You feel terrible about the events or lack thereof in this particular moment of the day.  It is a FEELING.  The same events could be happening to you on another day but you don’t feel terrible.  On my better days, attitude overcomes feelings.  I look at where I am in relation to stuff and say, “Things are right now just as they are supposed to be.”  One of the aspects of being on a spiritual practice is that at times, attitude overcomes feelings, such that I don’t do stupid things to make the day worse.   

Beige

 Beige Recovery is OK.  I mean you are not drinking, probably going to meetings, putting money in the basket when passed, and being helpful when asked.  All good, but beige.  Why?  Step 11.  It is about prayer, and not just out loud serenity prayer, but something deeper, something more meditative, more trusting, more time in solitude and silence.  This is what takes you to your deeper self, which was damaged in your drinking days.  This is the place of the Light, which is not about brightness but about the Light Of Truth as to who you are meant to be.  Like what?  Like what will make you realize your oneness with all around you.  The separate self is always the false self of fear or pride, or shame and so on.  Beige is some light but not the Fullness of You.  Beige is the 11step recovery program.  The 11th step is often the missing or lightly touched step.  

Spiritual Bouquet

 When I was a little Catholic boy, I used to give my Mom and Dad “Spiritual Bouquets.”  These were not flowers, which I could not afford.  And if I could afford the flower, it was simply me buying a flower and giving it to my Mom.  Easy peasy.  But a Spiritual Bouquet is a lot of work on my part.  I would promise to say all number of prayers and going to mass and doing good for others, as a gift to the one who receives the Bouquet card.  I am still paying off on all I said I would pray and do.  Over the years of Bouquet card lists I must have a gazillion masses to attend and rosaries to say, and good works to do, and so on.  But the good news is I was giving a gift of what I would do, not what I would ask someone else to do.  Well we have the custom of having a mass said for someone, say a dead person, I am not doing anything but paying the stipend for the mass intention.  But if I were to include doing some good for someone who is suffering the loss of that dead person, then I am into action that will change me for the better.  I have to go now to say yet one more rosary, though my Mom is already in heaven.  A promise is a promise.