DISCERNMENT: Part Two
By Angela Skeete Davis
To follow up where I left off last week, I also had a conversation with a friend who said he ached to have peace in his life. When he started to talk about it, it became clear how important it was to him. It also became clear he was spending so much time wanting it, that wanting it had, in a sense, become for him a way of thinking, being, living.
Our conversation really bothered me and I got to thinking about all of us, the things we crave and the things we want. How do we get the things that we say we want in our lives?
I watched a movie recently that I thought I would dislike, but I actually enjoyed it and learned from it. Following is the movie's message. Basically, it said when we ask God/The Universe/the Ultimate Energy for something, it is not just magically given to us…instantly. Although, if we are honest, that is what we usually want and expect. Instead, we are given opportunities to receive the thing or things for which we have asked. Therefore, if we want love or joy or peace in our lives, we can’t just sit back and wait for it to miraculously happen. We must first believe we will receive the things we ask for; and then, we have to see the opportunities we are being given to receive the thing or things we desire. Last we have to act on those opportunities.
I want happiness, so I wake up each morning anticipating happiness. I make it a point to both enjoy my day and look for opportunities for happiness. Then, at the end of the day, I look back and say thank you for the moments of happiness I received and enjoyed. I truly believe most of us are given the opportunities to have the things we most desire but we just don’t see those opportunities.
It’s like looking for love and not realizing the person you should be with is right in front of you, because he or she has not come gift wrapped the way you expected. I think the answer to receiving the things we ask for is discernment. I think the answer is to appreciate each moment. By doing so we give ourselves the chance to see the opportunities God/The Universe/The Ultimate Energy is giving us to receive the things we most desire.
If you try this approach and do not begin to receive what you seek, try examining yourself. Are you holding yourself back from the things you most want out of fear? Are you your own worst enemy? When you have honestly answered those questions, take a step back and make a plan of action. There is no time like now to actively seek what you want. Oh ……. And trust …… if you don’t have what you seek, plant a seed. If you don’t have love, start by giving love to others; if you don’t have joy, start by bringing joy to others; if you don’t have happiness, start by making others happy. This works.
But how does this get you peace? That is a hard question. I am still working on this and will finish next week. In the meantime, spend this week bringing joy, happiness and love to the lives of others. Trust …. It will be returned tenfold and you will be glad you did.
“Whatever we are waiting for - peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance - it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.”
Sarah Ban Breathnach
author, columnist, lecturer
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