Seasons of the Soul

Replacing the God of War with the God of Peace

 

Crime and Punishment in America is based on the God of War concept – and it leads to the same recidivism over and over again, just as the middle east is engaged in the same eye for the eye engagement because they are wedded to the God of War.

What does this mean, the God of War? It is the old testament judgmental deity who elevates one group over another and inflames them to war against all that defile its identity or grip of power. This is a relentless “god” who never rests until vengeance is extracted. And the problem is that this God is viewed from several different perspectives- each claiming to be the only true inheritor of its divine stamp of approval. Yet there is no pleasing this god. Its lust for revenge is legendary. All one need do is read the bible or other religious texts. A never ending fear based loyalty is demanded and extracted. The penalty for disloyalty is death – often through torture.

When one strips away the indoctrinated level of fear, one has to ask – “how could this god have created the universe?” And the answer is…it did not. This is a subservient god to the Ego based identity of the tribal hierarchy. There can only be one king, one dominant figure, and the rest is subservient to that figure who rules by force and innuendo. Instilling fear and holding ruthless justice over one’s head can hold a tribe together – but it leads to resentment, bitterness, disregard for life, and it stifles the true potential inherent in all humans – the divine gift of creativity, love, and compassion.

As long as we worship at the feet of the God of War, the earth will continue to go through the ravages we see of one group against another “in the name of God, Allah, Justice” As long as we allow this patriarchal view of god to lead the way, our road is filled with slings and arrows, because that is the only way this god controls.

As we have entered into a new millennium, we move into a new vibration – and the possibility is to depose this warrior deity and replace it with the force of life, light, and forgiveness. This is the creator God that Jesus spoke of…the one who asks us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies as ourselves, to forgive them - for they know not what they do.

This God seeds life abundantly. This is the verdant green God that brings the lilies of the field and the rich forests and meadows. This is the God that clothes and feeds the earth in light and love. This is the One who holds us in the palm of hand and comforts us in times of trouble. This is a compassionate God – the only one who could forge creation into the living beauty it is. And until we claim and acclaim this Creator God, we will continue to extract an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth until the world is littered with the corpses of an insatiable war god who knows no peace.

 

"When I despair, I remember that all through history, the ways of
truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and
murderers and, for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end
they always fall. Think of it...always."
-Mahatma Ghandi

Layers and Layers of Paint

 

 

“I think we ought to strip the cabinets.” My sweetie was looking at the thick layers of paint on kitchen cabinets that had been repeatedly painted over the years, and discussing what our options were now that it was once again time to paint.

“Oh, no…don’t go to all that trouble,” I countered. “Let’s just make this kind of a funky kitchen and paint some interesting colors.”

He shook his head. “Nope. I want to see what is underneath all this buildup of paint.” I sighed, knowing that once he’d made up his mind, nothing was going to stop him. “Well, go ahead if you want…but it’s going to be a lot of work.”

He took the cabinets into the garage and put paint stripper on each of them. I heard him sanding them, and soon he was in the house with a big smile on his face. “Come look at what I found.” Surely, it was going to be marginal at best. But as I walked up to what had been heavily painted cabinet doors, there in their place were beautiful wooden doors that had intricate wood grain – absolutely gorgeous. And all this time, they had been covered over with layer upon layer of paint – hiding the natural beauty that was underneath, waiting to be freed!

If we’d had more money, we’d probably have thrown the old cabinets out. But because we had a limited budget, and because of his tenacity, we found something that was much nicer than anything new we could have bought.

Of course, that got me thinking about us humans. How many layers of “paint” have we got covering the exquisite natural beauty of who we really are under all the years of encrusted experiences, disappointment, and other residue that has created a buildup that dims our inherent light? And how often do we just paint more on top of what is there rather than stripping away the old and bringing ourselves back to our true essence? It seems so much easier in the moment just to cover over whatever isn’t working, but in the long run, we are left with a shadow of our real selves.

Now that I’ve seen the miracle of stripping the cabinets, I’m looking to see where there is residue and layers of old stuff that is hiding my inner light. How about you? Is your true beauty shining through?

The Unwelcome Guest

 

 One evening I found myself embroiled in negative thinking. My thoughts were berating me for some personal lack, and as I felt more and more depressed, I was aware that these intruders were very disruptive. They were condemning, critical, judgmental, and downright rude.

As I turned to view them, I entered into mental dialogue. “Who are you? You certainly do not wish me well, and are obviously not a ‘friend’...so why am I even entertaining you at all??? The critical thoughts became very quiet, and I determined that I did not want THAT voice to be allowed in my space.

In looking at how negative thoughts even come to mind, I recognized how many times I’ve allowed them to intrude themselves into my thinking patterns without even questioning them, especially when I have been tired or vulnerable. Yet, if this were a person...someone who “dropped over” and began citing my flaws, critiquing my abilities, and pointing to my failures, would I welcome them...invite them to stay...offer them a meal? I don’t think so! Yet, in my own mind, it’s open season! I often allow unwelcome guests to present their litany of charges against me, and think nothing of it.

In visualizing this scenario, I looked at how many types of unwelcome guests crowd into my thinking periodically, and how it’s time to shut the door on them.

Just as I’ve needed to learn discernment about who and what I spend time with in the external world, I need to do the same with my inner world. The quality of my thoughts reflects in my actions, my attitude, and my sense of well-being.

If I want the best from life, I have to be more pro-active about the quality of my internal guests, for as I am, there will be more harmony in my mental “home.”

As I do Fall cleaning, getting ready for winter, it’s time to reorganize my guest list. I think I’ll invite compassion, humor, encouragement, appreciation, affection, playfulness, and wisdom to visit. There may be more, but it’s a good start.

If you have any uninvited guests in your “home,” I encourage you to join me in taking a look at the unwelcome guests who intrude in your thoughts and to make out a new guest list as well.

It will be interesting to see just what kind of possibilities present themselves when we change the quality of the thoughts we entertain.

 

The Frog Story

 

 

There were two frogs that hopped along a path, and lo and behold they found themselves leaping unexpectedly into a deep well. Although they pondered the situation and tried hopping out, the depth of the well made their circumstances seem hopeless.

Other frogs arrived, hearing their croaking cries for help. However, as the new frogs appraised the situation, it appeared to them, too, that there was no way out. So they called down to the two frogs who were hopping as high as they could to forget it, accept their fate, and live out the remaining time of their lives in the bottom of the well.

One of the frogs, hearing the advice of the others, decided after a few more tries that they were right. He stopped and sat dejectedly at the bottom of the well.

However, the other frog seemed undeterred. The more the frogs at the top told him to stop, the more he jumped. The more they waved at him to give it up, the more he attempted to go just a little bit higher.

All of a sudden, with one extraordinary leap, the frog leaped over the top of the well, freed from his entrapment. The other frogs were stunned and amazed.

The frogs circled him and asked how he’d done it. However, he couldn’t hear them, for he was deaf.

The frog who freed himself thought the other frogs who were discouraging him were actually cheering him on, and because of this he did not give up.

Nor should we!

Growing Into Ourselves

 

I was looking at a plant that had outgrown its container, and realized it was time to re-pot it. This lead me to thinking about little plants in small clay pots that grow beyond the capacity of the container to hold them. What was just the right size and offered just the right elements at one time becomes outmoded as the plant grows. It is then time to transplant or re-pot them into a container that will give them the additional room to grow so that they remain healthy and vital. As long as a plant is potted, it will need this transplant procedure periodically in order for it to thrive. And so, too, will we.

When we become accustomed to the space we inhabit, albeit attitude, framework, or outlook, we come to the point of getting root bound if there is no larger context for us to grow into. When we become self-satisfied, we cannot reach and stretch as is needed for growth and further development in our lives. Therefore, it’s important to remain open to possibilities and new modes of investigation or ideas that challenge our view of the world and cause us to question.

Growing older does not mean calcifying into any particular form. To remain stuck is a choice. We can expand and vary our interests with each phase of life. We can express changing convictions as we grow into new containers that present wider opportunities and expanding horizons. Life is meant for living, not stagnating, or choking off precious possibilities. As we view ourselves as a plant that needs different pots at different phases of our lives, we are more apt to allow for the necessary changes that will come. We will benefit by growing into them and allowing our roots to deepen and spread.

Remaining in a container that is too narrow, too small, or too root bound keeps us from the joy of discovery and the delight of fresh experiences. Willingness is a great part of remaining fresh, growing into the next container, and the next, until we have filled all the pots of a lifetime.

God Is In the Atoms!

 

 

Perception. I've written about this again and again....but everything is the outworking of our perception. We are constantly playing out the scenarios and taking them in, because they are what we expect to see. If we chose to see differently, we would perceive differently.

Have you ever noted when you want to buy a new car and then choose one, suddenly you see many of the same ones on the highway, whereas before you hadn't noticed them? That goes for everything. We find what we seek.

I received an e-mail about someone’s near death experience that was very important. The individual who had it commented about how everything was an atom of God....every single atom has God imbued in it and has consciousness. And he remarked at how incredible it was to be given the gift of being a human being....this VAST collection of atoms! Not just one....a universe of them! And in that, the gifts of all the bombs, all the adversity...everything to help us realize that we are co-creators and that God lives in and through us. Suddenly, we stop seeing ourselves as error. We see ourselves for what we really are....a magnificent creation, not a fluke. We were crafted with intention, and when we get the ego separateness out of the way and allow ourselves to move into our true nature, we don't have to chase after anything. We just let ourselves be...we observe....we pay attention....we wait if necessary. And when it is time for an insight or an opportunity, it will come. WE DON"T HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! What an incredible idea! What a revelation! Something is working within and without that is bringing cohesion to this whole system of energy called the universe. IT knows. IT engineers. IT crafts and dispenses. We just have to show up, shovel all the excess manure out of our mind field, and allow ourselves to be planted and to bloom as we are intended. Yes, we have to do our part. But our part is not to control. It is to be receptive...to hear the still, small voice within. And to follow....with love and with gratitude.

It's that simple. And it's that hard.