being in the moment and stuff

So today has been an extremely crappy day. We were snowed in, I failed a math test, my financial situation sucks, Im going stir crazy, and I burnt dinner and every smoke alarm in the friggin house went off simultaneously and it killed my ears! Well...the dinner incident is where I threw in the towel. I made Amara a PB and J and then curled up on the couch in near tears. I picked up the book Ive been reading, "Eat, love and Pray" and started reading. The book is about a womans personal, emotional, and spiritual journey across 3 countries. I started reading about her time in India. She went on talking about how she lived in an ashram and her daily duty was to scrub the temple floors. She worked alongside some teenagers. One teen in particular would always talk incessantly to her about the meditative qualities in scrubbing floors and in most tasks. He said that God is in everything we do and everything God does is for us. Now...in this book God is not representive of any denomination...rather God is talked about frequently as the omnipotent force that has no face, gender, or name and that connects us all to our higher selves and our surroundings. The teen continued on about the importance of being present....for God is in the moment. God is always in the moment. Many people have a hard time being in the moment because we are so focused on troubles from our past and what were gonna do in the future that the moment goes overlooked and unnoticed....as does God. So after reading this...i stopped to reflect on it. My daughter was standing in front of me drawing pictures in the window with her finger [the windows were all misty from it being hot inside and cold outside] and because I craved some contentment and peace i strived to stay in the moment. I watched her with "present" eyes and marveled at her delicate hand movements and her fluid strokes while making lines and shapes. I looked beyond her out the window and was awe struck at the beauty and magnificense of the bark on the tree outside the window. I looked at my cat who walked nearer and couldnt help but to almost smile despite my befuddled brain. In that moment...I understood that God is present and that we are all a part of it. The sudden awareness I felt was then justified by my 5 year old daughters simple genious as she turned to me and said out of the blue...."Mom your not happy because your not following your heart." wow!!!! I didnt respond right away cuz I was just still absorbing everything...I realized that my heart wants to be always connected with the ever present God......so thats what Im working on! Being present and seeing the world through Godly eyes...its not easy but feels right.

Anywho thanks for reading.

 

awww...mandy, that rocks... and I have been there... And I am glad you have made the choice to see the beauty in existance.

I had a moment like that... when we were minutes away from Yale going in for his heart transplant.... Me and my husband and the surgeon (whom we know well) and the anesstiologist(sp?) were all talking and Chris the surgeon looks at me and asks are you ready? and I said.. I have no choice, than he looks at Ty and asks him the same and Ty says, I'll be happy when its over, than we all look down at Yale who is laying in the crib whilst we all talk over him... and Chris goes... how about you buddy? and Yale looked at all of us, then to him and let out the silliest raspberry ever.
I mean really how can you not think that God had a part in that to make us parents (who were handing over our child to have his heart removed from his chest and another place it) as well as the professionals involved in this... laugh out loud.... nobody in their right mind would think this is an appropriate time to tell a joke, or laugh about something... I felt that much stronger in that moment, knowing that the last time Yale saw me and his father we were laughing.... I felt that if I wasn't going to ever see him again, at least this was how we left it, not me with the constant face of worry, or tears, or pain watching yale slowly die before my eyes. God was there in that moment....

 

holy crap that gave me serious goosebumps Tanna! Thats such a beautiful story! Your little Yale sounds like a total messenger....as we all are when seeing correctly and clearly. Its those moments that do give us strength, courage, and the humor needed to get by and see life for what it really is......a series of incredible moments packed with as much beauty as youll allow yourself to see, be susceptible too and be apart of.

I just wanna give Yale a gigantic hug and kiss! What an amazing boy.

 

Good read. I thoroughly enjoyed that. I've been in a low place for the couple weeks and remind myself daily of the things you talked about. But it's often hard to really live within and by the thoughts and not stray back that insecure place we somehow find comfort within ourselves.

 

yep people are creatures of habit. If it is habit to remain in an uncomforatble place then subconciously it becomes what we prefer because its what were familiar with. Its difficult to break habits and see through new eyes.

 

I don't understand what this thread is about. Presence of god in everyday life?

 

i was just venting and writing. this thread has no particular direction.....but i like your suggesstion....so yes this thread is about God in everyday life. =]

 

I wasn't suggesting, just wondering because I couldn't seem to make out a clear subject.

I would never suggest presence of god because I am unsure about my beliefs. I would say my religious beliefs fall under the category of atheist though there is a hint of agnostic because I am still unsure. Though I believe the chance of there being an actual god highly unlikely.

I have down tons of research on the subject and will never come to believe that there is a higher power till I am given solid proof.

I like to think I live my own life rather than a master plan god may have for me. I choose what happens in my life

 

When i speak of God I do not speak of some crazy biblical figure that embodies a humongous white guy with an epic beard sitting on some throne on a cloud with a staff causing thunder with his tantrums. Nope. I dont follow any religion or belief that God is tangible, ever knowing, and our lives our predestined by him. No siree. Instead God is just a word that I feel comfortable using to describe lifes little miracles....the air we breathe, synchronized laughter, making eye contact with a total stranger and holding it, the colors of the sunset, my yummy bagel I just ate and so forth. Does that make sense?

 

Yep

 

Thats the same way I define "god" as well. I think (and I know I may be stirring up some shit here) but organized religion is just another way for people categorize themselves and their beliefs... and I totally agree in so many ways with some and not at all with others.

and personally... if you've ever had a child growing inside of you, you will know that there is some source of higher power. I greatly suggest reading the celestine prophecy... even though its total fiction... I've seen it happen in every day situations... why are you who you are? why are you parents who they are? is there a bigger reason why you were born where you were into the family you have, and why you chose to strike up a converstation with one person, and not another.... I think it all has purpose in the higher plain of earth as a whole, and where we are evolving towards...

Does any of this make any sense?

 

I mean think of where we were not even 100 years ago.... and now... I think once we can mesh science and belief together. we might really understand why we are here.
I mean my son was born with half a heart... not even 20 years ago he would have died at birth, but science has seen that now people with his heart condition can live 20+years... think what we might know about spirits and god if we mesh science with it... and what might be possible 20, 40, 200 years in the future?

i don't know why people have to believe in one or the other.

 

Well I don't agree with organized religions at all (and I wont state my reasons as to why cause it will just start a huge argument probly)

And where we differ is that I don't believe there is/was a higher power or plan that determined who I was, or why my parents are the way they are, or why their parents married and etc. I think it all came down to personal choices that the individuals made rather than some sort of purpose or plan

edit: i was typing while you were writing your second reponse and didnt get to read it before you posted.

Well the problem is that one disproves the other. Science is based off of proof and religion is stricly belief. Polar opposites. Which is why I have a hard time combining the 2 and tend to lean more towards the science side of things

 

exactly pat... I know its wishful thinking... but the celestine prophecy might shine a little light on that... (I own it if you want to borrow it) it doesn't say that there wasn't choice at all.... but that the choice is why you are who you are... and choice and circumstance can change... as can anyone.

My favorite part in the book is... when you pass someone that looks familiar or reminds you of someone you once knew, that you should stop and strike up a conversation with them. Often times it would be to your benefit, and that is why they strike you as familiar in the first place....

*shrug*
but anyhoo... I'm not trying to tell you that there was a set plan out for you... because I don't know that, and I agree that I don't think there is... but I can say that there is a reason why I am Yale's mom. some decision that maybe I made a long time ago, or maybe it wasn't up to me at, but I lived on a cardiac ward in a children's hospital, and let me tell you, all the fellow heart moms have totally similar beliefs (religious or not) and I don't think its a coincidence that there is such a similarity. I think it takes a certain person to stand at the bedside of a life you created, and watch them slowly waste away.


but this is totally getting off topic... kind of... I used to flip back and forth from believing life was random, and had no meaning, and we all just were.... but now... I obviously have some sort of belief... my hubby calls the way I think religious darwinism...

 

okay... maybe i should head over to the religion and philosophy forum...

 

I will give it a read for sure. I just downloaded the e-book lol

and apparently there is a movie aswell

 

I didn't know about a movie.... but I've had the book for like 10 years... so... *shrug*

*scurries off to find the movie*

 

And imagine if someone was smart enough to use science to prove higher powers... wow what a change the world would take Good or bad I'm not too sure...

 

lol most people who use science are trying to disprove higher powers though

 

I know... thats why I said imagine...

And sorry Mandy for totally derailing your beautiful sentiment...