Embracing Your Nature: My Contemplation of Verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am embracing verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically these portions:

If you conform to the Way,

its power flows through you.

Your actions become those of nature,

your ways those of heaven.

Open yourself to the Tao

and trust your natural responses...

then everything will fall into place.

I think it's important to understand that we are part of nature.  We, who are part of nature, were created by a magnificent creator.  We have our ups and downs.  Nature around us has its ups and downs.  Weather is part of nature.

The wind is part of nature.  It blows, and it subsides.  In our lives, we have happy times.  We also have sad times.  Stuff happens!

I can tell you about all the negative events in my life.  I could sing you a song like the Blues.  My daddy, he died, duh, duh, duh, duh.  I lived in a rat-infested house, duh, duh, duh, duh.  My roof did leak, duh, duh, duh, duh.

The reality is that I have also had positive life points.  I had a loving mother.  She didn't give up my four siblings and me to foster care.  I finished high school and even got a Bachelor's degree.  I'm  married with four wonderful children.

Listen, we all have chaotic times.  We all have peaceful times.  There is an important question we must ask ourselves.  Are we going to let the bad experiences strike us so strongly?  Yes or no.

Will we keep depending on our abilities?  Will we keep pushing and pulling our way to what we think is success?  Will we keep trying to control all of the conditions in our lives?  When are we going to realize that we are limited beings?  Why fight the natural aspects of our lives?

How about depending on God?  He is the Tao--the Way and the Source of everything.  He is our Creator.  He loves us.  He wants what is best for us, and that includes trusting in Him.

God's ways are not our ways.

He is the One we should turn to when we are troubled.

Let's turn to Him.

Let's thank Him when the good things happen.

How about it, my readers?  Are you depending on your abilities to get you through the tough times?  Or are you turning to God?  I recommend going with the flow of your given situation.  For example, if someone is bad-mouthing you, keep quiet and let that person's nature run its course.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.