Spreading the Wealth: My Contemplation of Verse 53 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 focusing on verse 53 of the Tao Te Ching:

 If I have even just a little sense,

I should walk in the Great Way,

and my only fear would be straying.

The Great Way is very smooth and straight,

and yet the people prefer devious paths.

that is why the court is corrupt,

the fields lie in waste,

the granaries are empty.

Dressing magnificently,

wearing a sharp sword,

stuffing oneself with food and drink,

amassing wealth to the extent of not knowing

what to do with it,

is being like a robber.

I say this pomp at the expense of others

is like the boasting of thieves after a looting.

This is not the Tao.

The straight and narrow path is one I should follow.  What does that mean?  What is my responsibility to others?  Can I bury my head in the sand when there is need on this earth?  Or should I share of my wealth?

This verse challenges me to look past my own wants and needs.  How can I eat my own meals in peace, when there are others who are starving?  How can I spend oodles of money on expensive clothes, purses, and shoes, when my own children have outgrown their pajamas?  How can I ignore the fact that there are homeless people in my own city?

My responsibility is to spread the wealth.  How many people are actually thinking in these terms?  I believe a lot of people down others who want to spread the wealth.  Guess what they are being called?  Socialists, radicals...individuals who want to tax the rich.

The Bible asks us to reach out to our fellow man who is less fortunate than us.  People like to dress that up as un-American, even though our Founding Fathers shaped our nation's laws on biblical principles.  This country has long been known to be a place where you can realize the American dream.  Unfortunately, that dream has become a nightmare to countless individuals who have lost homes, cars, and jobs.  What are we as citizens of the United States to do for each other?

Are we to hog up all the wealth we amass?  Or should we share it with others?  Can we really be that greedy?  Do we dare allow others to call us un-American when we push the idea of everyone deserving healthcare?  Doesn't everyone deserve the dignity to be cared for when in poor health?  

During this holiday season, and as we walk into the new year, may we strive to be more Christ-like.

May we emulate Jesus, when He healed the sick.  May we strive to feed the starving like He did.  May we be merciful when we meet with those who are less fortunate.  Let us not turn them away but instead help them.  After all, aren't we really celebrating the birth of a loving God (clothed in human form), when we deck the halls with boughs of holly, don our gay apparel, decorate the Christmas tree, and exchange presents?

Thanks for reading this entry about the need to spread the wealth.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

My beloved readers, I'd like for you all to answer the above questions and these: Are you willing to spread the wealth?  Or are you going to hog up your wealth?  Are you willing to help the less fortunate?  Or are you going to insist that you don't need to help others?  Are you going through the motions of celebrating Christmas, without acknowledging why the holiday exists?  

I pray that we all would seek wisdom from the Source of everything--Our Heavenly Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving relationship with Him.

May God bless us all with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

Living With An Open Mind: My Contemplation of Verse 52 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 focusing on verse 52 of the Tao Te Ching, particularly these portions:

 ...Keep your mouth shut,

guard the senses,

and life is ever full.

Open your mouth,

always be busy,

and life is beyond hope.

Seeing the small is called clarity;

keeping flexible is called strength.

Using the shining radiance,

you return again to the light

and save yourself misfortune.

This is called

the practice of eternal light.

I've been known to hold my anger in.  I've also been know to blow up.  Sometimes, I can control my anger; lately, it's been getting harder.  One important fact, though, is that I don't want to take it out on my kids and husband.

This verse of the Tao Te Ching suggests keeping the mouth shut.  When adversities come, and they undoubtedly do, we should minimalize how much we say.  I already heard this twice since I read this verse.  It was two older men who advised this.

What happens when we open our mouths?  Have you ever heard of the phrase: Lose lips sink ships?  Yeah, our words can get us into trouble.  In the Bible, it has been mentioned that there are times for peace and times for war.  There are times that call for silence.  Then there are times in which we must speak up about injustices.

Can we truly keep our mouths shut?

The difficulty comes when we are confronted with difficult people and situations.  It is best to be assertive.  I'm not calling for aggressiveness.  I'm not saying we should be passive and allow people to step all over us.  I'm not even saying we should be passive aggressive and whisper under our breaths when someone angers us.

I'm saying that there is permission to address a difficult situation with calm.  There is no sense getting into a huff and a puff, like the Big Bad Wolf.  It's okay to call a truce and say, "Let's agree to disagree," if there is no common road.  If an intelligent conversation cannot be had, then it's best to table it.  There are those times, though, in which we encounter someone who won't ever see our point of view; in that case, it is best to move on to another topic of conversation.

We need to be tolerant of each other's differences.

Then again, what do we do about people who cross their arms and are adamant in their viewpoint?  Well, I say that there is close-mindedness involved.  That person will not listen to what we have to say because they are not receptive, as their body language suggests.  They are not willing to see our point of view.  These people merely want to "put us in our place" even though they might or might not be wrong.  I would not engage in conversation with those type of people because they don't want to learn with and from us.  In fact, I've simply walked away from people like that.

I firmly believe that for me being a Latina, who has a university diploma, it is difficult to hold conversations.  I'm not saying that I'm a better conversationalist than anyone else.  It has never been my intention, you know, to show somebody up.  That isn't my style.  No.  It is difficult, rather, in that there are individuals who would like to trip me up.  If I don't know something, these very persons have said to me, "And you go to college?  You should know that!"

I'm trying to be flexible with difficult people and circumstances.

I don't think it's fair for me to be mistreated just because I am learned.  What does God really want me to do about that?  Am I supposed to turn the other cheek?  What lesson am I teaching my children, when I allow people to treat me like a doormat?  Should I stand up for my right to happiness in my own home?

I'm standing my ground!

These are the questions that run through me, ever the soul-searcher, as I try to keep an open mind.  I don't know all the answers, and I don't want to lead anyone astray.  I am simply venting and explaining the plight that I suffer through every day.  One day, I think I'll just blow up with anger.  The next day, I decided to be nice.  On yet another day, I decide I will feign indifference.  One thing I won't be doing anymore is walking away because I deserve to inhabit all the rooms of my own home with peace in my heart. 

In reading the Bible and the Tao Te Ching, I am seeking clarity.  I want to know what to do when the dilemmas in life come along.  I pray that God, the Father, gives me the answers I need.  Ultimately, I want to do as God wants.  I want to please Him, and I want to treat those who trespass against me with the same mercy I seek from God.

Thanks for reading this entry about my living open-minded.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

My dear readers, I'd like for y'all to answer the above questions and these: Are you treating your family and friends with respect?  Are you willing to keep quiet when it's most appropriate?  Are you willing to seek the truth of a given situation?  Do you want to know the truth for what it really is?  Are you willing to consider another person's point of view?  I'm not talking about sacrificing your religious views.  I would never ask anyone to do that.  Rather, I'm asking for people to respect one another without bashing and belittling. An intelligent conversation can be had if all parties are willing to be open-minded about different topics.

I pray that we all would seek wisdom from the Source of everything--Our Heavenly Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

Life According to My Integrity: My Contemplation of Verse 51 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 focusing on verse 51 of the Tao Te Ching, particularly these portions:

The Way connects all living beings to their Source.

It springs into existence,

unconscious, perfect, free;

takes on a physical body;

lets circumstances complete it.

Therefore all beings honor the Way

and value its virtue...

The Tao gives them life.

Virtue nourishes and nurtures them,

rears and shelters and protects them.

The Tao produces but does not possess;

the Tao gives without expecting;

the Tao fosters growth without ruling.

This is called hidden virtue.

Can a person parent (rear, shelter, foster growth) without a heavy hand?  Can a person be a friend without being overbearing?  Can a child live peaceably with his own parents?  Can a leader rule without compromising his beliefs?  

What is virtue?  What is integrity?  What laws govern the individual person?  What regulations reside in the mind beyond those of the government?  How do we govern ourselves?

These are important questions to consider.  In order for me to be the best ME that I can be, I must reflect on how I want to be treated.  A very important question to consider is: Do I want to be respected?  In other words, "How do I want to be treated?"

I learned in my earlier years to read the body language of a person.  I learned how to listen to the voice inflections of people.  If I hear someone raise their voice and lean forward, I take notice.  That causes me to walk away.  I don't engage with such belligerent individuals.

My mother was taught the Golden Rule: 

Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Several people have told me, after hearing of such events, that I have every right to be rude to such individuals.  That's not how I was raised.  I never saw my mother answer every rude treatment with rudeness.  No.   That's not how I want to be treated.  Therefore, I expect to be treated kindly.

Walking away has long been my coping mechanism, or part of my self-preservation, as a beloved family member has called it.  I have hoped that it would be enough to counter such ill-treatment.  It hasn't worked.  That's why I am changing my strategy.  I now know that I have to use the inner protector in me to call out the bad treatment; only then, can I experience harmony in my home.

I remember that Oprah often mentioned the need for people to feel validated.  When victims of a crime step forward, they want vindication.  They want their voices to be heard.  When a group rises to announce the injustice of something, like with the Civil Rights Movement, the hope is that society would take notice that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.  Isn't that what we all want?

And what of virtue or integrity?  What is my internal judge, as The Newsboys (a Christian group) has sung, saying to me when I deal daily with my fellow man?  How am I treating others?  What is the judge inside of me saying about how I should conduct myself toward others?

The way I treat others is how others will treat me.

I know these are a lot of questions, but they must be asked.  It is important to know what kind of treatment we want from others.  After all, what we give out, is what we get back.  It's like the saying, "What comes around, goes around." 

Some like to put it this way: What I give out to the universe will come back to me.  

This is not to say that if I treat person A in a negative way, I will get the same treatment from person A.  No.  It means that person B may treat me in that same negative way.  The next time I deal with ANYONE, this blog entry should be a reminder that the way I treat one person, will influence the way I am treated by someone else within this universe.

In case someone believes this isn't true, I challenge you all to do something.  Pay it forward.  If you receive an unexpected blessing from someone, pass it on.  If someone gives you something you can use, give a friend or a family member something they can use.  Don't just give something that the receiver won't use; give something from the heart.

In the future, I will keep to my integrity, which I learned from my own mother.  I hope I honor her memory with it.  I live with the idea that if my mother would handle others with dignity, I should do the same.  I want her to be proud of my actions and thoughts.  Hopefully, I will be a good example to my own children.

Thanks for reading this entry about my living out loud according to my integrity.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

My dear readers, I'd like for y'all to answer the above questions and these: Are you treating your family and friends with dignity?  Or are you merely using them?  Do you want to be used?  Or would you like to be considered a blessing to those around you?  I would rather be considered a blessing than a burden to those around me.  I pray that I am indeed blessing you all, my dear readers.

I pray that we all would seek wisdom from the Source of everything--Our Heavenly Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

A Christian's End in Sight: My Contemplation of Verse 50 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 focusing on verse 50 of the Tao Te Ching:

Between birth and death,

three in ten are followers of life;

three in ten are followers of death.

And men just passing from birth to death

also number three in ten.

Why is this so?

Because they clutch to life

and cling to this passing world.

But there is one out of ten, they say, so sure of life

that tigers and wild bulls keep clear.

Weapons turn from him on the battlefield,

rhinoceroses have no place to horn him,

tigers find no place for claws,

and soldiers have no place to thrust their blades.

Why is this so?

Because he dwells in that place

where death cannot enter.

Realize your essence

and you will witness the end without ending.

Eternity--it's an abstract idea.  Do we fully understand it?  Do we believe in it?  What do religions say about living forever?  How do we define eternity?

According to Wikipedia, immortality is the ability to live forever.  Countless stories have been created with characters, who live forever.  Gods in mythology have been attributed with immortality, too.  Our fascination with life and death is never-ending.

The Bible tells us that we can live with Jesus forever.  The Bible prescribes how to attain everlasting life with the King of all Kings.  Just imagine what that would be like.  Living in the glory of God would be awesome.

Here's what I imagine: I visit with Jesus, walking and talking with Him.  I ask Him lots of questions.  I sit with Him, without uttering a word.  I live in a vibrant environment with wondrous surroundings akin to the Garden of Eden.

This verse of the Tao Te Ching explains that not everyone sees life in these terms.  There are those who are more concerned with the dying aspect of life.  That's pretty depressing.  Instead of seeing that God can protect your feet from being hurt, this type of person is dwelling on the next injury or illness.  What about trusting in God for protection?

I feel sad for those who hone in on the idea of no life after the death of the body.  They believe that once their body dies, that's it; there's no more life.  That's a sad type of existence--to believe that there is no more to the person after the death of the physical body.

We will witness the end without an ending.

The Bible tells us that death will not sting us.  We, who are believers in Christ, have had death defeated.  When Jesus sacrificed His life, He beat Death.  Once we fully understand this, we can rest assured that when the body dies, our spirit lives on.  Our spirit goes back to the origin--God the Father--until the great resurrection in which we will all have new bodies. 

Thanks for reading this entry about how a Christian truly sees his/her end.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

My dear readers, I've got some questions for you: How do you see life and death?  Do you believe in life after death?  Have you ever considered what happens when our physical bodies die?  Visit the websites above.  They give a better understanding of eternity and our fate with God on our side.  It's worth your time.  I promise.   

I pray that we all would seek wisdom from the Source of everything--Our Heavenly Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

About Elders and Sages: My Contemplation of Verse 49 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 focusing on verse 49 of the Tao Te Ching:

The sage has no fixed mind;

he is aware of the needs of others.

Those who are good he treats with goodness.

Those who are bad he also treats with goodness

because the nature of his being is good.

He is kind to the kind.

He is also kind to the unkind

because the nature of his being is kindness.

He is faithful to the faithful;

he is also faithful to the unfaithful.

The sage lives in harmony with all below heaven.

He sees everything as his own self;

he loves everyone as his own child.

All people are drawn to him.

He behaves like a little child.

Growing up, I had a funny grandma.  You know, the kind that joked and laughed out loud.  My mother eventually did the same thing.  At first, after my dad had died, my mother wouldn't laugh or joke around.  I didn't understand back then that it was probably hard to find humor in anything when she had to take care of five kids by herself.

Being a sage, or a wise person, does not give us permission to be pretentious.  A sage is humble enough to understand what is appropriate at a given time.  It involves being kind to all, not just to those who are beneficial to your plans.  Being wise includes being faithful when not everyone sticks to you.  Being a sage means being good to all of mankind.

I find that there is an interesting paradox.  As we humans grow older, we become childlike.  We end up needing help to move around; our children help us.  Our behavior changes, too.  Sometimes, our children chide us.

Yet, we should revere our elders.  They have lived years ahead of us.  They have faced many challenges.  They can teach us a lot.  We should be drawn to them. 

Let's give our elders the respect they deserve.  

I'm not asking you to turn a blind eye to their flaws.  I'm asking you to give mercy where need be.  I'm asking you to consider that someday we will all be in their shoes, should we live long enough.  After all, wouldn't we want to be treated with dignity, when we ourselves become the elders to the younger generations?

 

 

Thanks for reading this entry about elders and sages.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

My dear readers, I've got some questions for you: Are you surrounded by elders in your life?  Do you respect your elders?  Are you drawn to your elders?  Perhaps, spending some time with your elders can give you a new perspective on life.  Take some time with the elders in your life.  Sit with them.  It's worth your time.  I promise.    

 

I pray that we all would seek peace from the Source of everything--Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

Decreasing the Information-Seeking: My Contemplation of Verse 48 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 focusing on verse 48 of the Tao Te Ching:

Learning consists of daily accumulating.

The practice of the Tao consists of daily diminishing;

decreasing and decreasing, until doing nothing.

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.

True mastery can be gained

by letting things go their own way.

It cannot be gained by interfering.

Collections--we all have one or another.  Some collect stamps.  Some collect baseball cards.  Then, there's someone like me, who collects information.  On a daily basis, I am collecting PDFs of printables that I can use with my kids.

In reality, should I be spending all of my time collecting teaching material?  When do I get to spend time with my children?  Hey, I'm just being honest.  I'm terrible about filling up my laptop's desktop with all kinds of useful recipes and medical information.  I need to stop doing that; I don't need anymore.

Perhaps, it's time to stop collecting information.  Perhaps if I stop spending my time collecting information, I can fill my time with precious moments with my children.  Perhaps, memories can be created that my kids will appreciate.  Perhaps, I can just sit here on my bed, dealing with my illness, as my kids visit with me.  Then, something spectacular can happen--bonding.

In order to gain peace in my life, I must pare down my information gathering, which has been time-consuming.  No one is gonna get hurt if I don't download the latest free printable or read the latest Facebook status.  If I let go of my need to find new bits of information, my kids stand a chance to have more time with me.  After all, there isn't much more information that I myself can add to this world.

Thanks for reading today's post about decreasing the information-seeking.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

I've got some questions for you: Are you spending too much time on a specific collection?  Or are you consumed with information-seeking?  Do you want to experience peace?  Perhaps, cutting down on accumulating something can free you up.  I pray that we all would seek peace from the Source of everything--Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving, and mutually beneficial relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

Knowing the World: My Contemplation of Verse 47 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 focusing on verse 47 of the Tao Te Ching:

Without going out the door,

know the world.

Without looking out the window,

you may see the ways of heaven.

The farther one goes,

the less one knows.

Therefore the sage does not venture forth

and yet knows,

does not look

and yet names,

does not strive

and yet attains completion.

Knowledge--we all seek it.  We all want it.  We all need it.  How much do we need to know, though?  How can we obtain knowledge?

This 47th verse of the Tao Te Ching is saying we don't even need to venture outside of our home to obtain knowledge.  Lao Tzu explains that all we need to know is already within our reach.  In fact, Dr. Dyer mentions in his book, Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao, about understanding this concept.  He gives the example of us having a beating heart that knows what to do.  We don't control it, but it exists in our bodies to do its job; our hearts just know how to beat.

The information age rears its ugly head.

I've been contemplating just what it means to be surrounded by endless information (knowledge).  Yesterday, I was taking a break from technology (internet, which has sped the rate of information that is transmitted).  I looked out my window and saw some birds (nature) perched on a wire.  I was in awe that nature seemed to be winning over technology.  My heart sank when I saw an airplane fly behind the birds.

There comes a time when we must realize that seeking information is futile.  

Even King Solomon, who was the wisest leader, understood that knowing everything was pointless.  You see, there's a difference between wisdom and knowledge.  Knowledge is just information.  Wisdom is knowing how to employ the information to the best of our ability.  Are we living that out?

Let's become like the wisest of people--the sages.  They know when to quit striving for knowledge.  Let's allow the sense of completion to wash over us.  Let's go back to simplicity, which can bring us to that sense of completion.  Simplifying our lives can bring us peace, and isn't that what we all need?

Thanks for reading today's post about knowing the world.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

I've got some questions for you: Are you striving for the ultimate knowledge of things, people, technology, etc.?  Are you frustrated with information-seeking?  Do you want to experience peace?  I pray that we all would seek peace from the Source of everything--Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving, and mutually beneficial relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

Being in Harmony With God: My Contemplation of Verse 46 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 focusing on verse 46 of the Tao Te Ching:

When the world has the Way,

running horses are retired to till the fields.

When the world lacks the Way,

warhorses are bred in the countryside.

There is no greater loss than losing the Tao,

no greater curse than covetousness,

no greater tragedy than discontentment;

the worst of faults is wanting more--always.

Contentment alone is enough.

Indeed, the bliss of eternity

can be found in your contentment.

What is the Way to peace?

Striving for contentment is difficult.  

Imagine a horse having a carrot dangling in front of it.  If the horse can't reach it, the horse gets frustrated, especially if it's very hungry.  Or consider the fox in one Aesop's fable?  You know the story, in which the fox gives up when he can't reach the grapes.  He walks away and says something like, "Well, the grapes were probably sour anyway."

Should we accept the lack of things and status?

No.  This 46th verse of the Tao Te Ching is not asking us to give up on our endeavors.  Lao-tzu, the writer of the Tao Te Ching, is asking us to be satisfied with what we already have.  We can experience happiness if we let go of the chase-of-things-and-higher-status mentality.  It is when we let go, that those wonderful blessings can truly come our way.

The thing we need to do is plug into the Source of everything (Tao, The Way)--God, the Father.  If we truly believe in God, we will trust in Him to provide for us.  

The greed for power and natural resources of land is the epitome of striving.  Are we little dictators in our community and/or families?  Are we fighting for something that will always escape us?  Is it worth it to strive for that which we should leave alone?  Why bother to see that which we really don't need in our lives?

Let's ask God to guide us.  

If He is the Source of everything, can't we lean on God to understand the priorities in our lives?  Let's stop what we are doing and ask God for wisdom to figure out what He wants for us.  Let's ask Him to remove greed and discontent from our hearts.  Only then, can we experience harmony in our lives.

Thanks for reading today's post about finding harmony with God.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

I've got some questions for you: Are you striving for possessions and status?  Are you frustrated with life?  Do you want to experience peace?  I pray that we all would seek peace from the Source of everything--Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving, and mutually beneficial relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

Learning to Let Go: My Contemplation of Verse 44 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 focusing on verse 44 of the Tao Te Ching:

Which means more to you,

you or your renown?

Which brings more to you,

you or what you own?

I say what you gain

is more trouble that what you lose.

Love is the fruit of sacrifice.

Wealth is the fruit of generosity.

A contented man is never disappointed.

He who knows when to stop is preserved from peril,

only thus can you endure long.

 What are we holding onto?

I'm sitting here watching a show called Hoarders.  It brings me to tears that people choose things over their loved ones.  Hoarders don't realize that their trash and clutter comes between them and the family and friends that love them.  They don't realize that what you gain in stuff can lead to a terrible loss of relationships.

Not being able to let go of things robs us of the ability to nurture friendships and love in our lives.  More than anything, our attachment to things and certain people prevents us from moving forward.  Paralyzed, we can't even turn to God for help.  There comes a time to stop pursuing things, people, and situations.  This is the time to prioritize.

What do we need to let go?

We must free ourselves of those objects, people, and circumstances that are holding us back from living a good quality of life.  In order to get our freedom, we must seek out the Tao, or Source of all that we have.  The Tao, or God, the Father, can tell help us figure out what we need to keep.  He can tell us what we need to purge.

To lovingly share of what we have is liberating.  Just think how we can bless others with clothes and toys that are no longer useful to us.  Instead of things, like clothes and toys, taking space, let's give them to someone who can use them.  The feeling from sharing, and the joy in someone's face, is worth more than those things.

Letting go of people and situations is equally hard.  I know.  I've been there; I know how painful it is to release people who are toxic and/or want to move on.  It's in letting them go that we ourselves can move forward.  If we keep those people in our lives, we risk staying stuck in a rut and not improving the quality of life.

How do we move forward in life?

Giving of ourselves is the ultimate blessing to us.  When we give of ourselves, we stand the chance of gaining.  Giving is essentially gaining.  When we give to others, they become friendly.  That gives us the opportunity to make (gain) new friends.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it very much.  

I've got some questions for you: Are you using hoarding things?  Are you holding on to people who are toxic?  Are you hanging on to memories of the past?  Do you want to move forward but feel stuck in a rut?  I pray that we would answer these questions truthfully and seek God's help in letting go of the clutter in our lives, whether that is material and/or toxic people.  I pray that we would ask God for His help so we will more loving with one other.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

Living Through the Suffering: My Contemplation of Verse 42 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 focusing on verse 42 of the Tao Te Ching, particularly this portion:

People suffer at the thought of being

without parents, without food, or without worth,

Yet this is the very way that

kings and lords once described themselves.

For one gains by losing,

and loses by gaining.

Suffering is a human condition.  Believe me, I'm a human, and I am suffering right now.  I have pain in my body and in my heart.  I am without parents to turn to when I feel lonely and misunderstood.  I am without good health.

On the other hand, I also have other things.  I have a home and cars.  I have a laptop and printer.  I have countless things in my house.  I have an overabundance of possessions, more than I ever had before, when I was a child.

There's a give and take to life.

When you grow up poor, you learn to appreciate what you gain as the years pass.  I now have a wonderful husband.  I turn to see him right next to me sleeping in our bed.  I get up and kiss my babies, who aren't really babies.  I visit my Facebook and read about my friends' lives.

Yes, I am living without certain things and people in my life.  Yet, I have many things and people in my life, too.  I am very grateful.  For example, as the verse above shows, the a king becomes a king because his parents pass away.  You can see that even a king suffers.

Now, I am in pain.  Tomorrow, I will feel better.  This pain is temporary.  Someday, I will definitely lose this pain.  It's up to God if that means I will pass away (and have the ultimate healing) or experience better health while my body lives on in this world.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it very much.  

I hope this post blesses you, my dear readers.

I've got some questions for you: Are you suffering right now?  What do you think about your suffering?  Doesn't it sometimes drive you crazy?  How do you get through the pain?  Do you turn to God?  I pray that would pray to God for His help.  He is sure to help you.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.

 

 

Looking Beyond the Obvious: My Contemplation of Verse 41 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 focusing on verse 41 of the Tao Te Ching, particularly these portions:

...The way of illumination seems dark,

going forward seems like retreat,

the easy way seems hard,

true power seems weak,

true purity seems tarnished,

true clarity seems obscure,

the greatest art seems unsophisticated,

the greatest love seems indifferent,

the greatest wisdom seems childish.

The Tao is hidden and nameless;

the Tao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment.

Sometimes, things are not what they seem.

Little by little, as I've read the verses of the Tao Te Ching, my outlook on life has changed...for the better.  It has been a gradual practice to accept what is around me, and I am not 100% there, yet.  It hasn't been just a matter of looking at life in a positive way or noticing the obvious.  It's been a new way of looking at life.  It has meant accepting people and creatures for what they are--nature that reacts to the world.

For example, I was in extreme pain last week.  I could have looked at it in a negative way.  I decided, however, to pay attention to what my body was saying to me.  I "heard" my body say that it needed to rest so I stayed in bed.  I also realized that I need to eat healthier, which I purposed this week.

Yes, life is looking different to me.  It is like when a woman has childbirth pangs.  The woman doesn't like the pain.  The pain, though, signals contractions.  The contractions then help push the baby out.

Pain is a fact of life.

We need to start looking at the terrible situations in our lives as eventualities.  People pass away.  People leave us, for whatever reason.  Cars and appliances give out on us.  Our health has its ups and downs.  We are not the only ones to experience these terrible things.  We won't be the last ones, either, to go through trials and tribulations.

If we accept that the bad will come with the good, we are halfway to getting through life with our sanity intact.  Living out this truth will take us a long way.  If we stop overreacting to the inevitable situations in our lives, then we can live in peace.  Just because the birds outside chirp too much, it doesn't mean that we need to complain about it.  Why not stop and enjoy the bird's song?

Let's look at life with peace as the ultimate goal.

Even though some persons may not believe it, peace is just around the corner.  The Tao, or Source of peace (God, the Father) is here for us.  His peace is available to us.  We just have to grasp for it.  Although we might feel unloved by others, God's loves encompasses us.  

After all, God is omnipotent and omnipresent.

The next time I'm in pain, I'll remember that I should embrace the pain.  On the other side of the pain is an appreciation for what comes--total healing.  In the future when life seems difficult, I'll remember that God is here to make the way easier for me.  I hope that you, my readers, will hold this truth as your own, too.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it very much.  

I hope this post blesses you, my dear readers.

I've got some questions for you: Do you sometimes wonder if you are assessing a particular situation correctly?  Are you overreacting about every little "bad" thing that happens in your life?  Why not look at the next unsettling circumstance with a fresh, positive perspective?  You might find yourself in a more peaceable mood.  It's worth seeking God's help about the tendency to panic.  Go to Him now with your petitions.  He is sure to help you.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.
 

Surrendering to God: My Contemplation of Verse 40 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 focusing on verse 40 of the Tao Te Ching:

Returning is the motion of the Tao.

Yielding is the way of the Tao.

The 10,000 things are born of being.

Being is born of nonbeing.

For being the shortest verse of the Tao Te Ching, this one speaks volumes.  

This verse asks the following questions: Where are we going?  What is our destination?  What do we want to accomplish?  Where does our strength come from?  Where does our knowledge come from?

To know that we have an origin helps us to begin to understand a few things:

1. There is a source for everything.  God is the source of all of creation.  He is the source for our power.  He is the source for our strength when we are weak.  

2. If God created everything, He created us, too.  Our identity is rooted in God.  We are His children.  We should act like it, too.

3. We often get in the way of God's purpose in our lives.  Our ego, or selfish needs and wants to take over.  We need to step aside.  We need to surrender our wills to God.

4. We need to return to our origin.  We need to get back to our spiritual source.  Our movements, or rather our actions, should be propelling us towards God.  Let's go before God's throne and talk to Him.

We must desire to impact our lives, and the lives of others, in a positive manner.  We need to ask ourselves some pivotal questions: Are we indeed moving in the right direction?  What will it take to get to our destination?  What is our purpose for living on this earth?  What does God want us to do?  Then, we must be willing to accept the answers to those questions.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it very much.  

I hope this post blesses you, my dear readers.

I've got some questions for you: Have you surrendered to God?  How are you drawing closer to God, the source of everything (Tao)?  Are you relying on God, the source of power and strength?  I pray we all seek God and His provisions. Let's ask God to give us peace and resolve to keep moving forward.  He is sure to help us.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.
 

Understanding Our Interconnectedness: My Contemplation of Verse 39 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 focusing on verse 39 of the Tao Te Ching, particularly these portions:

When man interferes with the Tao,

the sky becomes filthy, 

the earth becomes depleted,

the equilibrium crumbles,

creatures become extinct...

The pieces of a chariot are useless

unless they work in accordance with the whole.

A man's life brings nothing

unless he lives in accordance with the whole universe.

Playing one's part

in accordance with the universe

is true humility.

We are part of a global society.

A sense of interconnectedness is what we are experiencing.  I've been seeing the morning news.  British people feel unprotected by the police.  Some have banded together to police the streets.  It is sad that people feel unsafe in their own city. 

I think the world is reeling right now from the economic waves.  We are one in this global society.  No one is immune from this.  People are watching the stock markets.  Everyone is waiting to see what else will be happening.  

Some would like to bury themselves in ignorance.  Others are panicking.  I say we should ban together.  We should come up with solutions.  We can't leave it to our government to help us.

When representatives from the S & P group downgraded the United States credit rating, they caused chaos.  I believe they interfered with the balance of the economy.  Still, the Source of everything, God, is ultimately in control.  That's why I choose not to worry.  

If people were to offer jobs to those who are unemployed, the economy would improve.  People, including my family, would spend money.  The economy would be boosted.  That can't happen overnight, but the ball can get rolling with more optimism.  I think that's what our president did; after his speech, the stock market regained some of its loses.

Let's remember that we are all interconnected.

I think right now is a perfect opportunity to improve our society.  We stand a chance to make wise choices.  We can contemplate our past mistakes.  We can change our ways.  We can spend our money more wisely and show our children that the economy will rebound just as it always has.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it.  

I hope this post blesses you, my dear readers.

I've got some questions for you: Do you see us all as interconnected?  What do you think about those making decisions about our economy?  Are you relying on those decision-makers?  Or are you resting your hope on God, the Source of everything?  I pray we all seek God and His provisions. Let's ask God to give us peace and resolve to keep moving forward.  He will surely help us.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.
 

Keeping to My True Nature: My Contemplation of Verse 38 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 focusing on verse 38 of the Tao Te Ching, particularly this portion:

The great master follows his own nature

and not the trapping of life.

It is said:

"He stays with the fruit and not the fluff."

"He stays with the firm and not the flimsy."

"He stays with the true and not the false."

I have often asked myself questions before doing or saying something.  Should I do this?  Should I say that?  I replay something in my mind after traumatic events in my life.  Then, I keep those things in mind for the "next" time.

I know we all do it.  We second guess ourselves.  We wonder if we are doing the right thing.  Are we hurting someone?  Are we doing something we'll regret later?

A better question to ask is: What do I really want to do or say?  If we are honest with ourselves, we can retain our integrity.  We have to own our true natures.  I'm not giving permission to anyone to be cruel or rude.  I'm just saying we need to own up to what we really want to do or say.

I'll give you some examples.  There have been times boundaries have been crossed.  People have said inappropriate things to me.  Several people have told me I should respond in a rude manner and put the rude persons down; however, that's not how my mother raised me.  My personality is not built to pay back rudeness for rudeness.

My nature is to tear away from negative people like that.  I am not built to be rude.  I can't stand rude people.  I try to be respectful around others, but I have my limits.  That's my true nature--to tear away from people who continually mistreat me.

Let's be true to our natures and surround ourselves with positive people.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it.  

I hope this post blesses you, my dear readers.

I've got some questions for you: What is your true nature?  How do you deal with negative people?  Are you rude to rude people?  What is your gut reaction to rude people?  I pray we all seek our true nature. Let's ask God to help us live our true natures.  He will surely help us.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.
 

Keeping It Simple, Silly: My Contemplation of Verse 37 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 focusing on verse 37 of the Tao Te Ching:

The Tao does nothing,

but leaves nothing undone.

If powerful men

could center themselves themselves in it,

the whole world would be transformed

by itself, in its natural rhythms.

When life is simple,

pretenses fall away;

our essential natures shine through.

By not wanting, there is calm,

and the world will straighten itself.

When there is silence,

one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself.

What do I want out of life?  riches?  fame?  health?  fun?

How much of those things are realistic?  Which of those desires are reachable?  Which of those should I reach for?  How can I know what to seek?  Who can help me figure this out?

These are the questions I have as a 40 year-old.  The answers have changed as the years have gone by.  It's funny how, as a youngster, I had the whole world before me.  As I've grown older, I've learned to expect less.  Yes, I've settled to some extent.

One thing I've learned is that I shouldn't step over my family and friends.  I've had that happen to me.  It doesn't feel right.  I try not to do it to others, but I'm sure I've done it.  Honestly, I don't set out to do it, but it happens.  I just believe so much in the idea of doing to others what is done to me.

 

I don't ask for much out of life anymore.

I am a firm believer in keeping things simple.  I don't like to eat fancy meals with lobster and squid.  I don't like fancy clothes with designer labels.  I don't like gigantic houses because their upkeep is difficult.  I don't like fancy cars because someone will vandalize it.

I don't want anyone to think I hate luxury because I don't.

The reality is that I can't afford those fancy things.  I don't want to desire those things when I have no money.  I don't want to strive for those things at the cost of my family.  I choose to stay home with my kids because I liked having my own mother at home with me.  I loved it.

I felt the security of having my mom at home.  I wanted my kids to have that.  I felt the anchor of family with my mother.  I wanted to give my kids the same.  That's not to say I do everything for them; I am simply here for them when they need me.

Sure, I could make loads of money, in one way or another.  Believe me, I've tried it.  It just didn't fit.  I feel my kids have a deeper sense of who they are.  We don't need anyone to tell us how to be a family.

My true nature is to be an on-site loving, supportive mother.  I have a strong desire for peace.  If I see that people around me are contentious, I keep away from them.  I don't need all the drama.  Perhaps, that is related to my introvertedness.

I rarely yell at my kids.  They can hear me.  I don't need them to yell to be heard or understood.  I've tried to model how to converse by having after-dinner discussions, with a normal voice.  I want my children to be able to communicate their wants and needs beyond their home life.

In our home schooling journey, I have worked hard to foster a deep sense of self.  I don't go for pretenses.  I go for whatever the natural bent of my kids.  I try not to criticize too much.  I try instead to encourage.  

My definition of success is this: My kids respect others.

These are the questions I'm constantly asking myself: How do my kids act around others?  How do they react to people?  Are my children polite?  Do they run around in the store?  Do my kids fight with each other or other children?

In short, my children 

are a simple reflection of me.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it.  

I hope this post blesses you, my dear readers.

I've got some questions for you: What is your definition of success?  Do you meddle in other people's lives?  Are you living a life of simplicity?  How much do you want out of life?  I pray we all seek our true nature. Let's ask God to help us keep our lives simple.  He will surely help us.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

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.