Love and Hate

Good Morning all!!!
I thought I would start today with a quote from Buddha. "Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule." The world today seems to be so full of hatred and distrust. But if we look closely we will find all kinds of small acts of love. Those are the acts that will change our world. It helps to keep my hope alive. When I am depressed and full of self pity I need to reach out to another human being...it releases me from myself. When I show compassion and understanding to another person I am no longer involved in my own perceived problems. I am free from that bondage of self...my wants and self pity. It always comes back to the fact I am afraid of losing something I already have or afraid of not getting something I want. Those are the times I am fathest from my God. Fear and hatred keeps me from becoming closer to God. Life is too short for me to hold that hate and fear in my heart, I have to release those feelings from my mind and from my heart if I am to grow spiritually....to become the person God wants me to be. Once I realize God's will for me is to be of service to Him and to my fellow humans my life has a purpose greater than what I could have planned for myself. All my petty problems fall away, I am at peace with who I am. It sounds so simple but it is not easy because I am still human and I have free will and my ego likes to be in control of that. So I take these simple steps to get myself back in line with God's will. My hope is that each of us reaches out to someone else and show some love, compassion, and understanding every day. It will make all of our lives richer. May you all have a wonderful day!
Steve (Soul Patch)

Acceptance is the key

Another Great Morning in the Black Hills
I had the day off yesterday and I had lots of plans for the day....isn't funny how our plans can be altered by a slight occurance. They say if you want God to laugh, tell him your plans. Needless to say the day didn't turn out as planned. In the past I would have been thrown into a fit, but I have learned that if I just roll with the punches things will turn out as they should. It is out of my control and there is not a thing I can do about it. The only real control I have is how I respond to those changes and my attitude towards that situation. I can choose to let it upset me or I can just accept it as being the way it is. There is a passage I like to read that puts it into perspective for me: "And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation --some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. .... unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes." So when I accepted what was going on in my life yesterday I ended up having a nice peaceful day. I ended up being useful to others around me and was most importantly useful to God.
Even though my day was interupted by a friend with a problem I was able to help out and hopefully make a difference. I got most of my work done and was still able to go for a motorcycle ride. I could have been selfish and told them I was too busy, but God will make the time if I allow Him to be in control. I have to remember that my plans are just my plans, but God's plan is what I need to follow if I am to have a peaceful and fullfilling life. His plan will be revealed to me if I can keep an open mind and an open heart. Life is a journey, not a destination and I look forward as the adventure continues. You all have a wonderful day!
Steve (Soul Patch)

If only . . . .

If only . . . this is a phrase I have been attempting to remove from my vocabulary. No other phrase I use can create more havoc and unhappiness in my life. It is my ego trying to take over my life. If only I find the right woman, if only I had the right job, if only I had more money, if only I had a better car, if only I lived in the right place, the list goes on and on. As far back as I can remember I've had a hole in my heart and I endeavored to fill that hole with stuff. But there is one constant I have found in the universe . . . change happens. The problem is that people leave, circumstances change, and material things are taken away. Then I am left with that hole again and I try and fill it with people, jobs, or material goods . . . a constant pursuit for happiness. Through all the pain and experience I have found the one constant that fills that hole . . . that One is God as I understand Him/Her. He/She will always be there as long as I allow Her to be my guide on a daily basis, there is nothing that can happen I can't handle with God's help. Yes I still find that hole again on occasion, but that is my selfishness and selfcenteredness taking over . . . I decided I didn't need God's help, I could handle it all on my own. I only have to ask God back into my life and amazingly it gets better. I ask God each morning to guide me for the day and to show me those things I need to see. How can I be of service to Her and my fellow human beings, for me that is the ultimate act of love . . . to care about another person more that I care for myself. That simple act alone gets me out of any selfish and self centered thoughts. My life gets better and I never have to be alone as long as I have God as my guide. I need to change that phrase if only . . . to if. . . I would like to add this short reading from the great metaphysicist and spirtual teacher Emmet Fox ;
If . . .
If you are not helping the other fellow, you are not helping yourself.
If you choose the lower when you see the higher, you are not giving all power to God.
If you say one thing, and do another, you are not living up to the highest you know.
If you are minding somebody else's business, you cannot be minding your own.
If you fill your mind with resentments, criticism, and anger, you will reap that reward.
If you have no sense of humor, the joy of the Lord is not your strength.
If you want to be on the spiritual path, you must practice the Presence of God at all times.
I hope you all have a wonderful evening!
Steve (Soul Patch)