Instinctively I go through the inner analysis of the year. I begin by looking at all that I have accomplished and experienced in 2008.
Evaluation:
I have studied and completed Echoing the Word - A theology course. I have completed my OD ETD Qualification..."whatie what?" Occupationally Directed Education Training and Development Qualification.
The theology course has been onerous from a commitment point of view, once a month and then having to complete a detailed assignment on each theme. It has also been the most edifying form me. My most notable turning point was the last lecture on Eschatology. I gained tremendous insight into the End Times. I realised that it was not by accident that I had completed the course. In the words from Kung Fu Panda: "There are no accidents".
I gained greater appreciation for the fact that we are created in God's image and are part of God..His spirit within us. This spirit is also physical, Peta you see. My spirit has chosen in a sacred contract to be part of the van Niftrik and Gardner families. To begin my sacred journey as Peta. In my physical being I am limited by my physicality and grow to learn and expand my spiritual being and as I grow closer to my essence, God within me, I gain greater sense of God. I am given opportunities and moments to get closer or move further away (my free will) which is my conscious choice. This allows me to learn the lessons I need to learn for my specific journey to God.
At my end, I am "judged" which is not the fire and brimstone, experience I once thought, but more of my own judgement and God's loving awareness of my journey, with all the graces and flaws. My realisation of where I have met God's plan or fallen short of it, is judgement. My spiritual being then comes complete in expansion with God when we are united, however I may have to "return" to learn lesson/s I have failed.
As I write this, I realise, how inadequate my sense of all this is. "I know nothing..." How did I get to this when reviewing 2008? Oh, yes, the course I took...I also realise that it is essential to look back and survey where one has come. God asked the Israelites to look back, and celebrate and rejoice in the journey they had taken from Egypt to the Promised Land.
My journey...may not be from Egypt, but I feel at times I have walked a dessert this year. I finally made it through the dessert of financial dependence and slavery. I learnt a HUGE lesson to financial freedom from my credit cards and credit card debt....Where I in fear hold my anxiety, how I react in a childlike way to my fears. What these fears are (some call these Issues). I faced them, walked with them and through them to my Promised Land of being totally debt free.
Linked to this was how with my fears, I hold onto them in my stomach ( I am learning more about Chakras) and that explained my addiction to eating. My weight....well having faced the fears, I went on a 12 week physical health program to move my weight, and lost 9kg. This as I found out is the beginning, I need to pursue this well into 2009. I am able to enjoy exercise and eating well. I need to come to a place where I don't feel guilty about eating rich and decadent food (once in a while). This is one of my goals for 2009.
Then synchronistically, I met a spiritual guide. He has unlocked my true self, and brought me to Divine happiness. Not by any one act, but by speaking to my soul, through my soul and about my soul! In the two appointments I had with him this year, I have learnt to relax and be me!
To enjoy me. It is awesome that when you ask ....you are lead to the answer and solution. This has been my experience of 2008.
I have loved every day, and loved the fact that I have found JOY!
PLANNING FOR 2009:
To let JOY expand........
To enJOY my exercise...
To enJOY my food - Good food.....
To enJOY my spiritual growth....
To enJOY learning.....
To enJOY my family.....
To enJOY ME!!!!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
More on Joy from within
Just thought of something else to add...
When the world emits negative images, like the horrific grenades and firing in Mumbai last night, we need to actively and consciously not focus on our gut reaction of saying "Aah how awful!" but instead, change our thinking and emit a new signal.
Focus on what we want to see, there, continued harmony of all groups and communities. Aljazeara reporters were saying how fantastic Mumbai is, it is an all night town, where all people go about their business, meetings, fun and dances. Politicians, Bollywood actors and others, tourists and even the street hawkers all continue, in peace and love. This is awesome! I was in India and that is one of my lasting memories, how all people of every race, creed and religion get together in peace and joy....
"Focus on everybody being in joy. Focus on abundance of food. Give your powerful thoughts to what is wanted. You have the ability to give so much to the world by emitting feelings of love and wellbeing despite what is happening around you." (Rhonda Byrne - The Secret)
Now I feel more empowered to assist in world strife...just me, small me.
My thoughts can tip the scales....
We need to consciously see our angels going there and working the work needed.
Choose joy!
When the world emits negative images, like the horrific grenades and firing in Mumbai last night, we need to actively and consciously not focus on our gut reaction of saying "Aah how awful!" but instead, change our thinking and emit a new signal.
Focus on what we want to see, there, continued harmony of all groups and communities. Aljazeara reporters were saying how fantastic Mumbai is, it is an all night town, where all people go about their business, meetings, fun and dances. Politicians, Bollywood actors and others, tourists and even the street hawkers all continue, in peace and love. This is awesome! I was in India and that is one of my lasting memories, how all people of every race, creed and religion get together in peace and joy....
"Focus on everybody being in joy. Focus on abundance of food. Give your powerful thoughts to what is wanted. You have the ability to give so much to the world by emitting feelings of love and wellbeing despite what is happening around you." (Rhonda Byrne - The Secret)
Now I feel more empowered to assist in world strife...just me, small me.
My thoughts can tip the scales....
We need to consciously see our angels going there and working the work needed.
Choose joy!
Claim the Joy Hidden in Life
There is hidden joy within us all, the secret is to get up and jump, call out in a loud voice shake up the energy inside!!!!
One of my favourite spiritual writers: Fr. Henri J.M. Nouwen wrote this...it's from his book - The Dance of Life:
I have to learn to “steal” all the real joy there is to steal and lift it up for others to see. Yes, I know that not everyone has been converted yet, that there is not yet peace everywhere, that all pain has not yet been taken away, but still, I see people turning and returning home, I hear voices that pray, I notice moments of forgiveness, and I witness many signs of hope. I don’t have to wait until all is well, but I can celebrate every little hint of the Kingdom at hand.
This is a real discipline. It requires choosing for the light even when there is much darkness to frighten me, choosing for life even when the forces of death are so visible, and choosing for the truth even when I am surrounded with lies. I am tempted to be so impressed by the obvious sadness of the human condition that I no longer claim the joy manifesting itself in many small but very real ways. The reward of choosing joy is joy itself ……once you choose to claim the joy hidden amid the suffering, life becomes celebration.
Fr. Henri J.M.Nouwen
The Dance Of Life
In times like this, when South Africa is going through democratic change, bombings and open gunfire in Mumbai...it's these times, when it is a REAL discipline to choose joy.
The walls seem to come closer in, and the darkness seems to overtake the light, but remember, gasp for a deep breath, shout and and reclaim the joy within.
One of my favourite spiritual writers: Fr. Henri J.M. Nouwen wrote this...it's from his book - The Dance of Life:
I have to learn to “steal” all the real joy there is to steal and lift it up for others to see. Yes, I know that not everyone has been converted yet, that there is not yet peace everywhere, that all pain has not yet been taken away, but still, I see people turning and returning home, I hear voices that pray, I notice moments of forgiveness, and I witness many signs of hope. I don’t have to wait until all is well, but I can celebrate every little hint of the Kingdom at hand.
This is a real discipline. It requires choosing for the light even when there is much darkness to frighten me, choosing for life even when the forces of death are so visible, and choosing for the truth even when I am surrounded with lies. I am tempted to be so impressed by the obvious sadness of the human condition that I no longer claim the joy manifesting itself in many small but very real ways. The reward of choosing joy is joy itself ……once you choose to claim the joy hidden amid the suffering, life becomes celebration.
Fr. Henri J.M.Nouwen
The Dance Of Life
In times like this, when South Africa is going through democratic change, bombings and open gunfire in Mumbai...it's these times, when it is a REAL discipline to choose joy.
The walls seem to come closer in, and the darkness seems to overtake the light, but remember, gasp for a deep breath, shout and and reclaim the joy within.
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