I have a developing sense of detachment inside me over the current state of our home. With the fact that I am in the process of moving in, it looks like a tornado has been through. Somehow, though, I am growing less bothered by it. I look at it, shrug, and leave the room. While it doesn’t bring me pleasure, it doesn’t cause me any distress either. Now, it just IS.
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
The Serenity prayer reminds us of the importance of finding inner peace. By recognizing things and events that can and cannot be changed (and coming to terms with them), peace is closer than we realize. This prayer is a gentle reminder of acceptance with that which cannot be changed and understanding that human beings are not always in charge. At the moment, I am finding stress in some of the behavior of my partner and his children. It’s very difficult for me because I am on a raw food diet. I have to accept the fact that we do not eat the same way. I cannot change him – nor do I want to. I can, however, change my actions.
I am looking for the courage to avoid the temptation of the foods that I make, prepare, and serve to him and his children. I have the wisdom to know that, although he will eat or drink some of the things that I create, he is who he is and I need to accept this. Going forward, I can certainly alleviate some of my stress by repeating the Serenity Prayer to myself – accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Most of all, I need to infuse myself with this wisdom, not judgment.
“Love does not have to be all flowers and pounding hearts; it doesn’t have to be drama and pain. Maybe love is two people who need each other; who understand each other; who want nothing more than to be with each other at the end of the day.” – Jason Shields
Proverbs 31:10-31
It gives me something to aspire to!
This past Thursday, I delivered a speech entitled “Eat, Pray, Love… Gratitude“. Inspired by the book Eat, Pray, Love, I was made aware of the parallels between the book and my own growth/development and chosen path in life.
Eat: Raw and living foods. Even though I am detoxing and relatively miserable at times, I know it’s a temporary state and I’m willing to push through it. The fact is: I am more concerned these days with what comes out of my mouth, rather than satisfying addictions going into it. I miss eating certain things, but I am enjoying and relishing the process and learning experiences that come with having to deal with one’s feelings head on… I can no longer eat them!
Pray: My growing involvement with church/activities. I am finding my new community to be loving, inspiring, and supportive. I’m happy to be a part of it. I am attending weekly service, as well as a Bible Study and Encounter Group. This is becoming an important part of my spiritual journey.
Love: My relationship. Am I really considering committing myself to someone with 2 young children? Am I willing to put aside most of the “me” to become a “we”. The answer is yes. I love him deeply and want to spend my life with him. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say this – calmly, rationally, and without a drink or 5 2. Everything I am and will be, I want to share with him.
I eat. I pray. I love… 1 Cor 13:13b “But the greatest of these is love.”
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Reading Eckhart Tolle’s take on enlightened relationships was absolutely fascinating to me. Sometimes I question whether my current relationship is simply wonderful or rather dull, but it has never occurred to me that enlightened might be a better word to describe it.
Love/Hate relationships. Romantic relationships are inherently dysfunctional or flawed unless you are in the “now”. They seem perfect while people are “in love” but then oscillates with the polarities of love and hate – giving as much pleasure as pain. The drama makes people feel alive, and couples feel addicted to the cycle… the cycle that inevitably continues until the destruction of the relationship. My current state holds little to no drama. I no longer feel involved with a seeming addiction to this cycle. I don’t have those ups of complete euphoria, neither though do I experience any misery either. I just am. We just are. Sometimes I even wonder if I’m “in love” according to the popular definition, but according to Mr. Tolle, “in love” is a fleeting state that either leads to actual love or disintegrates. I have never felt (with him) the addictive quality that Tolle describes; rather, there is a calm and dignified peace. Sometimes it’s tender, sometimes exciting, sometimes amusing… but in the end, always accepting. I don’t want to change him. I want him exactly as he is – even if he might frustrate me or not do something according to my wishes; these are, after all, the wishes of the ego. No. I don’t think I’m “in love”. I just love him. Simply. Easy. Fully. Completely. Is this my first enlightened relationship? I could say that time will tell, but to live in the now, I will simply say yes. I don’t think time will do any more than convince me further that I am correct. |
