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Reflections |
Home > Viewpoints
> Reflections |
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Inspiration - The Power to Transform LifeBy Rev. LeRoy E. Zemke "God works in unexpected places, through unexpected people, at unexpected
times, His wonders to perform." Inspirational: An inspiring or animating action or influence; a divine
influence directly and immediately exerted upon the mind or soul. When we can touch, tap and/or experience the very real connection with what is called spiritual force, creative power, or as some might say, mind power within us, we might tell ourselves,"I am inspired," or "I am filled with or alive with spiritual fire." Inspiration suggests some profound shifts that can be available to us, as we become open to its presence (in us). Inspire: To fill with a quickening or exalting influence; to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence. 1.) We feel more alive, more present to our life, more intimately involved
with our life's process. The old "saw" or adage "Is the glass half full or half empty?" illustrates a major point in the exploration of the essential nature of inspiration. Inspiration sees the possibilities and opens, or allows the possibilities to emerge! A half full glass says, "I'll work with what I have and use what I have. Maybe more will come." The other lesser view is "I've only half a glass. Soon it'll be less... then it'll be empty." Inspiration is allowing spirit or creative ideas to flow into us, through us, into our half full glass and fill it up, perhaps to overflowing. Some years ago, a dear friend, "Bob Moore" (not his real name) came to discuss a new franchise business, which he'd been invited to take over from an acquaintance who was finding it a very rough, difficult business to pursue. Bob was immediately interested. He saw the possibilities. His wife, however, saw the half empty glass, the negatives and suggested repeatedly that he drop the idea completely. In talking with Bob, I advised that he outline what he saw as his objectives with the franchise. Realistically, with his talents and abilities, what did he think could be accomplished? What debt would he have to assume and did he have the energy, the inner fire to proceed? He agreed to do his "homework". A month later, he made his decision and bought the franchise. The first six months were extremely difficult. His entire franchise staff quit and he had to hire all new people, train them, supervise them and support them. Long hours, daily and weekly, took their toll. In the seventh month he began to see the business turn the corner and income surpassed expenses. The eighth month continued the trend, and the ninth and so on through the first year. He saw the business take hold and flourish. And now, some years later, it continues to flourish even more! His secret, he said in a recent dialogue, was that he trusted his instincts, his intuition and his internal relationship with God. He said over and over, "I saw the half full glass filling up. I felt inspired, led by Spirit to do this business and I know that God is in it." He believes, as do I, that his business was transformed by accessing the power of spirit. For each of us, the question becomes what do we see as the outcome, and do we feel internally connected to the vision, to the plan, activity or idea that we have? Inspiration allows us to see beyond appearances and beyond the moment. Inspiration precedes perspiration; both are needed to realize a goal, plan or purpose. How do we connect with spirit in a very real or tangible manner? How do we access inspiration when we are overwhelmed by loss, fear, dread, or possibly worse? a.) Accept what is presented to you in the moment. If one is faced with an addiction, a foreclosure, job loss, health challenge ...that's the appearance. Accepting does not mean embracing the appearance as an ultimate truth. Accepting means seeing it as a temporary condition. Whatever, however the problem or confusions created the circumstances, that's what has shown up! Think - "Okay. What's next?" b.) Judge not! This is sometimes a very hard step to follow. We blame, find fault, excuse ourselves or analyze the circumstance beyond all reasonable considerations. Stop. As effortlessly as possible, let go of the internal energy to judge, weigh or condemn the circumstances. This act of releasing helps to genuinely move beyond the place where one struggles with the rightness and wrongness of something. This step might take a few minutes each day. That is, making the decision to drop the consistent thinking of the hurt, the loss or focus upon the pain. Gradually the intensity lessens. Gradually the anger and sense of unfairness falls away. c.) Embrace the next step. Focus on the half full glass filling up. See and make efforts toward getting a new job (if that's your circumstance), entering into a new relationship, or completing an unfinished task, goal or plan. Sometimes a short trip to a new or different place is helpful to clear the picture, to get rid of the fog in our thinking and enable us to change directions, gain perspective, to diffuse chaos and confusion. The deep message here is simply to change how you see and feel about things. A next step will appear, maybe not instantly, maybe not in the desired time considerations you may have, but an opening, maybe even a tiny crack will appear. If we can be open to God's plan(s) for us, then we can embrace the next step. As we access and open to the power of inspiration throughout our daily lives, we literally open ourselves up to God's Power in unexpected ways. The "trick" or "catch" to the promise is to genuinely trust God. In trusting God to be in charge of the Big Picture, we can be assured that all of the little details that are pertinent to our life's plan will be in place. "God works in unexpected places, through unexpected people, at unexpected times, His wonders to perform."
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