  Spiritual
This week: Taking the Plunge Edited by: Sophy  
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Hi, I'm Sophy ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This week we'll talk about the spirituality of being called to do something new and different with our lives. And how do we know when it's the right time (if there is such a thing)?
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book "Finding Your Religion," compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Go Jump in the River!
In terms of your current work, are you where you want to be or feel you ought to be? What did you have to sacrifice to get where you are - what would have to sacrifice to move on and try something new, perhaps even related to your writing? Here is a story that will help us consider these questions. It comes from A Life at Work: The Joy of Discovering What You Were Born to Do by Thomas Moore.
Mahud was a simple man who lived in a small village and made his living by selling vegetables at a busy market. He was comfortable enough and liked his work. But one day the angel Khabir (whose name means "All Aware") appeared to him and told him to jump in the river. Without thinking about it, Mahud leaped into the flowing water.
He was carried downstream until a man on shore threw him a rope and pulled him out. The man offered Mahud a job in his fishing business and a small room where he could live. Mahud appreciated the man's kindness and took the job and worked at it, rather happily, for three years. Then Khabir appeared to him once more and told him to move on.
Mahud obeyed immediately and walked from village to village until in one place a man offered him a job in his fabric shop. This was new to Mahud, but he took the job and learned the trade and worked there relatively happily until the angel appeared again and sent him on. Mahud worked at odd jobs for years in this manner, always moving along when the angel instructed.
When Mahud was an old man, he had gained the reputation of a holy man. People began coming to him with their illnesses and worries begging him for cure and counsel. One day a visitor to his village asked him, 'Mahud, how did you get to where you are now?' Mahud thought for a moment and said, "It's difficult to say."
One of the things I like best about this story is that it raises so many questions. In fact, each time I reread the story a new question occurs to me. Why did Mahud listen to the angel Khabir? Why did he respond, when asked how he got to where he was, "It's difficult to say?" Why was Mahud regarded as a holy man in his later years? Did he have a family who jumped in the river or hit the road with him each time Khabir called? How different would our lives would be if we were as trusting and open to the leading of the "All Aware" as Mahud, who was completely open to hearing and responding to these directives from the Sacred, who had the ability to recognize the call to move on, and the openness of heart to follow it? Would our work, and thus our lives, (and maybe even our writing) be more fulfilling if we were able to be as open as Mahud to the leading of the Spirit and move on when prodded to do so, rather than staying where we are because it's something we know and offers security?
Unfortunately for us, it isn't likely that an angel will physically appear and tell us where to go or what to do next. But the angel in the story does represent something real: a sense of destiny, vocation, and direction; a sense of inner-knowingness; that gnawing voice in your own head, heart, or gut that things just aren't right and it's time to move on. The word vocation itself comes from the Latin word vox, or voice. Thus vocation literally is a call, the sense that you are on this earth for a reason, that you have a destiny, no matter how great or small. Those who look at life more soberly might question whether such an attitude is reasonable, as it seems naive. But a sense of calling doesn't necessarily require belief in the supernatural and it doesn't have to be naive. A calling is a sensation or intuition that life wants something from you. It can give meaning to the smallest acts and help create a strong identity, because you have a reason for being, a calling, a purpose; you know who you are and what to do.
So, in terms of your work, whether you are retired or currently working, have you ever been called by the "All Aware," prodded by the Sacred Mystery or your own deepest self, to jump in the river and move on? How did you recognize it as such? Was it an inner voice or perhaps another person offering helpful advice? Were you open to it? How did you respond? Would you consider being open to such a voice, especially if it were to challenge you to take your writing more seriously, perhaps even in terms of taking a more professional plunge to do so?
Perhaps writing/journaling some of the questions listed above will help prod you into a new direction ... |
Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about being called to something new, or taking a plunge and trying a new path:
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#1635657 by Not Available. |
| |  | Yea Plunge (E)
The fingertips of “that I am” send sailing a bottle that lands in a river.
#1462742 by Dan Sturn  |
| | | The Plunge ()
this poem is about taking the plunge of faith into a life of love
#1218649 by Litebeyond  |
And a few items from the Spiritual Genre created in the past few months about a variety of topics:
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#1670553 by Not Available. |
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#1715563 by Not Available. |
Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review. |
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https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Now for a few comments about my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (September 22, 2010)" :
From From BIG BAD WOLF is hopping 
Spiritual suff is very interesting, especially when religion isn't involved.
Hmmmm ....
    
From From maame Grace
Dear Sophie,
I am blessed by you experience at the Eid-ul-Fitr dinner. I think that is what Jesus meant when He said we should love our neighbours. It is only then that people will know that we worship a loving God and not a God of hatred.
I have had the privillege of befrieding a Moslem woman I refer to as: big sister. Recently My husband and I were asked to look after a church that was on the brink of closure. This Moslem woman has been supporting us by attending meetings and offering words of encouragement.
Once at a half-night prayer meeting when most of the church members didnt even show up, she came. And at the end of the meeting encouraged us to make sure our souls are well with the Lord. She led us to sing: It is well with my soul.
Wonderful, thank you so much for sharing!
From From fulldazegal
I appreciate this. We often decline to know others and as a result we miss wonderful experiences. It will strengthen your faith, not weaken it, if your faith is real.
Exactly!
From From Cynaemon
Hi, Sophy, Thanks for writing such a lovely newsletter. You are right that we should try to dispel our ignorance, not only of other religions, but other cultures and people in general.
You are most welcome -- thanks for your kind comment.
From From salliemoffitt
Thank you for writing this newsletter. If people would put aside their preconceived ideas about other religions, we would find there are more similarities than differences. Knowledge nurtures growth, but ignorance kills it.
Great newsletter! Sallie
Amen!
From From sunnidlite 
Dear Sophy,
Your post in the Spiritual newsletter was very good. I think that it is very important that we have knowledge of those who have a different way of reaching the "Sacred."
The importance of 'knowledge' is the key, which could unlock the answers to our daily battles regarding the different belief systems and the hate that we seem to have for those that are different from us. How many times have we heard, "if I only had known that?"
Probably too many times to count, ignorance always seems to have a way of coming forward, and guiding us into a world where we can not find the light. Yet when we do have knowledge as a guide we tend to see the world differently and we come closer to the "Sacred". "Knowledge is a gift, and ignorance is dangerous!"
So very true, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
From From rebeccagary
great piece,very interesting
Thanks!
From From Jessica A. Martinez
Sophy, your words were so well presented.
I reacted with hostile feeling to the person suggesting burn the Koran, but what you laid out is a much better way both to respond to those who show intolerance. Ut-oh. I just realized I was intolerant of the intolerant.  Live and learn.
I loved reading your piece and I am sending it to all my friends. Some already practice the ideas you present and for myself and friends like me it is a gentle reminder, practice what we preach...
Thank you.
Jessica
Thank you so much for your words, glad the article was helpful. I too tend to be intolerant of the intolerant ... an important lesson for all of us to consider, thank you.
From From sarahreed
I've always been curious about other religions and beliefs. I even took one of my college electives about World Religions which was fascinating. Personally, I've had a troubled road with faith and I'm still on it. But one thing I've come to really believe in that I'd like to share is my concept of the Divine. The Divine is like the sun and the concept of religion is a crystal. The Divine shines through the crystal and each color that shines out is a different religion/belief system. While they are all different colors, they radiate from the same source - the Divine. I believe that everyone has their own path to the Divine. Mine is currently blue with a touch of green. 
I love your path color! 
From From ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy
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This is my belief about the God of ALL of us; truly, "God is the Same God". I find your story about visiting Muslim worship service to be WONDERFUL. If only Christians of the world would be as open to learning as you are. God bless.
Awww thank you so much!
From From ken
Hi Sophie, I am Eze. Your article on expanding your spiritual comfort zone is interesting.I'm sure you well understand that christianity has always being a religion of love and tolerance. That is the core message of Jesus Christ.I am from Africa and I'm currently in Dubai and occasionally travel to Iran. I am in a position to tell you one or two things about religious tolerance. I believe that tolerance is the key to religious freedom.
I have alot of moslem friends and business associates. Their religion is a culture to them. Their orientation is different. This is the gully separating Christianity and Islam.
Wearing head scarf for women is not a culture that is associated with Islam alone. Christianity also admonishes women to cover their head. The difference here is tolerance. If any must change here is not the diffrent beliefs but the tolerance of people's view about what we believe.
Thank you for sharing from your unique and very global perspective, it helps shed some light to the subject.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated!
Until next time! Sophy |
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Spiritual: October 20, 2010 Issue [#4026]
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