Week 14: Signs you’ve found your calling . . .

 

I came across a great article that spoke volumnes and I wanted to share it with everyone.  It’s titled 10 Signs You’ve Found Your Calling.  I am going to share a couple of them.

You’ll realize you’ve been training for your calling since the moment you were born. 

Even the gritty things, the dissappointments, the regrets, and the screw ups, they were all prepping you for what you’re now being called to do.  You’ll realize that the divorce, the bankruptcy, the death of your loved one, the failure, the rejection – it was just school teaching you the lessons your soul needed to learn in order to be who you’re being called to be.

 

Mystical things will start happening.

You might be tempted to write them off as coincidences, only they’re too perfect, too exactly what you need in that particular moment, too much like miracles to call them accidents.  The synchronicities will fill you with a sense of wonder, because they’re proof positive that you’re being guided, that you’re not in this alone, that Someone is moving mountains to ensure that your mission is a success.

When you get off course, you’ll get redirected.

Doors you longed to walk through will slam shut.  If you take the wrong fork in the road, you path will be littered with barbed wire and mustard gas and dragons and sharp knives lining the path.  You will get the hint that you’ve made a wrong turn, steering yourself off course from your date with destiny, when the journey becomes a relentless struggle.  The deal will fall through.  The money will run out.  The mentor who’s been providing the magical gift won’t follow you into the wrong path.  People won’t sign up.  You’ll be rerouted just as magically as you were steered to your calling in the first place.

Magical mentors will appear just in the nick of time.

Just when you need it most, the right people will show up, with just the tools you’ll need to support you and your journey in an almost mystical way.

You may feel strangely peaceful, even when you have every reason to be anxious.                   

Everyone around you will likely think you’re crazy.  A part of you will agree with them.  But a wise inner knowing, that part of you I call your inner Pilot Light, will be so comforting by the fact that you’re finally on the path to your purpose that you may feel unusally calm – until your rational mind kicks in.

Our souls long to express what we’re here on this earth to express, and when you finally fall into alignment with your calling, your soul does a little happy dance.  It may appear as if evertthing else in your life is falling apart, but you’ll have this sense of peace, a huge relief, that at least – finally – you know what you’re called to do.

Your people will find you.

Few can fulfill a calling alone.  Most of us need a tribe to lift us up as we do brave, scary, world changing things.  But don’t worry.  When you’re really on purpose, your people find you, if only you’re courageous enough to be vulnerable about what you’re being called to do.

 

Wow!  Can any of you relate to the above?

Week 12: With proper focus the picture is clear and distinct . . .

 

This is the time of season for more pictures.  Here in the past couple of weeks I have found myself taking more pictures than I have in a long time.  I’ve been capturing everything from birthdays, special moments with my son Tasker, to moments around the Christmas tree with co-workers.  I have notices a reoccuring event . . . the majority of the pictures taken are coming out blurry.  How frusterating!  Everything appears to be spot on only to have the picture appear hazy or vague . . .

I have just about decided that I’m not going to take any important pictures with my camera . . .  There could be another solution to the problem.

 

Putting it into perspective

If you have ever looked through the viewfinder of a camera, you found that when the object was not in focus, the impression was indistinct and possibly blurred, but when the proper focus was obtained the picture was clear and distinct.  This illustrates the power of concentration.  Unless you can concentrate upon the object which you have in view, you will have a hazy, indifferent, vague, indistinct and blurred outline of your ideal and the result will be in accordance with your mental picture.

Wow . . . this explains a whole lot!  Maybe it’s not my cell phone camera after all!  It’s quite possible that I need to learn how to hold the cameras still so that it can focus on the object I am trying to capture a picture of.  Just as my pictures have been turning out hazy and blurred so have the goals and wishes for my life. 

6. But your ideal must be sharp, clear-cut, definite; to have one ideal today, another tomorrow, and a third next week, means to scatter your forces and accomplish nothing; your result will be a meaningless and chaotic combination of wasted material.

7. Unfortunately this is the result which many are securing, and the cause is self evident.  If a sculptor started out with a piece of marble and a chisel and changed his ideal every fifteen minutes, what result could he expect?

22.  Things are created in the mental or spiritual world before they appear in the outward act or event by the simple process of governing our thought forces today, we help create events which will come into our lives in the future, perhaps even tomorrow.  Educated desire is the most potent means of bringing into actionthe law of attraction.

I absolutely love this lesson this week!  I feel as if things are slowly coming together.  There are a couple of key points that I learned this week and they are as followed:

• There are three steps that are absolutely essential to discover our purpse in life: recognizing the knowledge of our power, the courage to dare and the faith to do.
• The Law of Attraction is irresistable because it is a Natural law and all Natural laws are unchangable and act with mathematical exactitude  – there is no deviation or variation.
• Wisdom is secured by concentration; it’s an unfoldment; it comes from within.

Week 11: I will persist like a charging bull . . .

I was rather facinated with the analogy of persistence in life and the bull in scroll III.  I decided to do a little bit further research into the matter and share what I come up with.

A picador (Spanish pronunciation: [pikaˈðor]; pl. picadores) is one of the pair of horsemen in a Spanish bullfight that jab the bull with a lance.  They perform in the tercio de varas, which is the first of the three stages in a Spanish bullfight.

Function

There are three main functions of the picador:

1. to pirece the muscle on the back of the bull’s neck in order to straighten the bull’s charge
2. to fatigue the bull’s neck muscles and general stamina as it tries to lift the horse with its head
3. to lower the bull’s head in preperation for the next stage

It was interesting to learn that if the public feels as if the picador is overenthusiastic in his lancing they will whistle, boo or jeer as they see fit.  Reason being, they do not want the bull to lose all its strength and energy as this can lead to a dull bullfight.

Furthermore, the picador is obliged to give the bull two lances in a first category bullring, however, the matador may request that the second be waived in second and third category rings.  The bull may receive three lances if it is particularly ferocious.       

The willingness of the bull to charge the picador is often cited as the biggest test of its courage. A bull that does not charge may be punished with a black banderellia, which although somewhat longer than a normal banderilla is largely symbolic and a mark of shame for the breeder. This is very rare.

Tying it together

In the Orient young bulls are tested for the fight arena in a certain manner.  Each is brought to the ring and allowed to attack a picador who pricks them with a lance.  The bravery of each bull is then rated with care according to the number of times he demonstrates his willingness to charge in spite of the sting of the blade.  Henceforth will I recognize that each day I am tested by life in such manner.  If I persist, if I continue to try, if I continue to charge forward, I will succeed. 

I will persist until I succeed.

I am the charging bull that persistently charges life in such a way that success is the only option.  It is on me to continue in life . . . with persistence.

Week 10 . . . Why are we eating elephants?

 

This weeks lesson reminded me of a memorable conversation in the past that I had had that made quite an impact.  Lets fastfoward about 6 or 7 years . . .

Recalling the past

At the time I was enlisted in the Navy, stationed in Fallon, Nevada as a corpsman (medic in civilian terms) for the Search and Rescue team.  This was a very fast paced command requiring extreme dedication and commitment.  It’s safe to say that this was one of the most challenging things I have done in my life and often times I found myself feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.  There was always plenty to be done . . . qualifications that were obtained and had to be maintained, dedication in the gym to stay in shape, juggling the responsibilities of flying as a crewman at the hanger and performing my clinical duties at the clinic . . . just to name a few.

One day I found myself in the PR shop, which is where all of our flight gear ended up when it needed to be inspected or swapped out.  The guy that ran the shop was an old retired Senior Chief and worked there as a government contracted employee after retiring from the Navy.  I admired this fella because he always seemed so laid back . . . he never got upset about things, had lots of patience and an added perk was that he understood the Navy’s ways as a result of his time served.

“How do you eat an elephant?”

I’m sure this particular day I was spewing about a mile a minute about everything that had to be done and what was going on with training, exercises and rescues.  After I was done with my rant, Sr. turns to me and calmly asks, “Hey Tait!  How do you eat an elepant?”

This kinda came out of left field . . . the conversation had shifted from shop talk to eating elephants . . . I thought to myself, “What? . . . why in the world are we eating elephants in the first place?!”  He kinda chuckled because I’m pretty sure that I had a dazed and confused look on my face as I stammered, “I have no ideal . . . what are you talking about . . . eating elephants?”  He repeated his question yet again . . . “How do you eat an elepant?”  I gave it an earnest 30 seconds of analysis, trying to figure out where he was coming from and the relevance of the question. 

“I have no ideal . . . I give up . . .”  was my response.  He slowly turns to me and calmy responds, “One bite at a time . . .”  It took me a second to chew on that . . . no pun intended.  After thinking about it for a second our two it hit me . . . and it became my life’s question to others when they are overwhelmed with the big picture of life . . . their elephant. 

Making the connection

I will persist until I succeed.

Henceforth, I will consider each day’s effort  as but one blow of my blade against a mighty oak.  The first blow may cause not a tremor in the wood, nor the second, nor the third.  Each blow, of itself, may be trifling, and seem of no consequence.  Yet from childish swipes the oak will eventually tumble.  So it will be with my efforts of today.

I will be liken to the raindrop which washes away the mountain; the aint who devours a tiger; the star which brightens the earth; the slave who builds a pyramid.  I will build my castle on brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking.

I will persist until I succeed . . .

Whether it be a blow to a mighty oak tree . . . a raindrop which washes away the mountain . . . the aint who devours a tiger . . . the star which brightens the earth . . . the slave who builds a pyramid or little ol me eating an elephant

success hides behind the next bend in the road.

I have found that if I focus on the monsterous elephant that I need to eat then I get overwhelmed and stressed out over the end goal.  However, when I take one step at a time, one bite at a time, the task at hand is so much more achievable.  When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed in life than ask yourself . . .

 

Week 9 : Attitude of Gratitude . . .

 

grat·i·tude

[ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od]

NOUN

1. the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness:

   “she expressed her gratitude to the committee for their support”

   synonyms: gratefulness · thankfulness · thanks · appreciation ·

   [more]

 

Reflecting back on the week

This week was probably one of the best Thanksgiving’s I have ever had . . . through and through.  There are two events in particular that have created an immence attitude of gratitude for life.

Tuesday evening . . .

Don’t really remember too much about the happenings of Tuesday morning and afternoon.   I’m sure I was trying to have positive thoughts and remain as opinion free as possible . . .

 All of that took a back seat at 4:07 PM . . . got the following text from my oldest sister Monica . . .

Just talked to Matt; Kaydee wrecked and is being airlifted to Mission regarding her complaint of head pain.  She was conscious and talking when Matt talked to her while she was being loaded up.  I’m heading out there.

Holy Cow!  My heart did a couple of back flips and cartwheels!  My first response was to send a reply message and ask if she was by herself . . . she has two girls and I wanted to make sure that they weren’t involved in the accident also.  I was relieved to find out that she was by herself.

As the night played out we learned that my sister Kaydee had went to my oldest sister’s house to drop off a couple of Christmas trees before she went grocery shopping and picked her oldest daughter up from basketball practice.  She had left Monica’s house and was on a back country road . . . came around a curve and was met with another driver in her lane.  Kaydee jerked the steering wheel to the right to avoid a head on collision and realized that she had over compensated.  She ended up climbing a bank to the right that resulted in launching her Yukon airborn and caused it to roll head to tail a couple of times.  Fortunately she was wearing her seatbelt and there were plenty of people to witness the end result . . . the vehicle upside down in a ditch on the side of the road.

She definately had her guardian angle with her . . . although she was airlifted to a hospital two hours away, we loaded up the family and drove out to Mission to be by her side.  I’m happy to report that she was discharged about 9:30 PM with a couple of scratches on her hand, a good bruise on her left shoulder, a pounding headache and a piece of glass lodged in her left knuckle.  All in all . . . she was lucky.

Before the accident, plans were in place for Thanksgiving dinner to be at Kaydee’s house on Friday afternoon.  We were still able to have turkey day at Kaydee’s with no interuptions.  If there’s one thing to take from this situation it’s to live each day as if it’s your last . . . it very well could be.

Sunday morning . . .

This morning in church services there were a couple of people that got baptized.  As I’m sitting there watching the whole thing unfold my 4 year old son, Tasker, watches in amazement.  He leans toward me, taps me on the arm and says,  “Mommy, I want to do that  .  .  . ”

By the end of service he got saved so he too could “get dunked in the big tub.”  Just a week prior I was saying a prayer that Tasker would accept Christ as his Lord and Savior and here I was a week later witnessing a little warrior being added to Christ’s roster . . .

Between the two events of the week I would say that my gratitude meter is filled up right now . . .

Week 8: Imagine there is a bank . . .

I loved this so much that I wanted to share it with everyone . . .

Imagine there is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day.

Every evening the bank deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course?

Each of us has such a bank. It’s name is TIME.

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.

Every night it writes off as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose.

It carries over no balance. It allows no over draft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day.

If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no drawing against “tomorrow.”

You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success!
The clock is running!! Make the most of today.

To realise the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade.

To realise the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realise the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realise the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realise the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who just missed a train.

To realise the value of ONE SECOND, ask someone who just avoided an accident.

To realise the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with. And remember time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why its called the present.

Week 7: How does your garden grow . . .

Some of you may be saying to yourself right now,   “Garden . . . what garden?  What is she talking about !?  .  .  . ”

“I do not have a green thumb, nor do I have any desire to plant any gardens!”

I would be interested in seeing what the world without looks like for these people.  Actually . . . I don’t really have to look at someone else, for it was not to long ago that I would be asking these very questions and making these very statements.  Currently I am in dire need of tending to my mind’s garden and doing some weed pulling and cultivating  .  .  .

This week this analogy of the mind being a garden and the thoughts being the seed really hit home for me.  All of the exercises that we have done up until now have caused me to make an honest effort to observe my thoughts and see exactly what it is that I have planted in my own “mind garden.”  I’m not going to lie . . . it has not been an easy assessment of trying to recognize my thoughts that flash across my mind.  They seem as second nature, for I have gone the majority of my life living in autopilot mode.  Although it has been difficult initially, I feel as if gradually I am paying more and more attention to these thoughts.

It has been obvious that the negative thoughts that have been fed and cultivated in my life have produced thick patches of thorny thistles.  I am seeing that most of the problems and difficulties I have encountered in life have initiated from the seeds of fear, anxiety and doubt that I have continually planted in my mind.

Just as seeds grow, so do our thoughts.  When we think of our thoughts as seeds and our rooted beliefs as established plants in our garden, it is easier to understand the analogy.  If we don’t properly water and care for our garden, the initial sprouting seeds will parish.  Furthermore, the positive thoughts we plant will begin to wilt and wither away when we don’t tend to them and the thoughts that we don’t want are left to grow wildely, just like weeds.  Regardless of hot temperatures and dry soil, the weeds are tenacious, as their roots are burrowed deep within the earth.

Week 7’s lesson takes this one step further by addressing the power of concentration and focus.  The following is the example used in the lesson:

23.  For instance, a man is in debt.  He will continually thinking about debt, concentrating on it, and as thoughts are causes the result is that he not only fastens the debt closer to him, but actually creates more debt.  He is putting the great law of Attraction into operation with the usual and inevitable result — Loss leads to greater “Loss.”

24.  What, then, is the correct principle?  Concentrate (focus) on the things you want, not on the things you do not want.

25.  If the law (of abundance) operates perfectly to bring about poverty, lack and every form of limitation for those who are continually entertaining thoughts of lack and fear, it will operate in the same way certainty to bring about conditions of abundance and opulence for those who entertain thoughts of courage and power.

26.  This is difficult for many; we are too anxious; we manifest anxiety, fear, distress; we want to do something; we want to help; we are like a child who has just planted a seed and every fifteen minutes goes and stirs up the earth to see if it is growing.  Of course, under such circumstances, the seed will never germinate, and yet this is exactly what many of us do in the mental world.

It does take effort, but like anything else it gets easier with practice, and the amazing thing is, as we become more and more aware of these negative thoughts we are capable of recognizing that we will not plant negative weeds in our garden.  I am consciously choosing to plant and cultivate a positive and productive crop in life.  I am amazed at the changes that are happening in my life .  .  . obstacles are disappearing, barriers are falling away and crumbling, and things that I once though were either impossible or too far away are obtainable.

Week 6: I greet this day with Love in my heart . . .

I truly cherish the reading from the scrolls this week  .  .  .  I will greet this day with love in my heart  .  .  .  The following are my favorite part of the reading:

And how will I do this (greet this day with love in my heart)?  Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again.  I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.  I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.  I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul.  I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

But how will I react to the actions of others?  With love.  For just as love is my weapon to open the hearts of men, love is also my shield to repulse the arrows of hate and the spears of anger.  Adversity and discouragement will beat against my new shield and become as the softest of rains.  My shield will protect me in the market place and sustain me when I am alone.  It will uplift me in moments of despair yet it will calm me in time of exultation.

And most of all I will love myself.  For when I do, I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart.  Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh, rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation.  Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair, rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages.  Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer.  Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter, rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.

The icing on the cake was the link that I made between the second scroll and part 5 in the daily blueprint reading:

Fifth: I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure unless built upon truth and justice, therefore, I engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects.  I succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people.  I eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism of other people.  I love all humanity, because I know that negative attitude toward others can never bring me success.  I cause others to believe in me, because I believe in them, and in myself

Week 5: The Comfort Zone . . .

This week thus far has been the most challenging week in my MKMMA journey.  Up to this point I had been consistent with my readings, exercises and sits.  I knew that this week would present a bit of a challenge . . . just didn’t know to what degree.

The week started out with a strong dose of excitement and a slight concern as to how I was going to complete all of my pledged committments.  As the week progressed I beat myself up for falling out harmony with my Master Key’s family . . . however, I tuned into harmony with my RawBrah family.

In April I had come across a group known as the RawBrahs.  This is a passionate family of three Godly brothers and a sister who put on retreats around the world.  Their goal is to re-ignite the human passion for life through a series of workshops that exercise the principle of “self acceptance through self expression.”  The brahs teach people how to “lose their minds” in order to reconnect with their hearts.

Furthermore, the RawBrahs’ mission includes co-creating a space for emotional and social bungee jumping that essentially explores the deepest depths of human connection, growth and healing, while also exploring the importance of fitness, play and total mind and body wellness in embracing the full capacity of one’s potential.  The retreats are created on the premise of “expect anything, experience everything”.

 

Expect Anything

The retreat itself took place this week not too far from home for me, in Blue Ridge, Georgia.  There was no strict schedule or itinerary with the hopes that the attendees would practice the important skill of being fully present.  This meant that we did not know what the plans were from day to day, let alone hour to hour.  This process taught me the value of embracing each moment by showing me how to adapt to and appreciate the adventure of any circumstance that comes my way.  One of the most important lessons learned thoughout this experience was that all growth takes place outside ones comfort zone.

 

Experience Everything

The value of the retreat was not placed on the emphasis of the food or the living accommodations, rather the participation in the experience as a whole.  Through the whole experience the goal was to reconnect to the scenses, to be close to nature and to be close to everyone involved.

The RawBrahs definition of intimacy is “to be fully known and accepted.”  Notice it says FULLY:  not half known, nor half loved or accepted for a character or an image that one may portray; but for who you really are.  This is the type of relationship that is fostered with the people that attend these retreats so that important skills can be learned to replicate this very relationship with others.

 

Important Questions to Ponder

 

There were some very important lessons learned this week.  I really beat myself up for not following along with the system regarding the MKMMA experience, however, with hindsight and a different perspective I choose to see the retreat as a real hands on fieldtrip to the lessons that we are learning in the Master Keys. The following are very important lessons and insights ask and learned:

• Is a low point really a low point if it’s the place where we can learn the most?
• If the opposite of love is indifference, is a resentment really just a deeper form of appreciation?
• Are the things that I don’t like in others a reflection of what I don’t like in myself?

The following is a video that highlights the retreat with the RawBrawhs.

 

Week 4: Soul on Fire . . .

Last Sunday started out with a battle between the ‘ol subby trying to push its way around . . . and I must admit it was giving me a run for my money.  I woke up a little later that I wanted to and then I was slow to initiate my morning reading.  Finally it got to a point where I just said to myself,  “Self . . . you’re gonna have to take the bull by the horns and get this reading done!”

I had every intention of going to church, however, by the time I straightened subby out and finally took control of the situation I had already talked myself out of making it to Sunday school.  By the time I had finished with my morning readings I had almost talked myself out of going to Service completely.  This is when I had to take a step back and look at the situation.  I was clearly falling in line with the old blue print mentality  . . .

I pulled myself up by the ‘ol boot straps and told myself, “I could be missing the most powerful message of my life!”  .  .  .

Who is in you?  .  .  .  He’s a CONSUMING FIRE!

Once I made it to church I knew I had made the right decision to go.  The music was especially on point for this service.  To be honest with you . . . this is one area that is a bit of a challenge for me.  The church is going through some changes and has recently lost some gifted singers.  Most mornings I find myself closing my eyes especially tight so that I’m not focusing on the off-key notes being sung (I myself am guilty and very thankful that I’m not on stage with a microphone).  I have to constantly remind myself that it’s what’s in the heart that matters.

Once Pastor Pat initiated his part it was clear that he was delivering a message that would resonate with my soul . . . literally!  The question was put out there, “Who is inside of you?”   Little did I know that this message would go hand in hand with Week 4’s lesson:

18.  Lyman Abbott, in an address delivered before the Alumni of Bangor Theological Seminary, say: “We are coming to think of God as dwelling in man rather than as operating on men from without.”

19. Science goes a little way in its search and stops.  Science finds the ever-present Eternal Energy, but religion finds the Power behind this energy and locates it within man.  But this is by no means a new discovery; the Bible says exactly the same thing, and the language is just as plain and convincing: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of the living God?”  Here, then, is the secret of the wonderful creative power of the “World Within.”

WhOoa .  .  .  It just got real  .  .  .

Firewalls are to a Consuming Fire as plaster and cement are to the Golden Buddha

“Well if the living God (Holy Spirit) resides inside of me then why am I not living a life of victory?”  This is a valid question I had to ask myself.  What it honestly comes down to are the firewalls that we construct in our lives.  This is comparable to the cement and plaster that is covering the Golden Buddha in our lessons.

Right now I feel as if I have a flickering, smoldering ember.  The problem with this is that I’m stinking up the place with SMOKE!  The ideal is to tear down those firewalls that I have built-in my life so that the smoldering ember can be stirred up and kindle a consuming fire within . . .  that will present to the world without.  The funny thing about fires  . . .  the hotter the fire the less of a presence of smoke.  Consuming fires devour firewalls!

After such a power message in last Sunday’s service and in Week 4’s lesson I felt that the following song is an appropriate theme song for the topic at hand.  Enjoy  . . .