“Yesterday, I discovered my laptop bag had been stolen from Gails driveway!”

Almost all of us have a compulsion to fixate almost entirely on what’s wrong. We then become fearful, hate-filled, and wrapped around the negative. This pattern must be recognized; peace of mind is an oxymoron. When we’re in our mind, we’re hardly ever at peace; when we’re at peace, we’re never only in our mind. Henri Nouwen described the practice of solitude as ‘the place of conversion, the place where the old self dies and the new self is born. It is a courageous encounter with our naked, most raw and real self, in the presence of pure love.’

Believing in a Higher Power is not the same as being spiritually awake. The term ‘spiritually awake’ means having a two-way relationship with God. It means having a friendship that keeps our hope for a better life alive. Now we no longer pray to a distant, unseen God. Each day we talk with the God of our understanding. Being active in the most important relationship we have is what keeps us awake spiritually; it fosters every positive change, every aspect of growth we experience. May my chat with God today help me grow in my understanding of the Love, Forgiveness and Power of God's presence.

Arise from earth's bonds, from depression, distrust, fear, and all that hinders your new life. Arise to beauty, joy, peace, and work inspired by love. Rise from death to life. You do not even need to fear death. All past sins are forgiven if you live and love and work with God. Let nothing hinder your new life. Seek to know more and more of that new way of living. I pray that I may let God live in me as I work for Him. I pray that I may go out into the sunlight and work with God.