Spiritual
This week: Attitude Adjustment Edited by: Sophy New Year More Newsletters By This Editor
1. About this Newsletter 2. A Word from our Sponsor 3. Letter from the Editor 4. Editor's Picks 5. A Word from Writing.Com 6. Ask & Answer 7. Removal instructions
Hi, I'm Sophy New Year ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
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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Today's Guest "Letter from the Editor" is from Mr. Sophy!
Sophy and I recently enjoyed a road trip to a place we adore in South Carolina. Normally a rather careful driver, I am all the more so navigating with our travel trailer altering the handling and visibility I’m used to with our SUV. In particular I drive more slowly keeping lots of distance between my vehicle and those ahead. Towing a trailer affects nearby drivers, too. It’s harder to see traffic ahead and to read signage when following a large rig, and I understand it is frustrating.
There were a few drivers along the way unhappy with my cruising more slowly than they preferred (they informed me so), even though I’m certain my skills avoided what would otherwise have been a serious multi-vehicle collision in Nashville. I doubt the offended road-neighbors gave much thought to the situation – they just reacted to their frustration and continued on to wherever they were going.
I hope they arrived safely and am glad to have made that possibility more likely. I was on the other end of the equation a few times, feeling frustrated with the decisions of nearby drivers. I’m grateful to have kept my composure and good intentions toward those who made unwise moves in close traffic, though I’ll admit it took some doing.
With each passing year I become more aware of the capacity we humans have to choose and cultivate our attitudes and behaviors. Emotions that once seemed the inevitable reactions to one’s environment and genetics and upbringing I now know can be chosen or rejected with reflection, volition, and practice. Just as we can learn the skills needed to play a new sport or musical instrument, so we can cultivate abilities such as patience, generosity, respect, compassion, even kindness toward those with whom we are in conflict.
“Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.” We give our assent easily to such prescriptions in the hypothetical, but find them elusive when encountering an actual trial. Yet what makes the teachings valuable is the real life practicality they suggest, which of course requires practice and self-discipline. Of course it is not enough to practice such skills merely in microcosm realities such as traffic, but if reconciliation and peace are ever to become large-scale realities in the world, it has to at least begin in such small and personal contexts as rush hour.
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Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (February 3, 2016)" about "Love" -
From Mia - craving colour
Hi Sophy
Wonderful to see this elaboration of the concept of 'love' and emphasing the active expression of it. Just one detail was missing - the need for love and compassion toward oneself.
Thank you!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! Sophy New Year |
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