Higher Power - The Force - God

What ever name you prefer, Higher Power, Great Spirit, the Oversoul, the Force, or simply life energy, are all good. We are comfortable with them all so switch around a bit just to keep it fresh and lively. The name God carries a lot of baggage so many avoid it. It seems a fitting name to us as it infers powerful, present, and wise. And not just powerful, present, and wise, but all power, all presence, all wisdom. The alternative is a big, dumb, random universe. Personally, we find creation too complex, diverse, and intelligent for that to be true.

There appears to be a divine force that allowed this awesome and incredible drama of creation and life to emerge, expand, and thrive through-out the ages. Also we, you, and everything else is a microcosm of that macrocosm. We have it all within us, this same power, presence, and wisdom. We are the children of God, and if children, then heirs of God. It is our birthright, and inheritance. We have the power to create or destroy, a little at a time, but immensely over a lifetime. Just look at civilization; all the houses, schools, libraries, churches, businesses, streets, etc, and all the things in them, just ideas in peoples minds come to fruition.

But what has guided us? Conquest, subjugation, imperialism, consumerism, and other selfish "evils" have done much damage. Where is salvation? Greater good, higher purpose, and higher law, found through Higher Power. This is why a good, if not great relationship with our Higher power is so important. One of our best tools to get in touch with Higher Power is nature as expressed in the previous Sanity File.

Let me get personal here, as "What is most personal is most universal" (Carl Rogers). As a teenager I became fed up with God. I don't know if it was a sense of neglect and abandonment I felt from growing up, the problems in organized religions, the great amount of suffering that goes on, but I didn't want any part of it. For a while I said I didn't believe in God, I believed in good. As it turns out the word God is derived from the word good, so I didn't stray as far as I thought.

Then I read the book Original Blessing and was reminded that before there was any churches holiness was found in the skies, waters, plants, animals, sun, moon, earth, and so on. Everything was blessed, sacred, and holy. I then remembered how much nature is a saving grace for me. I cherish time spent in nature. John Muir said just one day spent in nature and one is rich forever. I certainly am. Often when I share this, people tell me how much nature means to them too.

Another super tool for getting in touch with Higher Power is journaling. I begin each entry "Good morning (afternoon, evening) Lord," then write out all my doings, issues, and struggles good and bad. It takes the weight off my shoulders and leaves it on the page. I find it a real blessing. Many will find it silly to "talk" to or with God in this way. I probably won't change minds much here, but perhaps some will give it a try.

I don't imagine my Higher Power as understanding my words specifically, but I do believe there is an understanding of the intention, and the meaning. It's like when we talk to our babies, pets, and other things. There is spirit there too. We feel they get it on some level. Not by words, but from a deeper, pre-verbal energetic place, just as with my "conversations" with God. I am speaking with a best friend. A friend who made and sustains me year to year, day to day, and moment to moment. I now have a box full of these journals, and an excellent relationship with my maker I feel to my very core.

Why is a deeply intimate relationship with a Higher Power so important? Because in our daily lives most folks believe they are a physical being having (occasional) spiritual experiences, and what we hear, see, and feel is all there is. If this is our truth we are at the mercy of worldly concerns, and blown about by the whims of people, governments, wars, disasters, and the like. 

Yet through prayer and meditation we can turn that around completely, to where we can come to see we are actually spiritual beings having a physical experience. This might seem upside down and backwards, but the truth is that's how we have been living all along and it's high time to turn things around. This is true freedom, and one of the keys to finding our True Self-more on that further on.

 Classical Eastern wisdom has taught me that first I must tame my mind to then train and transform it with the ultimate  goal of acquiring a "Sacred Outlook". That is real transformation, to see the hand and spirit of God in everyone and everything. To look into every face and see the face of God, and to gaze back into God's eyes with confidence that the greatest good and highest law is at work at all times, in all places, and in all things however screwed up and awful things may appear.

It's time for us to stop building up our own selfish little kingdoms. It's time to knock down the walls and find we were in God's Kingdom all along, we just didn't know it. We may at last give up the rat race, the battle, the war that seems to be raging in our minds, homes, and modern world to instead rest in God. Prayer and mediation are a key to this all important connection and very helpful to feel and experience true grace. To learn more take this link to meditation and this one to prayer.

For those that have a real problem with the idea of God, or Higher Power, some find " A Power Greater" works for them, See that post here You may also enjoy the post "God Centered Life".   To see how how God has woven infinite intelligence, beauty, and wonder into the natural world check out Sacred Geometry. For inspirational music look here. You will find a section just for Higher Power.

One day everything in this world will pass away. All of our family, friends, possessions, experiences, opinions, and beliefs will one day melt away...into God. Into the infinite love, peace, joy, and beauty that is God. Will we be ready? Will we fight back with everything we can muster, or will our precious inner child fall asleep wrapped in God's arms, and will our adult self take God's hand and cross over the last moments with eyes open gently smiling?