A Program for Living

 It’s straightforward, really - start each day by acknowledging my connection with Spirit and keeping that consciousness open, then finishing each day by asking myself how well I accomplished that. Simple, but not easy. 

I’m reading a book about Teresa of Ávila, where the following contemplation was how she began her days: God has no body now on earth but yours, No hands but yours, No feet but yours, Yours are the eyes through which he is to look out God’s compassion to the world; Yours are the feet with which he is to go about Doing good; Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.

No pressure! All I require of myself is to honestly try to be my best self. I am deeply flawed. That’s okay -it’s part of being human. At the beginning of the day, I remind myself. After my first cup of coffee, I have to remind myself. As I read the paper, I have to remind myself. When I go to the store, when I’m in my car, wherever I encounter other humans, I have to remind myself. And here’s the thing - they don’t know or even have to know that I am doing so. They don’t have to have the same beliefs or guidance systems in place. There is no quid pro quo. 

At the end of each day, my responsibility to my divine connection is to ask myself where I fell short. What did I do or say which was out of alignment with Truth as I feel it? How can I do better next time? What will I do differently? To whom do I need to admit my errors and make amends? Where did I do well and how can I more easily incorporate that into my everyday world?

We are given the most simple tools which, if utilized on a daily basis, allow a real, substantial connection with our higher selves and our relationship with the God of our understanding. It seems to work that way for me.