Whenever you interact with someone who has wronged you, you should be willing to give them a fresh start in the sense that you will not punish them in your heart for the prior wrongs they have committed against you.
This does not mean you forget what they have done; it means you forgive them for what they have done. They may continue on their way in a destructive manner, but what they do or not do is in their hands, not yours. What is in your hands is to let go of what they have done and not count it against them.
This does not mean you necessarily ignore, tolerate or accept their destructive behavior. It means that you deal with each action on its own without prior prejudice. It means you remain objective and have a pure motive when dealing with the person. And, when it is over, you forgive, wipe the slate clean and be willing to begin again.
This does no good if it’s not real. You can’t force yourself into this. This must come from a willing heart, not an obligation to do right. When you hold on to hurts and mistreatment by others, you are drawn into their world. You engage them on their terms, you become part of what they do and the spirit that drives them. When you forgive and let go the chance to retaliate or smolder resentment and ill feelings, you separate yourself from what has happened and you are free to move back into the light.
This doesn’t mean others are not going to hurt, upset, irritate, and anger you. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t feel these emotions. But what you do with those feelings at the moment and later, depends on spiritual maturity.
You cannot love if you cannot forgive from the heart. And to forgive means not forgetting but being willing to wipe the slate clean and not hold on to animosity and anger. It means, with each new encounter, giving the person who has wronged you another chance. If the forgiveness is real, from your heart, the person will sense it and it will give him or her another chance to do better--or not. But you have done your part and you walk in the light.
But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." John 11:9,10
The closer we come to Christ, the more discerning, the more intuitive we become into the motives and expressions of the heart in ourselves and in others.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Dream Building
At first I thought of Dreams as places I wanted to be, things I wanted to accomplish. But the more I think of dreams the more I see them as being the journey to some place or the act of accomplishing something. Dreams are built with a purpose in mind. They don’t show up one day because you want them to be there. And although one might think that would be a good thing, that’s not how dreams become real.
Say you have a dream to be a painter. You’re only going to realize that dream if you get some paints together, go out and find something you want to paint, and begin painting. At first you may not consider what you’ve done a masterpiece but you will learn new things about painting every time you paint something. It takes time and practice but, if painting is a serious dream, you will stick with it, become more experienced and eventually you will come to the place where you will see yourself a painter. Becoming a painter, owning a piece of land, traveling, losing weight, anything that you want in life requires preparation, effort and time.
A dream is not just at the end of a rainbow. It comes into existence as you take the first step, as you begin your preparations to see your dream to it’s finish. It is with you all along that road and the further you go down that road, building on that dream, the more you will see your dream materialize.
Accomplishing your dream is important but just as important is the process, the building of that dream. Things will happen to you on that journey that will change you. When your dream, and the way you go about attaining it, is good, building that dream will produce qualities in you, such as patience, perseverance, ingenuity, creativity, so many things. If your dream is selfish or hurtful to others or if it is accomplished using deceitful means, it will change you in a negative way. When you build a dream, the materials you use to attain it are also built in you.
As your dream becomes, so you become. Building a dream reflects who you are becoming and who you will be at the completion of that dream. You and your dream are interconnected.
Say you have a dream to be a painter. You’re only going to realize that dream if you get some paints together, go out and find something you want to paint, and begin painting. At first you may not consider what you’ve done a masterpiece but you will learn new things about painting every time you paint something. It takes time and practice but, if painting is a serious dream, you will stick with it, become more experienced and eventually you will come to the place where you will see yourself a painter. Becoming a painter, owning a piece of land, traveling, losing weight, anything that you want in life requires preparation, effort and time.
A dream is not just at the end of a rainbow. It comes into existence as you take the first step, as you begin your preparations to see your dream to it’s finish. It is with you all along that road and the further you go down that road, building on that dream, the more you will see your dream materialize.
Accomplishing your dream is important but just as important is the process, the building of that dream. Things will happen to you on that journey that will change you. When your dream, and the way you go about attaining it, is good, building that dream will produce qualities in you, such as patience, perseverance, ingenuity, creativity, so many things. If your dream is selfish or hurtful to others or if it is accomplished using deceitful means, it will change you in a negative way. When you build a dream, the materials you use to attain it are also built in you.
As your dream becomes, so you become. Building a dream reflects who you are becoming and who you will be at the completion of that dream. You and your dream are interconnected.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Thursday Morning
This morning as I was sitting out on the porch writing my Morning Pages, a little green grasshopper caught my eye as he busily made his way along the porch railing. As he walked he tapped his very long, over sized antennae along his path like a blind man tapping his cane on the sidewalk. He was wearing little black dots on his hind feet, just tootling along very intent on what he was doing. He took no notice of me watching him. A sweet interruption from my writing.
My new philosophy in life is to move ahead in the places that are open to me, to look around as I journey though time, seeing things, learning from them, recording them in writing, photography, painting, etc. I will take the time to see beauty and good and, to appreciate the stops along the way--life's unexpected interruptions.
I will enjoy the road I'm on because this journey is my life, my learning, my joy and my pain. The end of this journey is when I die. So it's senseless to rush to the finish line, completely oblivious to my surroundings and intent only on that finish line thinking there is some sort of prize there. There is no prize there! The prizes are scattered along the way. Sometimes right in front of me, sometimes a little off the path in the form of an interruption, or just something delightful that just unexpectedly shows up like a little green grasshopper with antennae six times longer than his body or an amazing sunrise that I capture with my camera. There are so many prizes along the way that it's a waste to go down the road too fast and miss them all.
This is not to say my journey will always be happy and without hard times and struggle. But hard times and struggle bring strength, understanding, and appreciation. They are a very valuable part of life if you see them as teachers rather than foes.
My new philosophy in life is to move ahead in the places that are open to me, to look around as I journey though time, seeing things, learning from them, recording them in writing, photography, painting, etc. I will take the time to see beauty and good and, to appreciate the stops along the way--life's unexpected interruptions.
I will enjoy the road I'm on because this journey is my life, my learning, my joy and my pain. The end of this journey is when I die. So it's senseless to rush to the finish line, completely oblivious to my surroundings and intent only on that finish line thinking there is some sort of prize there. There is no prize there! The prizes are scattered along the way. Sometimes right in front of me, sometimes a little off the path in the form of an interruption, or just something delightful that just unexpectedly shows up like a little green grasshopper with antennae six times longer than his body or an amazing sunrise that I capture with my camera. There are so many prizes along the way that it's a waste to go down the road too fast and miss them all.
This is not to say my journey will always be happy and without hard times and struggle. But hard times and struggle bring strength, understanding, and appreciation. They are a very valuable part of life if you see them as teachers rather than foes.
The Enchanted Mirror
A long time ago, when there were still enchanted forests and magical creatures, there lived a very unhappy king. His name was King Abelard and he ruled the kingdom of Umbrage. After his beloved wife died he lost the joy in his life and became bitter, selfish and unfeeling. There was only one small, warm place left in his cold, dark heart. That was the place he held his love for his only daughter, Elysia.
King Abelard tried to fill the emptiness he felt inside with great wealth. He set about accumulating large amounts of gold and surrounding himself with all the comforts it could buy. But no matter how much he accumulated, he remained empty inside.
The king's subjects were not happy either. In trying to gather vast amounts of material things for his own happiness, King Abelard had put impossible tax burdens on his subjects. Desperate, the people sent three emissaries to plead with the king to lessen the heavy burden he had put upon them.
Reluctantly the king agreed to see them. What ungrateful whiners and complainers these people are, he thought as he looked down upon them from his great throne.
Trembling the three approached the king in their worn and tattered clothing. "King Abelard, please take pity on us. We work very hard but the land is barren. Our crops do not grow, the sun does not shine and a gloom has settled over the entire kingdom. It's as if there's a curse on the land." Feeling the king's scowl, they fearfully continued. "We cannot pay the taxes you demand. We cannot even feed our families. We come to you today to beg your help."
Without pity King Abelard spoke. "It is not my fault the sun does not shine, your crops won't grow and you cannot feed your families. I have done my part by giving you land to work. It's up to you to work harder. If you do not give me what I require, you will be severely punished." With those cold, unfeeling words he dismissed them.
Not long after, a strange woman came hobbling into the kingdom. She was leading an old horse pulling a rickety, wooden cart filled with trinkets she had to sell. As she walked she repeated over and over in a cracked voice, "Treasures, toys and trinkets. Who will buy my wares?"
As the old woman approached the castle, the king's young daughter, Elysia, heard her strange crackly voice. She hurried to the castle gate and peered through the slats to see what all the commotion was about. Filled with wonder at all the wonderful treasures on the old woman's cart, she ran back toward the castle to find her father. King Abelard was also hurrying out to see who was causing such a disturbance. Seeing her father Elysia ran to him jumping up and down with excitement. "Oh Father, may I see, may I see!"
The king wanted to send the ugly, old woman away but he could not deny his precious daughter anything. "Just for a minute, and then she has to go away. I don't want strangers coming into my kingdom uninvited," he grumbled. "Guards! Open the gate and let the old woman in."
The little Princess ran up to the cart and eagerly scanned the vast array of treasures from which to choose. A mysterious looking hand mirror caught her eye and she was strangely drawn to it. She picked it up and examined the delicate, golden flowers beautifully etched all around its edges and back. As she peered into the glass everything reflected in the mirror took on an indescribable radiance and beauty. "Father, I must have it! It's the most beautiful mirror I've ever seen."
"How much to you want for the mirror?" the king growled at the old woman.
Pleased with the little Princess's choice, she smiled and said, "It is a gift. It's name is Beauty." The happy Princess thanked the old woman with a hug and ran back to the castle with her precious treasure. As the king followed her he looked back and found the old woman gone. Very strange, he thought.
Elysia never tired of looking into the mirror. Even ordinary things, when held before it, became special and wonderful. They always seemed so much more beautiful. King Abelard puzzled over this because Elysia's reflection was the only one he could see in the mirror. When she stood before it he saw her delicate frame, her large brown eyes fringed with soft, black lashes and her bright, sunny smile. In her little face he saw her goodness, her passion for life and her love for all things. He thought this curious indeed.
The king summoned others in the castle to look into the mirror. No two people ever saw the same things. The royal gardener saw flowers and plants in endless variety; the royal painter saw colors, sunsets and landscapes--and so it went. The secret of the mirror became an obsession with the king. Not a day went by that he did not think of the mirror. He had to know why others could see more than he could see.
King Abelard sent a proclamation throughout the land promising up to half his kingdom to the one who could tell him the mirror's secret. Though many tried, on one could unlock the secret of the mirror.
One day the king was brooding over the mystery of the mirror and decided to go riding in the forest to think. As he approached a clearing, he saw a young doe eating grass in the meadow. He took out his bow thinking, What luck! It's been a long time since we've had venison at the castle. Dinner will be good tonight. As he was about to release the arrow from his bow, a small fawn bounded out of the thicket and joined his mother in the meadow. When the king saw the little fawn so happy and carefree, he thought of Elysia. Then he remembered how lost and lonely she'd been when her mother had died. He put his bow down. There would be no venison tonight. As he watched the doe with her fawn, to his amazement, he saw the doe change into the old woman with the magic mirror.
She approached him saying, "King Abelard, since you showed mercy to the mother and her fawn, I see there is still some good left in your heart. I will tell you the secret of the mirror."
Hardly believing his eyes and ears, the king listened intently as the old woman spoke.
"The mirror's name is 'Beauty'. As you know, she will not reflect everything that appears before her. She only mirrors that which the person looking into her loves. You love your daughter. Therefore, the mirror returned the love you have for her by reflecting her image before you. The love that came from within you was materialized in her figure. By seeing her in the mirror you saw your love in physical form. You see nothing else in the mirror because you love nothing else. Your daughter loves life and all that is good. She sees many things in the mirror for she loves much."
As the old woman spoke, the scales of bitterness began falling from the king's eyes and once again he began to see things as they really were. He felt ashamed for his selfishness and all the harm he had caused his people.
"If you would be happy, King Abelard," the old woman went on, "you must learn to love. You see only ugliness because you do not love. Your subjects are poor and suffering because you think only of yourself. If you learn to love them, the mirror will show you how beautiful, how valuable, they really are. Then your kingdom will no longer be called Umbrage, the kingdom of Shadow, but will be called Luminosity, the kingdom of Enlightenment." The old woman's words reached the king's joyless heart and he began to weep.
The next day the king sent out an edict ordering all his subjects to come to the castle in two days. There was to be a great banquet and, at that time, he would tell them the secret of the magic mirror and rename the kingdom.
When the day arrived there was much excitement and speculation about the secret of the mirror and the king's great change of heart. Did it have to do with the mirror's secret? Finally, at noon, when the sun was at its brightest, the king stood before the people and announced, "My loyal subjects, I have not been a good king. I have ignored your needs and have caused great sorrow and pain. But from today, until I am laid to rest, I pledge to you that I will no longer neglect your needs. I will be a king who loves and cares for his people."
The people listened in wonder as King Abelard told them of the old woman and the secret of the mirror. Then he announced, "From this day forward, our kingdom will no longer be called Umbrage, for it has been under the shadow of my selfishness and neglect for too long. From today it will be know as the kingdom of Luminosity, of enlightenment, for its king has learned about the power of love." The king continued, "My dear people, let us learn to love one another and all that is good. Then there will be no limit to the joy and beauty that will fill our lives."
The curse had been lifted from the land and there was great joy in the kingdom. Loud cheers went up as all the people agreed as one. For all knew once again the sun would shine and the crops flourish. And from that day forward, as long as King Abelard lived, he kept his promise to his people. The kingdom of Luminosity became the most beautiful kingdom that ever was.
Insight into the story
You can learn much about others by observing what they find beautiful. Seeing beauty is not a result of merely seeing with one's eyes, it is seeing with one's heart. Beauty is a mirror which allows us to see the beauty within ourselves as it is reflected back to us in what we see as beautiful. We are what we love. A person who loves much finds beauty everywhere.
BEAUTY
Love finds Beauty
Stands before it
And sees itself
King Abelard tried to fill the emptiness he felt inside with great wealth. He set about accumulating large amounts of gold and surrounding himself with all the comforts it could buy. But no matter how much he accumulated, he remained empty inside.
The king's subjects were not happy either. In trying to gather vast amounts of material things for his own happiness, King Abelard had put impossible tax burdens on his subjects. Desperate, the people sent three emissaries to plead with the king to lessen the heavy burden he had put upon them.
Reluctantly the king agreed to see them. What ungrateful whiners and complainers these people are, he thought as he looked down upon them from his great throne.
Trembling the three approached the king in their worn and tattered clothing. "King Abelard, please take pity on us. We work very hard but the land is barren. Our crops do not grow, the sun does not shine and a gloom has settled over the entire kingdom. It's as if there's a curse on the land." Feeling the king's scowl, they fearfully continued. "We cannot pay the taxes you demand. We cannot even feed our families. We come to you today to beg your help."
Without pity King Abelard spoke. "It is not my fault the sun does not shine, your crops won't grow and you cannot feed your families. I have done my part by giving you land to work. It's up to you to work harder. If you do not give me what I require, you will be severely punished." With those cold, unfeeling words he dismissed them.
Not long after, a strange woman came hobbling into the kingdom. She was leading an old horse pulling a rickety, wooden cart filled with trinkets she had to sell. As she walked she repeated over and over in a cracked voice, "Treasures, toys and trinkets. Who will buy my wares?"
As the old woman approached the castle, the king's young daughter, Elysia, heard her strange crackly voice. She hurried to the castle gate and peered through the slats to see what all the commotion was about. Filled with wonder at all the wonderful treasures on the old woman's cart, she ran back toward the castle to find her father. King Abelard was also hurrying out to see who was causing such a disturbance. Seeing her father Elysia ran to him jumping up and down with excitement. "Oh Father, may I see, may I see!"
The king wanted to send the ugly, old woman away but he could not deny his precious daughter anything. "Just for a minute, and then she has to go away. I don't want strangers coming into my kingdom uninvited," he grumbled. "Guards! Open the gate and let the old woman in."
The little Princess ran up to the cart and eagerly scanned the vast array of treasures from which to choose. A mysterious looking hand mirror caught her eye and she was strangely drawn to it. She picked it up and examined the delicate, golden flowers beautifully etched all around its edges and back. As she peered into the glass everything reflected in the mirror took on an indescribable radiance and beauty. "Father, I must have it! It's the most beautiful mirror I've ever seen."
"How much to you want for the mirror?" the king growled at the old woman.
Pleased with the little Princess's choice, she smiled and said, "It is a gift. It's name is Beauty." The happy Princess thanked the old woman with a hug and ran back to the castle with her precious treasure. As the king followed her he looked back and found the old woman gone. Very strange, he thought.
Elysia never tired of looking into the mirror. Even ordinary things, when held before it, became special and wonderful. They always seemed so much more beautiful. King Abelard puzzled over this because Elysia's reflection was the only one he could see in the mirror. When she stood before it he saw her delicate frame, her large brown eyes fringed with soft, black lashes and her bright, sunny smile. In her little face he saw her goodness, her passion for life and her love for all things. He thought this curious indeed.
The king summoned others in the castle to look into the mirror. No two people ever saw the same things. The royal gardener saw flowers and plants in endless variety; the royal painter saw colors, sunsets and landscapes--and so it went. The secret of the mirror became an obsession with the king. Not a day went by that he did not think of the mirror. He had to know why others could see more than he could see.
King Abelard sent a proclamation throughout the land promising up to half his kingdom to the one who could tell him the mirror's secret. Though many tried, on one could unlock the secret of the mirror.
One day the king was brooding over the mystery of the mirror and decided to go riding in the forest to think. As he approached a clearing, he saw a young doe eating grass in the meadow. He took out his bow thinking, What luck! It's been a long time since we've had venison at the castle. Dinner will be good tonight. As he was about to release the arrow from his bow, a small fawn bounded out of the thicket and joined his mother in the meadow. When the king saw the little fawn so happy and carefree, he thought of Elysia. Then he remembered how lost and lonely she'd been when her mother had died. He put his bow down. There would be no venison tonight. As he watched the doe with her fawn, to his amazement, he saw the doe change into the old woman with the magic mirror.
She approached him saying, "King Abelard, since you showed mercy to the mother and her fawn, I see there is still some good left in your heart. I will tell you the secret of the mirror."
Hardly believing his eyes and ears, the king listened intently as the old woman spoke.
"The mirror's name is 'Beauty'. As you know, she will not reflect everything that appears before her. She only mirrors that which the person looking into her loves. You love your daughter. Therefore, the mirror returned the love you have for her by reflecting her image before you. The love that came from within you was materialized in her figure. By seeing her in the mirror you saw your love in physical form. You see nothing else in the mirror because you love nothing else. Your daughter loves life and all that is good. She sees many things in the mirror for she loves much."
As the old woman spoke, the scales of bitterness began falling from the king's eyes and once again he began to see things as they really were. He felt ashamed for his selfishness and all the harm he had caused his people.
"If you would be happy, King Abelard," the old woman went on, "you must learn to love. You see only ugliness because you do not love. Your subjects are poor and suffering because you think only of yourself. If you learn to love them, the mirror will show you how beautiful, how valuable, they really are. Then your kingdom will no longer be called Umbrage, the kingdom of Shadow, but will be called Luminosity, the kingdom of Enlightenment." The old woman's words reached the king's joyless heart and he began to weep.
The next day the king sent out an edict ordering all his subjects to come to the castle in two days. There was to be a great banquet and, at that time, he would tell them the secret of the magic mirror and rename the kingdom.
When the day arrived there was much excitement and speculation about the secret of the mirror and the king's great change of heart. Did it have to do with the mirror's secret? Finally, at noon, when the sun was at its brightest, the king stood before the people and announced, "My loyal subjects, I have not been a good king. I have ignored your needs and have caused great sorrow and pain. But from today, until I am laid to rest, I pledge to you that I will no longer neglect your needs. I will be a king who loves and cares for his people."
The people listened in wonder as King Abelard told them of the old woman and the secret of the mirror. Then he announced, "From this day forward, our kingdom will no longer be called Umbrage, for it has been under the shadow of my selfishness and neglect for too long. From today it will be know as the kingdom of Luminosity, of enlightenment, for its king has learned about the power of love." The king continued, "My dear people, let us learn to love one another and all that is good. Then there will be no limit to the joy and beauty that will fill our lives."
The curse had been lifted from the land and there was great joy in the kingdom. Loud cheers went up as all the people agreed as one. For all knew once again the sun would shine and the crops flourish. And from that day forward, as long as King Abelard lived, he kept his promise to his people. The kingdom of Luminosity became the most beautiful kingdom that ever was.
Insight into the story
You can learn much about others by observing what they find beautiful. Seeing beauty is not a result of merely seeing with one's eyes, it is seeing with one's heart. Beauty is a mirror which allows us to see the beauty within ourselves as it is reflected back to us in what we see as beautiful. We are what we love. A person who loves much finds beauty everywhere.
BEAUTY
Love finds Beauty
Stands before it
And sees itself
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Find Your Own Sky
Don't look to others for what you hope to find
You gotta find it for yourself in your own special time
Don't look to what they're doin' or why they're feeling high
You can't get it right on their wings, you gotta find your own sky.
Just look to Jesus, he is all you need
In him you're goin' find it all, everything you need
There you'll find your treasure, the one that's just for you
Then you got it right on your wings--
Hey look! You've found your own sky!
Insight into the song
Each bird species flies in a different part of the sky depending on it's physical makeup and the purpose for which it was made. A hummingbird is not equipped to fly where the eagle flies as the eagle cannot fly where the hummingbird flies. Each has their own place in the sky. People are the same. We are all human but each person is unique and has different gifts and purpose in life. We need to know who we are and where we fit. We need to find our own place in the sky.
You gotta find it for yourself in your own special time
Don't look to what they're doin' or why they're feeling high
You can't get it right on their wings, you gotta find your own sky.
Just look to Jesus, he is all you need
In him you're goin' find it all, everything you need
There you'll find your treasure, the one that's just for you
Then you got it right on your wings--
Hey look! You've found your own sky!
Insight into the song
Each bird species flies in a different part of the sky depending on it's physical makeup and the purpose for which it was made. A hummingbird is not equipped to fly where the eagle flies as the eagle cannot fly where the hummingbird flies. Each has their own place in the sky. People are the same. We are all human but each person is unique and has different gifts and purpose in life. We need to know who we are and where we fit. We need to find our own place in the sky.
Wind Song
A beautiful eagle spreads her wings and reaches for the sky
Power lifts her heavenward, over mountains she flies.
She rides the wind and sings her song
And she is free, she is free.
Little fledgling watching her, flapping baby wings
No power lifts him heavenward, no Windsong does he sing.
Can't ride the wind or sing her song
Cause he's not free, he's not free.
Patience little eagle, you were born to fly
Take heart my little friend, soon those wings will fly.
You'll ride the wind and sing her song
And you'll be free little eagle, you'll be free.
Insight into the song
There are times when we may see others doing amazing things and compare ourselves to where they are. We don't realize that everything has its time. We were all born to be free but reaching that place of freedom takes time and spiritual growth.
Freedom is a state of mind, not one of location or circumstance.
Power lifts her heavenward, over mountains she flies.
She rides the wind and sings her song
And she is free, she is free.
Little fledgling watching her, flapping baby wings
No power lifts him heavenward, no Windsong does he sing.
Can't ride the wind or sing her song
Cause he's not free, he's not free.
Patience little eagle, you were born to fly
Take heart my little friend, soon those wings will fly.
You'll ride the wind and sing her song
And you'll be free little eagle, you'll be free.
Insight into the song
There are times when we may see others doing amazing things and compare ourselves to where they are. We don't realize that everything has its time. We were all born to be free but reaching that place of freedom takes time and spiritual growth.
Freedom is a state of mind, not one of location or circumstance.
Illusions
There was a time I thought I knew
That what I knew was really real
But all I saw was what I saw
And not the thing that was real
Illusions, Illusions all that I could see
Were Illusions comin' in on me
Oh mortal man oh don't you know
That you can't know what's really real
You walk along as blind men do
You'll never know what's real
Chorus
Oh help me Lord out of the dark
Help me to know what's really real
You are the truth, you are the light
I'll follow you, you're real
Insight into the song
I was associated with a religious group for 26 years. Everything I learned there fit together perfectly and I was sure that I had found "the truth." But one day I realized that I only saw what this Organization showed me. And what they showed me wasn't the whole picture. It wasn't "the truth" it was only part of the truth and that "truth" was skewed in a way that fit their whole religious system which was a lie. I had lived in an illusion that I knew "the truth" but I was far from knowing what I thought I knew.
Then I realized, as mortal men we know relatively nothing about spiritual things and can know nothing without God's guidance. And this is how this song came into existence.
To find truth one must search for it in many places, examine all things and hold on to the things that ring true. Truth does not contradict itself.
Man's knowledge is limited and he very rarely gets even a glimpse of the whole picture. All he can hope for is to have all that he believes as truth to fit together without contradiction.
The only one who knows the whole truth about everything is God. Only through his Son, not through the ideas of any man or group of men, can we find truth, can we find what's real.
This is what's wrong with organized religion. It's ingrown. It's people are huddled together behind walls of rules and doctrine. It's members seek to bring people into their group. Those on the outside are considered outcasts and in need of the the "salvation" given to those who live behind those walls.
The only way to know truth, to know what's real, is to get out from behind those walls and seek truth from the source of all things, God. Truth is found everywhere, you just need to look for it with him as your guide.
"The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I (Jesus) have said to you." John 14:26
That what I knew was really real
But all I saw was what I saw
And not the thing that was real
Illusions, Illusions all that I could see
Were Illusions comin' in on me
Oh mortal man oh don't you know
That you can't know what's really real
You walk along as blind men do
You'll never know what's real
Chorus
Oh help me Lord out of the dark
Help me to know what's really real
You are the truth, you are the light
I'll follow you, you're real
Insight into the song
I was associated with a religious group for 26 years. Everything I learned there fit together perfectly and I was sure that I had found "the truth." But one day I realized that I only saw what this Organization showed me. And what they showed me wasn't the whole picture. It wasn't "the truth" it was only part of the truth and that "truth" was skewed in a way that fit their whole religious system which was a lie. I had lived in an illusion that I knew "the truth" but I was far from knowing what I thought I knew.
Then I realized, as mortal men we know relatively nothing about spiritual things and can know nothing without God's guidance. And this is how this song came into existence.
To find truth one must search for it in many places, examine all things and hold on to the things that ring true. Truth does not contradict itself.
Man's knowledge is limited and he very rarely gets even a glimpse of the whole picture. All he can hope for is to have all that he believes as truth to fit together without contradiction.
The only one who knows the whole truth about everything is God. Only through his Son, not through the ideas of any man or group of men, can we find truth, can we find what's real.
This is what's wrong with organized religion. It's ingrown. It's people are huddled together behind walls of rules and doctrine. It's members seek to bring people into their group. Those on the outside are considered outcasts and in need of the the "salvation" given to those who live behind those walls.
The only way to know truth, to know what's real, is to get out from behind those walls and seek truth from the source of all things, God. Truth is found everywhere, you just need to look for it with him as your guide.
"The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I (Jesus) have said to you." John 14:26
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