Face What Is Within

9 May

“The things that trouble our spirits are within us already.  In meditation, we must face them, accept them, and set them aside one by one.”  ~ Christopher L. Bennett

Many of us become agitated about a great many things.  However, if we examined the reasons for our agitation, we would come to the conclusion, more often than not, that they sprang from within and not from outside ourselves.  Oh, we don’t want to admit that.  But it is true.

Our anger, our resentment, our anxiety, and a whole host of other things that disturb us, well up from within.  We try to place the blame on other people or external experiences but that is not the case.  They come from within and, if we do not confront them appropriately, they would seek to be our undoing.

Meditation is something that is unfamiliar to many.  It is something that connotes superstitious words or actions.  It is often portrayed as trickery.  Meditation is real and effective.  In meditation, people us different techniques that help them to focus on a thought, a feeling, an experience, or a plan.  Meditation helps a person to delve deeper into oneself in a more hyper-focused manner.  In doing so, the person who meditates often unearths solutions to obstacles: obstacles in a personal life or in situations.

One of our biggest obstacles is our humanity.  That might sound a bit cavalier.  It might sound like I’m just trying to lay the blame on our human nature.  But that is not the case.  I am acknowledging that our tainted human nature often leads us down the wrong path, it leads us down a dark and frightening path.  It sways us from God.

In order for us to rise above our human nature, we have to be able to identify it, acknowledge it, and accept it for what it is and for how it makes us who we are.  When we can admit avarice, greed, sloth, sensuality, and a whole host of things that lure us off the path, we can face the truth about ourselves and be ready for change.

Admission of our ills is the beginning of change.  We cannot simply say, “God, make me holy!” and expect thunderbolts to streak the sky, a sunbeam to appear over us, and for everything to change.  Instead, we need to say, “God, help me to rise above my selfishness” or “God, help me rise above my pride.”  It is only in knowing our baser nature and how it creates conflict in our soul that we can ask God for the help that we truly need.

Try some meditation today.  If you are unfamiliar with it, you can always look up different techniques online.  Don’t be afraid to look deep within.  Some do not want to do so because they are afraid of the darkness that they might see.  While there might, indeed, be darkness deep within, remember that God dwells deep within as well.  He will give you the strength that you need.

FAITH ACTION:  Ask God for the courage and discernment to face your inner turmoil so that you can come to the peace He wants you to experience.