Cinderella ... a beautiful, sweet girl ... mistreated until someone notices her true worth, then raised to the status of princess to live "happily ever after". Snow White ... a beautiful, sweet girl ... mistreated until someone notices her true worth, then raised to the status of princess to live "happily ever after". Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Belle from Beauty and the Beast ... the list goes on and on, and the theme is the same. All these stories teach us as women an interesting lesson. If you persevere long enough through your trials, you will one day be noticed and applauded for who you are, and that recognition will be the thing that brings you to the point of living "happily ever after". What an unproductive and damaging moral to teach our little girls. How damaging that was for those of us who are now women trying to live under the shadow of such fantasy!
What if life is not designed as a direct trip to a "happily ever after" created by Prince Charming? The journey of life doesn't have a destination that is contained within this life. Maybe we will never truly feel appreciated for all that we are. Some will always be looking for that perfect someone who will rescue them from the turmoil of their lives. Why is the divorce rate so high? Why are so many people on anti-depressants? Why are we so selfish in our actions, living in a constant state of dissatisfaction? Because the illusive goal of being rescued and living forever happy looms over us from childhood.
Ladies, what if we embrace the difficulty? What if we learn to embrace that we can act in kindness and love and not have anyone constantly appreciate us in a way the elevates us to a permanently honored status? And what if we can do all this and journey through this life not thinking about what our reward will be, and when we will get it? I think that is where peace and happiness reside. It is the true and only definition of "happily ever after". When we find contentment in the imperfect journey, and move forward through it with light steps and peace in our hearts, then we have arrived without Prince Charming coming along to make it all perfect.
I choose to let my Prince Charming off the hook. He doesn't have to create "happily ever after" for me. I am the only one who can create that within myself. As a result, I choose to present to my prince a better, more stable, less self-centered, trustworthy, peaceful wife to accompany him on this life journey.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Freedom
I am a reader ... I read nearly everything I can get my hands on. I often have several books going at one time, many times multiple fiction books. Alongside those, there is the Bible (which I should have listed first because it is the only one that arouses a huge degree of "hunger" to know more). Often I have one or two non-fiction publications going as well. Crazy sometimes, but I love to learn and I love to read.
Most recently, I've been putting away the wisdom of Dr. Wayne Dyer. If you know him, you know that he certainly has a different spiritual center from mine, but I find his wisdom applicable regardless of my center on Christ. His thoughts are often very valid.
From "Your Sacred Self" I quote ...
Can you imagine living one complete day without thinking about yourself? Nothing offending you, nothing disturbing you, nothing causing you to be angry? Is it possible to see the world the way it is? Is it possible to be unconcerned with yourself in this picture?
Would you then be able to reach out and help others, to live, work and provide, unconcerned about the returns? Just try to imagine not thinking about yourself even once all day. Not once questioning why you are not appreciated enough, not wealthy enough, not being treated fairly enough.
You notice only that others do what they do, without comparing yourself with them. You give of yourself and ask and expect nothing in return. You simply live. You are free!
...
... when you are unconcerned about self-importance, you have freedom. You are on purpose, feel blissful, and expect the world to be a divine place where you love others. ... you are not obsessed with getting the credit of looking good in the eyes of anyone.
(end quote)
Imagine living like this. Jesus did. He lived to bring glory to his father ... to our Father God. He didn't look for credit, didn't say "why me?", didn't complain about not being appreciated, didn't get frustrated or angry or disappointed because of himself. He didn't expect anything of those around him, but took them as they were. His frustration, anger, disappointment, etc. were always pointing toward how people were not bringing glory to God. It wasn't about him. So, if we are to become more Christ-like and constantly pursue bringing glory of God, doesn't it make sense that we must seek the freedom from ourselves that Dr. Dyer talks about?
Most recently, I've been putting away the wisdom of Dr. Wayne Dyer. If you know him, you know that he certainly has a different spiritual center from mine, but I find his wisdom applicable regardless of my center on Christ. His thoughts are often very valid.
From "Your Sacred Self" I quote ...
Can you imagine living one complete day without thinking about yourself? Nothing offending you, nothing disturbing you, nothing causing you to be angry? Is it possible to see the world the way it is? Is it possible to be unconcerned with yourself in this picture?
Would you then be able to reach out and help others, to live, work and provide, unconcerned about the returns? Just try to imagine not thinking about yourself even once all day. Not once questioning why you are not appreciated enough, not wealthy enough, not being treated fairly enough.
You notice only that others do what they do, without comparing yourself with them. You give of yourself and ask and expect nothing in return. You simply live. You are free!
...
... when you are unconcerned about self-importance, you have freedom. You are on purpose, feel blissful, and expect the world to be a divine place where you love others. ... you are not obsessed with getting the credit of looking good in the eyes of anyone.
(end quote)
Imagine living like this. Jesus did. He lived to bring glory to his father ... to our Father God. He didn't look for credit, didn't say "why me?", didn't complain about not being appreciated, didn't get frustrated or angry or disappointed because of himself. He didn't expect anything of those around him, but took them as they were. His frustration, anger, disappointment, etc. were always pointing toward how people were not bringing glory to God. It wasn't about him. So, if we are to become more Christ-like and constantly pursue bringing glory of God, doesn't it make sense that we must seek the freedom from ourselves that Dr. Dyer talks about?
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