1. Spiritual connection, that small voice, actions, humility, pride and balance

For me, there is evidence confirming that a greater part of who I am consists in a spiritual presence.  Understanding that, moves me to nourish this part of my being.  Part of that recognition comes from a conscience that guides me.  Some refer to it as that small inner voice, the Holy Spirit or just the individual conscience.   This is the place that defines right or wrong, the next action to take, what you should be viewing or listening to, what you should say or how you should act.  I believe we are provided this spiritual connection; it is not something that we just generate ourselves.  The small inner voice is God speaking to us.  He has provided a point of connection. 

For sure I don’t always want to do what my conscience is directing me to do.   If I act against that, my spiritual sense opposes me.  The bad feelings that come afterward is my conscience battling my will.  Pride will encourage the will to defeat the conscious and leave me prideful but ultimately discontent.  This really throws off my balance.  Letting go of pride, ushering in humility, listening and acting on the voice of good conscience, leads me to doing the next right thing.  When I put this in action, I am left feeling balanced and right with the world around me.  Both naturally and supernaturally. 

For a majority of my life, I chose to ignore or certainly not nurture the spiritual part of my existence.  I had a feeling, as a kid, that I was part of a story that was being observed from another dimension.  I can’t say where that came from but it was just something that was presented in my mind.  Through the years that perception would come and go with me.  It was as if there were a supernatural world observing my actions.   I never gave thought to praying or actually acting on my spiritual presence.  I took care of my body, worked out, exercised and watched my diet ……… sort of.  I read books, went to college and kept my mind somewhat present and clear.  I spent most of my development years and early manhood living outside of any spiritual sense.  I lived for me and I lived it with whatever I could consume, inhale or experience as long as it gave me my desired feelings I wanted at the time.  I was in an endless search for satisfaction, that just wouldn’t settle in with me.  I’d also spent much leisure time reading.   It came to me that I had read so many books, fiction and non-fiction, why don’t I read the Bible.  My reasoning was if we are created by God and He left us a book for knowledge, wouldn’t that book have great significance?  Even enough significance to be THE most important book to read.  So my spiritual journey started here.  I was drawn in by the words, stories, wisdom and the prevailing theme of working for others. This was different from other spiritual quests in that it requires more than just being the best version of myself that I could possibly be without imposing on others.  Working for others means that I’m supposed to die to self and live to lift up those around us.  This, to me, defines humility, selflessness, goodness and alignment with all that’s around me.  It also takes conviction and hard work BUT when I act in good accord here, the reward is so much greater.  I feel like a fine-tuned orchestra, balanced, connected and doing my part.  I still need to be the best me that I can but in turn I’m also moved to give the good parts away or at least share them.   So, I’m down with that, why not help a brother or sister out.  I get a spiritual lift when I do, so I’m encouraged to pass it on.  That feeling I had as a kid has come to make sense.  Establishing a point of prayer and reflection in my life has connected me to that spiritual, supernatural realm.  Ultimately, providing a sense of balance. 

Everyone has their journey or walk of discovery.  I came to my spiritual sense in later years and I am grateful that I did.  So, now I have the desire to maintain the balance of my mind with my body and firm my spiritual sense along with that.  When I take care of my spiritual being I definitely get a lift that moves beyond a physical connection and into a supernatural connection.  It’s like being lifted out of a weighty jacket of burden.  Problems don’t drop off but the ability to manage them replaces the jacket with a t-shirt and jeans of encouragement for a more reasonable stride.  I think like an engineer, whatever is gonna make the task easier, get the right tool and use it.  I’m all about takin’ the easy way out.