Trust

Trust is something I've been grappling with lately. Trust and Patience.

I become impatient when I lack the trust in the Divine plan of how my life is unfolding. I end up wanting to speed up the process. But you can't force a rose to bloom. As my good friend Andy Brown said, you can't force a snake to shed its skin, and if you try it'll bite. If you try to force a rose to bloom you will no doubt spoil the natural beauty that unfolds when the process occurs naturally.

When trust is absent my plans become the driving force of my existence, whereas when I trust, my plans are still there, but they're more in line with the Divine plan and therefore it feels like I don't have to do anything - for everything is being done through me. Only then, when I trust, do I see and understand that whatever is happening is happening the way it's supposed to be happening - everything that is is because it can't be any other way.

And when I do trust, everything feels so perfect that I often question myself as to how I could ever mistrust the process?

All the struggles I have been through have always lead to spiritual growth (learning something about who I really am). In life, you really can't fail. It isn't an option. At least, that's how I see it. Things might not work out the way you had planned, but that's my point - the way you planned. This is not a indication of failure. It means that the ever unfolding happening didn't match up to your plans, but it was always in the Divine plan, if it wasn't, then it wouldn't be.

All you have to do is trust and allow this plan to work through you, as it always has your best interests at heart. I'm aware this sounds very generic but maybe that's material for another post.

If you find yourself being impatient with the path that you're on, if you think that life isn't changing fast enough for you, if you find yourself hating your present situation so much that you scream into a pillow (I've been there - it didn't help) - then sit back, know that it's part of the 'bigger' plan, and trust that everything is happening the way it's supposed to be happening.

Every leaf falls in exactly the right place, at exactly the right pace.

When you become impatient, you're likely (and this is from my own personal experience) to make the ride a tad bumpy, when it can be smooth, if only you wish to trust.

You are the rose that's blooming - right now you're beautiful and perfect and exactly in the place you're supposed to be in. Don't spoil the process by forcing yourself to bloom prematurely.

Smiley Happy People : )

(All of the above are instructions for myself.) 

Re-Railed

I can't believe it has been five months since my last post. I was contemplating getting rid of the blog altogether, but something told me not to.

A lot has happened since my last post in September '11. I'm going to use the cliche of a starting a new chapter, because that's exactly what it feels like.

I'm more myself now, and from friends and family, it's quite obvious, both from my attitude and appearance. 'Gav is back!' seems to be a popular phrase uttered in the few months that have passed.

Sometimes we have to travel far from the track of our true Self to be given the contrast of what it feels like when we get back in line with who we are. A lot of the time it's the moment of contrast, the moment of return, that's the hardest part for us. We're being re-railed - and this can feel treacherous and unnatural as if we're swimming against the tide, but it's important that we welcome whatever comes our way and see it as part of our journey. Only when we welcome what is, and ultimately accept what is, can we deal with the change most effectively and efficiently.

The following quote is taken from the fantastic book by Henry Thomas Hamblin called My Search for Truth. It was written in 1951.

'We are all tested and tried, but never beyond our strength. We may be bent and strained, but God never breaks us; relief always comes just at the right time.'

I can vouch for that. Everything seems to work itself out and it's when we get caught up in our dramas (fuelled by ferocious emotions and feelings) that we lose ourselves and our faith in Life. We think we're being treated unfairly, when really it's exactly what had to happen, if only we could see it.

Another quote from the book mentioned is: 'All difficulties, if met in the right way, are turned into stepping-stones to higher things. And we go from strength to strength and from victory to victory.' (I've used this quote as my current facebook status.)

It's that 'if met in the right way' that stands out for me. We either accept a happening and see it as part of the process that is Life OR we resist the happening (that which already is) and see ourselves as a victim of a process that, at its very core, is impersonal.

Happy travelling!

Peace and Love, people!

Ram Dass Vid

I've just come across this video featuring Ram Dass and I had to share it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ1rGSZ07_s

Be Still

On Monday whilst doing voluntary work at my local Hospice I went and sat in the quiet room and began to meditate (the quiet room is where people can go and light a candle for their loved ones, or can write a prayer on a small piece of paper in the shape of a leaf and hang it on the prayer tree, or people can simply sit in silence).

It is the latter that I chose to do. During the silence I had an urge to pick up a copy of the New Testament and Psalms and look at the contents. Straight away I saw something to do with death, looked to see what page it was on and began to flick through the pages. When I got to the appropriate page there was a small piece of paper placed there (a bit smaller than a postcard) and on it it said, 'Be still and know that I am God'.

Interesting.

All is well.

Cainer's Thought for the Day

I check my star signs regularly on Jonathan Cainer's site - www.cainer.com. He is by far one of the most accurate astrologers out there.

Every day he has a 'thought for the day'. Below is what he has written for tomorrow's. I thought it was interesting.

An ancient cosmic law states wherever there is a ridiculous imbalance, an opposite inequity must exist. Here's an example. In 2002, ex-Royal Marine Steven Gough became a 'radical nudist' and hiked as nature made him, across Britain. Most local authorities turned a blind eye. But in Perth, Scotland, they gaoled him in 2008. He's been serving time ever since. Whenever they free him, he walks out naked and is locked back up. Last week, he got two more years. Just 60 miles away lies the prison where the authorities were seemingly happy to let the Lockerbie bomber go.

Emotional Change

A lot has happened since I last wrote a post. Change is strange, but sometimes it is needed (and can't be avoided) if one is to move forward and progress.

When the feeling - the inner urge - the pull in your stomach - is too strong that it can't be ignored any longer, one has to surrender and take the appropriate action that corresponds with that surge of energy.

I have no doubt that some people might find this act of surrender quite painless and straight forward, but for me, the times when I've had to make a big decision - a decision that will ultimately change the course of my life - it has been hellish.

But I've always come out wiser and stronger for making the move.

I mention above about a big decision, but is there such a thing? Am I merely saying that a decision backed by a large amount of emotion is bigger than one where there is lack of emotion?

It certainly feels that way, but it may not be true.

After all, doesn't every decision that one makes take one down a path that one wouldn't have gone down without the result of making such a decision? Be it eating a certain sandwich - going to the toilet before meeting a friend - saying certain things to a certain someone - smiling - saying goodbye - running - walking - saying thank you - not saying thank you - - - - your life is just made up of very small decisions you make in the moment. 

That's the way I see it, any road. I might change my mind tomorrow when something happens that I perceive to be out of my control.    

Fiction vs Fact

Since an article appeared in Monday's Huddersfield Examiner covering the story of my book and how it came about, I've had a number of people on my walk stop me and say how touched they were by it.

Today, a lady called Rita Payne, who just so happens to have written her biography and is available on amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tapestry-Tears-R-D-PAYNE/dp/1456784064/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312465630&sr=8-1 said how I must've had a rough time growing up and how she felt sorry for me.

I was a bit taken aback by this and wondered what she meant. Then I realised that she thought that I was Jamie, the protagonist in my book. I had to explain to her that he was fictional.

When my mum first read my book, although she enjoyed it, she couldn't help but be a tad concerned as to what people would think (and say) about my dad.

Again, I had to explain that I wasn't Jamie, and therefore Jamie's dad wasn't my dad.

The only characters in the story who I've tried to base on real people are Dan and his parents - and even then, I've added fictional elements to their personalities.

Yes, the story is based on a real event in my life - my good friend, Daniel Cox, being diagnosed with a brain tumour, and yes he said they were angels at his bedside when he woke up one morning, but what runs throughout the book isn't about my life - it's about my philosophy on life and death. 

I want people to read it and be comforted by its message, to be given hope, and for them to perceive death and dying in a healthier light once they've read it.

So far it seems to be having a positive influence on people.

I would like to thank all the people who've supported me and the book so far. It really makes my day when someone says that my book has helped them.

Thanks again, folks.