Truth; Awareness of God's Presence

How do we define truth? How can we see the reality we are living in, even when our thoughts remind us that we want something else besides what we are living now?

"Keep your eyes on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; Do a thorough job as God's servant." (2 Tim 4:5)

Sometimes it is easy to overlook the intent and direction in the simplicity and limiting form which words express; however with them, our intent through our words can be pointing to truth in its formless nature. When we attempt understanding through the limits of the mind (or ego) vs. the openness of the heart/spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2:11) where understanding of truth lies, is our daily challenge to look through or beyond in order to truly see; to move from the space/place of learned knowledge to knowing-awareness and wisdom.

For accepting the hard times with the good (2 Tim 4:5) is merely a pointer placed by intention of the writer to bring your awareness not to words of themselves, but to where they are leading; not to that of the conceptual or worldly mind (ego) that self-proclaims superiority by means of "oh, how I accept that I am a victim (I have suffered) of my life events, so this makes me a true Christian, etc", but to bring ones self to the present moment, be it an experience that we label "good or bad". A side note of awareness is that in life we may or may not suffer, however, when it is clung to, embellished and/or fed with additional labels and drama attached, it becomes of the mind and a way for the mind to create an illusionary identity. Whereas, if we do or do not suffer, and in the experience, yes we acknowledge the life event, however in and of itself we can allow what we feel instead of denying it; it is in this moment we move from ego to spirit and by acts of acceptance/acknowledgement, we move to grace or in other words, we surrender the self and circumstance to God. Let go and let God. (See John 12:44)

In other words, if I am experiencing in this moment a loss which I believe to change my life in manner that I feel is bad (i.e. loss of a job) and even in the moment I am experiencing this, do not entertain the minds intention to wonder into a story about my experience (i.e. "oh, this is the worst; my life is ruined, etc" -this is just an addition to the reality; just a mind made story/labeling of reality; reality being this function/job has discontinued) -and instead, simply observe what emotions may arise in my being, hear the words that are spoken and that which I speak... then in that moment I have chosen to "keep my eyes on what I'm doing" -in other words, I have chosen to bring Grace into my experience, even when it is unpleasant, thus allowing, by Grace, for God to live in me/us because I/we have given invitation by our own presence. He is, after all, already here, now, just waiting for my/your/our acknowledgement. (See Acts 11:23)

By the same measure, give the same moment of presence, to even the events we find joyful... this brings us to our depth of understanding to live by Grace and remain in his everlasting presence.

As scripture states, the path is narrow. It is narrow to follow the living example to live in Grace, or remain present in your every waking moment, not willing to go to the realms of past or future, or the other mental concepts of labeling to feel superior or inferior... all of which is the intention of the ego mind, to create an identity from it's labeling and outer events. This is not personal, but has a momentum that has gone on for centuries. The path is wide and easy, to follow that of the conceptual mind and its many stories, in attempt to keep us from reality, now, where God, Grace, Love and peace are ever present.

To be thorough as Gods servant, the mind tends to assume intention as was the intent in slavery, man over man, or roles intended to be of little to no value. However, with our eyes open and on what we are doing, we discover from within it prescribes to that part of us that has willingness to serve with grace. To serve from a state of grace or from the heart, there is no underlying intentions for recognition, a return of favor and allows the presence of peace and joy in that moment. To be thorough in God's service, one must be present, alert and aware verses lost in the ramblings, complaints, judgments, doubts, criticisms or comparisons of the ego mind. In other words one lives, speaks, thinks and expresses from the heart, where Grace and the Holy Spirit reside, allowing for this to be the dictator of clear, concise thinking verses repetitive, past being made present thinking that triggers merely emotion based reactions, lacking peace, love or faithful presence. In this manner one is truly able to live by mercy, not sacrifice (see Matt 9:13, Hosea 6:6).

To walk in Grace, be present is to keep the message alive; for then you become an expression of this message, thus it expresses life, through you.

"It is spirit that gives life; the body is of no account; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63)

"There is nothing outside of a man, if it should enter him, which can defile him; but what goes out of him, that defiles the man. Who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 7:15-16)

As we place effort to be the clarity that we seek, to be the peace we want others to bring, to act out of the love we intend others to deliver upon ourselves, to express the mercy we employ when we find own acts/words in error and instill hope from the heart of compassion verses the judgment and cynicism from the mind lost in past that is no longer in existence -we live in the unity of Spirit through the bond of peace; one body, one faith, one Spirit, as God is over all, through all and in all.

Truth comes not from physical form of the written words, but where they point to... "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24)... "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63)

Life is the spiritual path; blessings on your life journey.