Back to the Basics: What do we believe, and why?

Imagine---the song by John Lennon, "Imagine there's no heaven.....no hell below us....above us only sky.." For many people, this is very easy, because it is how they live their life.  When we are thinking about Faith, and a Higher Power, and the concept of God...to truly have our OWN understanding that we can claim as our own...we must start from scratch.  Those of us who have beliefs, must empty our vessel: it is said "how can we fill a vessel with new life and new living water, when the vessel is already full?"...So use John Lennon's lyrics, and Imagine a clean slate, that in your own mind there is no heaven, and there is no hell...no afterlife, no one greater than yourself..."  Please continue reading...
With this feeling that you are an island, you may begin to realize that everything is futile.  Everything becomes a means to an END, because your life will END, and there is nothing after...but you begin to notice nature around you. You begin to experience love and compassion from others; a smile from a child.  As christmas comes around, you feel good inside when you give a gift to your friend.  You start to feel uplifted and like life is a little better when you help someone in need.  These observations slowly start to make your conscious thoughts aware that there is something deeper than the superficial.  Below the flesh and bone, deep inside--behind the curtain of our constant thoughts---and at the same time, it can be "seen" everywhere.  What is this "fuzzy" feeling?...how is it that this unkown phenomenon can be experienced in nature, with other people, when we read, when we think, when we give to others?
Combine these questions and experiences with the dark side of the moon: we question the pain we feel, the heartaches, the struggle, financial difficulties, lonliness, depression...trying to find an answer that is beyond ourself: We seek endless answers in the world around us.  A child with autism calls this search "Sensory Stimulation"....but for us Sensory Stimulation (in this child like search for faith in our imagination as you read this)...has meant looking at people, places and things as a way to find meaning in something beyond ourselves.  But it resulted in feelings of emptiness and despair.  Then, one day, we hear someone mention God, a higher power, Jesus, the Great Comfortor...and we realize...now well into our adulthood, after many mistakes, that the concept of the Being that is Greater than ourselves, bringing comfort... is the force behind all those feelings of goodness....the magical and mysterious force behind nature...and the wonderous instigator behind the child's smile which miraculously warms our heart and makes us feel better for no apparent reason.
This spark of understanding is also the beginning of enlightenment...global consciousness, a spirit world, and undertow of TRUTH that is beneath the flesh and bone, beneath our conscious thought, and permeates our inner most being....and our outermost world.
And, at last, we start to BELIEVE.
If you already have a faith of your own...I hope this helps you understand what it might be like for a non-believer to go through life, and be the VISITOR in your worship gatherings...looking for answers.
If this describes who YOU are and have been....the seeker, endless searching for answers in the wrong places, getting burned, time and time again.  I hope you find peace in knowing that if you keep seeking, you will find answers...and indeed, you will be comforted by THE GREAT COMFORTER!!!

Peace and Love
Anonymous comments accepted, along with reactionary checks, and emails, if you click on the profile link to the lower right, and email the author.

Update on: Following Blogs on Blogspot.com or Blogger.com

After an extensive search: There are several ways that you can follow this blog.

1. Look to the right column and find "Subscribe to....POSTS"...it will provide a drop down list with the options of following using these services: Google toolbar/Google account (includes Gmail), Bloglines, Netvibes, NewsGator, and MyYahoo.  You must already be subscribed to one of the these services...by clicking on it, you will be asked to log-in to your account, and the Post Feed will be added to your account.
2. Using "ATOM" at the bottom of the list, an RSS feed is possible, although I currently can't give you instructions for that feature.
3. Send me an email to InspirationAustin@gmail.com and I will add you to my email blast announcing post publications (sometimes daily, sometimes weekly...and I don't update the list often, so if you add yourself, it might be difficult to get removed)
4. Create a shortcut to this page, place it on your Desktop...click once a day to see the most recent post (this is the most painless, and least technologically advanced way)

If you have more information about this...please leave it in a comment, or send an email to me.
Thank you for visiting this site...if you find it helpful... send the link others!!!

What we do... and how it is percieved by others.

As believers, we are constantly bombarded with the concept of Faith verses Works.  In today's world, as well as yesterday's, BOTH faith and works are important.  Have faith, and DO works.  When we do good works, and live a faithful life, people around us SEE what we are doing.  This is a blessing and can be a warning... people see what we do, but they make their own interpretations about WHY we do it.
It can be easy to overthink how your motives will be percieved.  As a rule of thumb, remember, never expect anything in return...and what you have done will be seen as "good works."

Comments and Reactions are welcome.. and the new system allows comments from ALL readers, not only those with an account.

Peace and Love.

Love one another...

Youth Friendly

Did you know the easiest way to show God to your friend, is to be nice, kind, and loving to them?  Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  This simple idea helps us to not be selfish...helps us to not hurt other people...and helps us to do the right thing.  God loves you! God wants you to love yourself and others!.. and remember the order: God, others, then self.

Pray today that God will help you see opportunities that you can show love to another person.

Avatar : James Cameron's Pandora as spiritual inspiration for Humans

Lets all start this year by looking for ways to recognize that our neighbor (the person next to you in line, or in the car cutting you off), is another piece of this global consciousness, and we are part of ONE existence: bringing truth to the statement "treat others as you would like to be treated".  In many ways...when we are interacting with someone else; it is really just an outward manifestation of a part of ourselves..."the global consciousness...of humans, nature, and God"