Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Meaningless Stimuli

Fill your mind with the meaningless stimuli of a world preoccupied with meaningless things, and it will not be easy to feel peace in your heart.

Marianne Williamson


Meaningless stimuli, indeed! I think I've spent years focused on meaningless stimuli! America is full of it. In our ADD world, everyone feels they need to be doing things, talking, moving, running, and hurtling toward some imaginary fire someplace. I'm one that is not easily bored. I can be content just sitting in the woods, watching nature. My mind isn't still, of course, even though my body might be. My mind can take the sound of a squirrel running through leaves and see my protagonist, running from his enemy. I've learned about myself, that my mind is my most powerful tool, and is what can lead me to the real peace I seek. I've had moments of peace, of course. Paul (I think) wrote about the Peace That Passes All Understanding. I've felt that before, in times of devout communication with God. I don't hear Him speak back, but I feel Him. If we have His peace, that's really all we need in this life.

But we're human, still, and aren't the spiritual beings we can be...yet. This is the Great Test, and how do we handle it? We invent gadgets and create worlds and create what we think life should be. But who's to say we're right? I'm famous for living in my little fantasy world, as much as possible, because that's where I feel the safest, happiest, and most complete. We all like escapism, right? I think it's natural, on some level, to need escapism at times. If one stayed in reality ALL of the time, I'm not sure how they'd survive. The trick, though, is to make sure you don't STAY in your places of escape. I've done such in the past. Stayed there too much, and as a result, people don't know how to take you. Or, people don't take you, at all. Alcohol, drugs, pop culture staples like movies and music, books, stories, people; all can be a source of escape, and look at how addicted we all are.

So what's the answer? Well, I don't pretend to have all of the answers. Heck, I don't pretend to have many! But from what I understand, it has to come from inside, this peace and contentment we all seek. When we don't have it, we turn to these other things, these addictions. And how do we keep peace inside? If I had the answer to that, I wouldn't be here, at work! I'd be travelling endlessly. ha

I think the real peace will come in the next life. But for now, we can get a glimpse of that here, while seeking out a higher being, and by seeing the best in all that surrounds us. I'm a hopelessly positive person-I refuse to see the bad, most of the time. I encourage any readers to try to see the same.

(These Zen quotes have me very philosophical, yes?)

Have a great eve.

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