August 6, 2001
Practicing What
We Preach
Inside yourself or outside, you
never have to change what you see, only the way you see it.
Thaddeus
Golas
Practicing what you preach is easier said than done unless,
of course, you live it rather than just speaking it. These past few weeks I have been tested with work and
personal challenges. Years ago
these events would have sent me into an emotional tailspin even though my head
would have told me to remain calm.
When I began Awaken The Soul I was not certain where it
would lead. I had enjoyed books,
tapes, videos and lectures/sermons involving my spiritual quest for years and
thought I would share the knowledge I had gained.
By writing each week I was forced to review my library as well as expand
it as the basis for each topic. What
I was not aware of was how my writing was affecting my own soul and in what form
it would manifest in my life.
I have lamented over some of the activities I now find
myself engaged in and have asked some who are much more learned than I for
advice. Many have referred to this
project as my ministry. The senior
minister of my church, Dr. M. Scott Landis, recently wrote, “Ordained
or not, you are a minister and thereby a servant of God. There is no
escaping that.” What a burden to
carry I first thought. As I
reflected on his declaration, I had to admit that my vision had been changing
and the notion of a burden was quickly replaced with the acceptance of a
blessing.
Although the problems of life both personal and
professional persist, I do find that they look different now. In the past situations that I would have obsessed over for
days, weeks and sometimes months, still frustrate me. But now I can look at certain things with more detachment
knowing that the outcome does not define me.
I find myself asking what the awakened Richard would do in certain
situations. When I look at the
world through this set of eyes, things appear different. Notice I did not say better or brighter, just different.
Just this past Thursday, I had a few business challenges
and at first felt defensive and angry. Later
I found myself opening the electronic file where I keep many of the notes from
Awaken subscribers. It helped me to
remember who I am and why I am here. I still am frustrated by the challenges that came my way, but
saw that I could only control how I responded to the people involved and that is
what truly mattered.
I still see familiar sites each day and to the untrained
eye things look pretty much the same as they have all my life.
But upon closer examination, with an awakened soul and a will to practice
what I am discovering on my spiritual journey, I have a new way of seeing the
same wonderful world.
With respect, acceptance, and
love,
Richard
© Richard D. Olson and Awaken The Soul, 2001