Journey of a Thousand Miles

It's been awhile. I've been busy writing new music for the album, getting into a regular exercise regime, staying focused at work, and working through spiritual issues. I recently borrowed a book from a friend called "Rejection," and it talks about the spiritual side of rejection and why we feel it. Interesting stuff. It says that an evil spirit can enter a baby in the womb and manifest itself throughout that person's life. The spirit of rejection can move through several generations, and it's passed down to you through your family line. I know. Intense stuff! So I've been praying for God to remove this spirit from my life so I can get on with living, and it's a lot harder than you would think. Rejection can attach to you deep into your soul, and it takes some digging to get it out. But I don't want to live with it anymore, so I am grabbing my spiritual shovel and getting that sucker out. I want to live a good life without this fear hangi...

The reason a relationship feels difficult is that the person has become the living embodiment of the voices in your head. She taps into insecurities already roosting within. Her lack of approval or validation triggers a chorus line of inner complaint- it disturbs the little girl in you who uses any excuse to remind you what she deeply believes: If you were just smarter, thinner, prettier, holier or at least a better mother... you'd feel like Somebody. You'd meet with more applause. Your parking ticket would be stamped, and then you could make your way onto the freeway of life with all the other grown-ups. That may sound a bit strong. But honestly, when you peel back the layers of a person you find difficult to love- of a relationship that feels intolerable- this is the white noise in the background of your soul. It's true for all of us. We can be paralyzed by the power we give someone to name us. For a long time, the human tendency is to try harder- to perform o...

In the midst of everything going on lately, I was reminded of the Serenity Prayer. I need to instill this into my daily life: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. There are a few verses that stick out to me here. One is "accepting hardships as the pathway to peace." I hardly ever consider my hardships as a pathway to peace, but looking back on my life, that is exactly what they have been. Even the parts of my life that I regret have brought me closer to God, and I'm sure the trials I endure today are doing the same thing. Somethi...

Lately I've been stumbling upon the subject of acceptance, and mostly with my past. I feel that if I can make peace with my past and accept it, then I can let go and enjoy the present more. If I can accept that my life didn't go as planned and trust that God's plan was better, then I can enjoy where He has me here and now. If I can accept the low tides as well as the high tides, then I can make peace with the mountains and valleys in my life as well. "You must accept whatever situation the Lord has put you in, and continue on as you were when God first called you. " 1 Corinthians 7:17 How can I find meaning in the low points in my life, in my regrets? I've been fighting battles in my life, and I've overcome most of them. Satan will continue to use my regrets as ammo to turn my victories into defeat. But God will fight these battles for me. Regret serves no purpose in our lives. "When Satan tempts me to despair, upward I look and find Him there." ...