Quick! Throw Me A Line!

I was reminiscing with a friend recently about his 'dark night of the soul' that he'd just experienced. During his pain, he turned his back on God. Raised in a traditional Catholic family he found himself very angry at God and at the church during an especially ugly divorce and custody battle. As he's coming back into himself, we've been talking and processing together through a lot of what happened and what he's been through. It took him three years to even begin to let go of the extreme rage he felt when she first left him. I had tried desperately to guide him through his hell with the help of my spiritual beliefs, but he was just too mad at God to hear any of it. His issues had nothing to do with me, but they just about ended our friendship because of his overwhelming anger at the entire world and everyone in it.

Why would God let this happen to him? Hadn't he been a good person? Hadn't he given an incredible amount of his time and money to the church? If doing good deeds creates a positive karmic result, then what the heck just happened to turn his world upside down? I've seen it happen to a lot of people. Bad things happen so there must not be a god ? or ? God must not like them anymore. Either way, people feel abandoned by their concepts of religion and by their god. Like so many others, my friend went through hell without believing there was a God to look after him. It took him a long time to even begin the healing process as a result.

It was hard to talk to him about spirituality during that time. It didn't help that we had such a polarity in our different belief systems. I'm really quite metaphysical and New Age while he was extremely traditional and orthodox in his Catholicism. We didn't even speak the same language when trying to discuss our religious leanings. One of the major signs that he's finally beginning to come around and heal is his openness to even discuss the topic of spirituality without going off into a tirade over the injustices that God had forced him to endure.

As we sat there talking about it all the other night, I finally found the words the perfect analogy that I'd been searching for over those three years. I use the term "spirit" as a generic term for God, Buddha, Mohammed, The Force, Guardian Angels, The Light, or whatever else you like to call it. Please replace the word "spirit" with whatever label you use to describe your idea of what that higher something is?. This isn't the place to debate such things. The analogy fits regardless of your religious beliefs.

"Spirit is like a life preserver. When you find yourself drowning in hot water, it's not the life preserver's fault that you somehow landed yourself there. Life preserver's aren't put on the boat to keep you from falling over. However, when you find yourself there, struggling, drowning, suffering from life's problems, you will respond one of three ways. You might panic and struggle causing you to sink deeper. The harder you fight it, the heavier you seem to get and you begin sinking like a rock. That's what my friend did. You might try to swim on your own, but the world and it's ocean is a big place and humans aren't designed to swim alone forever. You will eventually drown from the sheer exhaustion of trying to go it alone. Your third option is to reach for that life preserver, relax and trust that it will bring you above water so that you can once again breathe freely. The life preserver won't pull you back up into the boat, but it will keep you from drowning as long as you trust that you will again be above water and you will see the sunlight on your face again."

To me that's what spirituality is really all about. We're supposed to handle our problems and circumstances on our own. That's the way the game was designed to be played. We are meant to reach out to our fellow man in times of need and to offer a hand to others in need. Some celestial being from above isn't suppose to bail us out of every problem every time. We're supposed to learn how to love one another through life's challenges. If we have a strong connection to Spirit while holding on to that life preserver, and we relax in the knowing that everything will turn out for the best, then eventually our head does pop up above water and we do breathe in the fresh air of life once again. Then we can turn to our companions and request their help in getting back up into the boat. Once again, sailing off into another sunset.

My friend liked my analogy. Why couldn't I find those words three years ago? Would he have listened if I had? Hard to say. There were times I jumped into the water with him and tried to pull him out, but like any lifeguard knows, you can't save someone who's fighting and panicking through the process. I threw that life preserver out to him more times than I can count, but he always swam away from it. There were times I thought to leave him there to drown, but it seemed a bit too cold and cruel to just leave him there. Finally, my own Guardian Angels told me, "Let him alone. He must find his own way." And so it appears that's what he's doing. He seems to have found a life preserver and some peace with his god. Next time, somebody ought to just throw a lasso around him whether he wants it or not and then drag him along behind the boat until he's ready to stand up like a water-skier!

Copyright 2003, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

About The Author

Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to spirituality, motivation, and inspiration in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, motivation, and parenting. More of her articles can be found at www.tomorrowsedge.net as well as free previews of her books.

www.tomorrowsedge.net

Alexis limo rentals ..
In The News:

Who needs roads? The WindRunner aircraft was designed specifically to haul massive wind turbine blades, some of which are over 459 feet long.
A Google DeepMind team has developed an artificial intelligence system that can play video games like a human and take native language commands from players.
Four of the largest school boards in Ontario, Canada have launched lawsuits against TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat, claiming that they have impacted students' thinking and behavior.
Finalists for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Nonfiction, aimed at addressing the gender imbalance in nonfiction publishing, were unveiled on Wednesday.
Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson breaks down whether the government is watching citizens and what they can do to protect online privacy.
A benchmarking group for artificial intelligence has released new results evaluating the speed of hardware in running AI applications and responding to users.
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane provides a glimpse into the future of space travel. Traveling to space may become a part of everyday life.
The new European Hyperloop Center in the Netherlands aims bring in a new era of transportation. The center will use a steel tube as a proving ground for testing the new vehicle.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
While it may be incredibly tempting to have a “go with the flow" mindset like the rest of your vacation, your technology definitely should not be compromised while traveling.
Have you ever accidentally deleted an app from your iPhone that you’ve already paid for? Don't worry. We’ve got a trick that will help you get it back without having to buy it again.
Apple's new Journal app has raised privacy concerns among Apple's userbase. Tech expert Kim Komando examines social media rumors and explains what steps to take to protect yourself.
Although Facebook has denied that our phones listen to us, they do have other ways of finding out what we are talking about, listening to and searching for.
With the integration of OpenAI technology, Figure 01 has taken a significant leap forward, showcasing the potential of robots to understand and interact with us on a personal level.
Port Ellen, newly reopened whisky distillery in Scotland, is using SmokeDNAi technology to understand mouth-feel and flavors during the whisky maturation process.
Telly, a smart TV firm, is promising to give out their 4K 55-inch TV for free. What must you give in return? The innovative, yet potentially unsettling, answer might shock you.
The moment a spam invite hits your calendar, it’s like an uninvited guest at a party. So, what do you do? Show it the door.
Identity thieves are now targeting children and are making large sums of money by exploiting children's identities, possibly hurting their financial future.
There's a clever way to change the notification sounds on your Android without having to look at your screen. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.
If your bank accounted has been hacked, there are a number of steps you can take to prevent it from happening again. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
The Wave House, a data center in Heidelberg, Germany, is the the largest 3D-printed building in Europe. Its walls were built in about 140 hours.
Some government agencies around the world are struggling to meet their staffing goals when it comes to hiring artificial intelligence experts.
Google Maps' recent upgrades have introduced real-time ETA and turn-by-turn directions to your phone's lock screen while you are traveling.
Kat Cammack says AI could disrupt the 2024 election. A report says shared AI image tools generate election disinformation in 41% of cases and voting disinformation in 59% of cases.

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Jesus Who Gives Me Strength

"...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I... Read More

Religion and Spirituality - What Differentiates Religion from Spirituality?

Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical manifested... Read More

Ego, Duality, and Paradise (Why You Cant Get to Paradise on an Ego Trip)

If you've been on a conscious spiritual journey for any... Read More

Gods To Do List - Get Specific!

I know eyebrows are probably raising about now, but let... Read More

The Universal Connection

I believe in a phenomenon I have been known to... Read More

Creating With Words

"In the sixth century of the sixth millennium, the gates... Read More

Where Do You Cast?

"Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for... Read More

The Healing Power Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness breaks all bounds of repression and depression. It liberates... Read More

Art of Living ? Finding It?s a Wonderful Life

In Corrogue I am finding it's a wonderful life.Let me... Read More

Communion - The Key to Experiencing the Abundant Life of God

Now, we all know that we shouldn't be lead by... Read More

Candle Burning to Petition the Male Saints

Last NAN I explained how to petition the female Saints... Read More

Questioning - Is It A Natural Process?

One of the first issues people on the spiritual path... Read More

Bone Box of the Rich and Famous

The contrast between the two men could not have been... Read More

The Final Chapter

Several months ago, I read an... Read More

The Divine Throne-Chariot

The following fragment was found in Qumran along with the... Read More

Praying To Overcome Invisible Entry Barriers

Recently, I received a frantic midnight call from one of... Read More

Angel Messages for Humanity ?- Message 1

In the interest of mankind the Angels are delivering messages... Read More

Resonance

Have you ever heard something that really "resonated" with you?... Read More

Tsunami Animals Hint At Our True Nature

We as human beings consider ourselves the most intelligent species... Read More

Can People Really Change?

MOST PEOPLE NEVER REALLY CHANGESad, but true.Some people never even... Read More

Kundalini and Going Where Were Supposed To Go

In the early 90's I had a spontaneous Kundalini Awakening... Read More

Starved Spirits, Sorrowful Souls

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 (NIV) We... Read More

Getting Back to the Basics of Truth

Anyone who has invested time, energy and effort into finding... Read More

Willing to Walk with Jesus?

Can two walk together unless they have agreed to do... Read More

Self-Realization How It Can be Achieved Within Ones Life Time

Before we dwell on the subject of Self Realization we... Read More

car service from Midway Alsip ..