The Article
Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.
Sue Atchley Ebaugh
Most of the world operates only on “facts” – verifiable data, information and knowledge. Facts seem dependable, real, practical, and emotionally secure. The problem is that it is an eventual set up for major personal harm and self destruction.
“If we have hope only in this material world, we are of all people most miserable.” The Bible
The “facts” ultimately leave us abandoned, alone, and desperately hurting – betrayed by what was supposed to be “real”.
The “facts” cannot hold my hand when someone I love is suffering or dies. The “facts” do not give me a sense of hope based a loving confidence in Someone’s loving care. With the “facts” I don’t know how to stop being depressed, or angry or scared. The details can only provide the temporary relief of being distracted -- numbed by thoughts and understanding – and then abandoned to the hopeless and helpless states of my own brain’s racing imaginations.
I heard in a movie, and it is my experience for myself, that a mystic is a person who talks to his or her God – and believes God speaks back to him or her – a Listener. In this twilight of conscious Presence with our God, we “hear’ things within our “hearts” that leads us closer and more consciously present with ourselves and others. The voice of our God becomes present in every person we meet, in every object and event that catches our attention, and in every word that enters our mind’s eye.
From these kinds of experiences, we begin to discover a different “world” – a world of experience and Presence – of unconditional love and limitless inner possibilities. – a world where facts collide in shattering blasts of transforming awakenings – beyond thought and knowledge and intellect – revealing within the mind’s dreams -- hidden truths. Our God’s Presence creates “sensations” not generated by our physical senses – a collection of warming impressions – brushes and touches of hearts melding into oneness –perceptions forming, reactions flowing – a swelling of living impulse – hearts pumping life through the veins of our spirits -- Visions of what cannot be seen, but lives in fullness – another world.
Take a breath – step back – no accidents, mistakes, coincidence – all perfectly balanced – becoming by being – vessels of Presence offered to other craving souls – words, nods, touches, hugs, eyes and hearts touching – most frequently beginning -- borne out of the darkness of our souls – consciously being human and wounded -- fragile to life’s “random” events -- and sadness – when separation – occurs. What we lose we become – the last gifts of pending Presence from shaken walls of shivering selves – creation out of dust and tears.
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows;
It is empty, yet has not lost its power.
The more it is used, the more it produces;
The more you talk of it, the less you comprehend.
Tao Te Ching
Bringing human and our God’s Presence together, we begin to create that for which there are no words – only impressions of our hearts.
Our God’s Presence restores us to our consciousness of mind, joined to hearts -- we experience what is spiritually and humanly healthy, unconditionally loving, and experientially balanced – the willful deliberate plan of our God for our desired better living. Out of our darknesses, mystic selves emerge – and our life becomes -- together -- mystical.
Sue Atchley Ebaugh
Most of the world operates only on “facts” – verifiable data, information and knowledge. Facts seem dependable, real, practical, and emotionally secure. The problem is that it is an eventual set up for major personal harm and self destruction.
“If we have hope only in this material world, we are of all people most miserable.” The Bible
The “facts” ultimately leave us abandoned, alone, and desperately hurting – betrayed by what was supposed to be “real”.
The “facts” cannot hold my hand when someone I love is suffering or dies. The “facts” do not give me a sense of hope based a loving confidence in Someone’s loving care. With the “facts” I don’t know how to stop being depressed, or angry or scared. The details can only provide the temporary relief of being distracted -- numbed by thoughts and understanding – and then abandoned to the hopeless and helpless states of my own brain’s racing imaginations.
I heard in a movie, and it is my experience for myself, that a mystic is a person who talks to his or her God – and believes God speaks back to him or her – a Listener. In this twilight of conscious Presence with our God, we “hear’ things within our “hearts” that leads us closer and more consciously present with ourselves and others. The voice of our God becomes present in every person we meet, in every object and event that catches our attention, and in every word that enters our mind’s eye.
From these kinds of experiences, we begin to discover a different “world” – a world of experience and Presence – of unconditional love and limitless inner possibilities. – a world where facts collide in shattering blasts of transforming awakenings – beyond thought and knowledge and intellect – revealing within the mind’s dreams -- hidden truths. Our God’s Presence creates “sensations” not generated by our physical senses – a collection of warming impressions – brushes and touches of hearts melding into oneness –perceptions forming, reactions flowing – a swelling of living impulse – hearts pumping life through the veins of our spirits -- Visions of what cannot be seen, but lives in fullness – another world.
Take a breath – step back – no accidents, mistakes, coincidence – all perfectly balanced – becoming by being – vessels of Presence offered to other craving souls – words, nods, touches, hugs, eyes and hearts touching – most frequently beginning -- borne out of the darkness of our souls – consciously being human and wounded -- fragile to life’s “random” events -- and sadness – when separation – occurs. What we lose we become – the last gifts of pending Presence from shaken walls of shivering selves – creation out of dust and tears.
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows;
It is empty, yet has not lost its power.
The more it is used, the more it produces;
The more you talk of it, the less you comprehend.
Tao Te Ching
Bringing human and our God’s Presence together, we begin to create that for which there are no words – only impressions of our hearts.
Our God’s Presence restores us to our consciousness of mind, joined to hearts -- we experience what is spiritually and humanly healthy, unconditionally loving, and experientially balanced – the willful deliberate plan of our God for our desired better living. Out of our darknesses, mystic selves emerge – and our life becomes -- together -- mystical.
Photography/graphics by W. Wass
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