Spirit Online
March 14, 2010
Quote
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” -Socrates
Scripture
“…who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” Mark 16:3
Thoughts
Easter is the centerpiece of Christianity, a time for us to look at Jesus’ resurrection and the events that led to this miracle. We celebrate Easter as a time of overcoming the most feared and difficult, the most challenging and final of all human circumstances and experiences . . . death. And yet, Easter is more than the overcoming of death. It is an invitation for every one of us to have a personal realization of the invincible spirit and power of God within and all around us. It is our opportunity to have a personal resurrection, a renewal of all those attributes and aspects of ourselves that we have allowed to become dormant and buried in our own personal tombs – it is a time to roll away the stone.
It is no coincidence that Easter comes in the springtime where the dormancy and hibernation, the coldness and inactivity of winter gives way to new life, to a freshness and aliveness and opens the way to new possibilities! Spring is synonymous with Easter, the dying of the old, being born into the new. And just as we see the buds on the trees and flowers coming forth as symbols and an acknowledgement of new birth in Spring, Easter too has powerful symbols for us to look at, take in and realize their meaning each year. As we look at these symbols we comprehend and come to understand how significant they are to having a fuller, deeper, more enriching, complete life.
Just as Jesus was placed in a tomb, we too place those parts of us that we have allowed to become dormant, those talents, gifts or abilities that are no longer used, dreams that have died, love and joy that’s never been fully expressed or released, in a tomb. But just because they are in the tomb, doesn’t mean they are forever gone from us. The tomb represents a place of safety and security, where all of those wonderful attributes are incubating and waiting to be brought back into our awareness and realized once more! The first thing we need to do, as the great philosopher Plato said, “Know thyself,” is to know ourselves and identify what it is in us that has been entombed and is yearning to come alive.
How well do you know yourself – do you feel like something is missing in your life? Is there something lost in you, perhaps your joy, your passion, sense of humor, playfulness or creativity, your faith or your self-confidence? Is there a dream in you that you have allowed to die or talents that you have buried, or perhaps a yearning that you have had for years that you just have never acknowledged? Is there something within that desires to be born in you, but you think it is bigger than who you believe you are right now?
For many of us, when we feel a level of discontent, we tend to stay frustrated and unhappy and don’t spend a lot of time looking within our self to see what’s going on. The most important work we can do to “know thyself” is through self-knowledge, contemplation, understanding, and acceptance. It is the key to opening the door to greater possibilities. Get to know yourself, know what you really want…seek and ye shall find.
It is in the tomb where miracles take place. This is where darkness and solitude aid us in the birthing process so that a resurrection can occur. With prayer and contemplation, you will know when the time is right to roll the stone away, and allow your gifts to be made manifest. Another great philosopher, Socrates, said the unexamined life is not worth living. Life is so precious, it deserves us thinking about how we want to live it. An examined life is about being willing to grow, acknowledging what isn’t working and then allowing God to guide and direct our very thoughts, words and actions to bring about healing and wholeness in every area of our lives! Live in the newness of life; live in the awareness that the Christ presence is in you. Live in a new way, walk in a new way, believe in a new way, experience in a new way. Now is the time to begin anew, you have the power to change and improve your life, roll away the stone. God bless you.
Prayer
Dear God, I open a space to know how to gently, gracefully remove the stone that is holding me back from realizing my highest potential. I have a sense that there is greatness in me dear God. And with your guidance and direction, I feel safe and secure to release all fear, anxiety or worry as I walk through this process. Only pure love dwells here now. My heart is filled with gratitude and joy as I give birth and resurrect all the good that is within and all around me! Thank you, thank you, thank you God, and so it is, Amen.
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