A Rumi Saying

Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth,

Trust that.

Rumi

I came across the above and it touched something deep inside of me.

I'm sharing it with you.

With love,

~ JEAN

Using our Senses Every Moment

As Eckert Tolle says “We only have the present (now) moment. In fact, our whole life is made up of present moments.” Thinking about that, I realized that staying present all the time means paying attention to what’s around me at all times, using my senses all the time. Not coincidentally I have been noticing several of the Bible verses in the Daily Word these last few months have been about our senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling. I’ve listed several of those verses later. A recent Daily Word was Guidance. Part of the meditation is:

Each time I ask for guidance, I am placing my trust in Spirit. By consciously taking this step, I open my mind and heart to receive….As I wait, I do not “fall asleep” by restricting the way in which guidance comes. It reaches me in many ways, perhaps through something I hear, see, read, or feel deep within. I maintain a faithful watch for I know answers are available and my way will be made clear.

I think of how I get guidance in eating. First I look at the food to be sure it is fresh. Then I smell it to be sure it hasn’t spoiled. If it’s something brand new for me, I may like the look and smell of it so I taste it – and I love it or not.

When I’m out and about on errands I listen for the sound of an emergency vehicle so I move over out of its path and let it pass safely and quickly (the occupants are my sisters and brothers who need help). Finally when I’m petting my dog, I feel for any lumps or bumps that our veterinarian may need to take a look at.

Walking my doggie Gus on an early fall day.

My senses in the fall are especially dear. I taste delicious cider donuts, smell the fall leaves, hear the leaves crunch underfoot, see the leaves turning beautiful shades of yellow, orange, red and rust and feel the cool breeze on face and in my hair.

In my spiritual life I am aware of my senses as well. The sensations may be physical and yet also internal. I pay attention to how I feel, to what I see inside. If a message feels, looks and smells kind and gentle, this message is from Spirit. If not, it’s not from Spirit but from ego. The expressions “doesn’t feel right” and “leaves a bad taste in my mouth” come to mind.

I hope you enjoy these Bible verses and notice that they have deeper meaning. The Daily Word they accompanied is in parentheses.

Hearing

• Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 100:1 (Harmony)
• My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. John 10:27-28 (Listen)
• Let anyone with ears listen! Matthew 11:15 (Listen)
• You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19 (Understanding)

Seeing

• I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Job 42:5 (Perspective)
• Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:25 (Clarity)
• Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to prayer from this place. 2 Chronicles 6:40 (Let Go, Let God)
• Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” John 3:3 (Begin Again)
• The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the body. Proverbs 15:30 (Healing)
• Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light…Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. Luke 11:34,35 (Guidance)
• What can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (Perspective)

Tasting

• Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. John 4:14 (Refresh)
• They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. Psalm 36:8

Feeling/Touching

• Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy. Psalm 47:1 (Joy)

~ JEAN