Returning to God is
Your Lifework

Returning to God – the God of your understanding – is our greatest lifework. I’ve had moments of knowing God within me. Sitting in stillness I have known the still, empty, yet-full, eternal spaciousness within me… which is always there… always the same. In this moment I know we are a part of the Sacred Mystery which we call God. (Although, now trying to describe this piece of God within me - which also is much greater than what I am - the truth is muddied by words.)

The more I remember this piece of God within me and practise returning to God the better off my life and work are. However, too easily I forget and become caught in habitual thinking, emotions and reactions. Likely you know what I mean.

When we get lost in worry in the middle of the night about our kid, our job, money, our marriage or… We know worry is to NO avail still the thoughts scurry round and round. Returning to God is the only way back to peace. And if we listen carefully we will always here the sweet voice of our God calling us back home. Listen! Listen!

If we are in our God everything else in our life tends to be easier to bear and aligns in ways we cannot imagine, orchestrate or control. How do we find our way back home?

Become a Navigator

Returning to God calls us to become navigators within our inner world. “The Way” lies in navigating through life’s ever-shifting experiences from the helm of our True Self, or God within. Externals, like the wealthy, high-class people upon the opulent, elegant Titanic cannot buy us lasting happiness or security.

In order to navigate through our fearful thinking and reactive behaviours we need to first of all be aware we have ‘lost’ our way. When we feel ourselves succumbing to our fearful, depressed, angry, insecure feelings – we can feel the feelings but then, would be best served by carefully observing our thoughts. If we feel the feeling and do not feed the feelings with the sad story lines we tell ourselves we will soon notice the feelings change, shift, move on.

Be gentle with yourself in this process. This is not about blaming or judging ourselves. Getting hi-jacked by our negative thoughts which then fuel our feelings is part of the human condition. Just today, I was telling our nineteen year old son this is something I have to work at every day. “There is a heaven and hell and it is right in here,” I told him as I tapped my head.

And, life IS difficult. Ever-growing numbers of people are losing their jobs, homes, financial security, loved ones and facing a myriad of life challenges. Also our western world values are turned inside out. Shrewd marketing trumps up the value of external things and the value of knowing the ground of our being is lost. Angst and fear mount.

Yet, as we learn to navigate within ourselves we become familiar with habitual emotional, thought and behavioural patterns we have run from for a lifetime. Eventually we get the knack of shifting these patterns. When they pop up and threaten to possess us yet again, we most-worthy navigators say, “Hey, I am lost again. Returning to God is the answer!” Then, we pray for help, be still, return to our breath, observe the old stories, and let go. Over and over.

Returning to God sounds simple… and it is. But it is not easy. However, returning to God time, and time again, is what our lifework is all about. As the great, thirteenth century, Sufi, poet Rumi wrote about God calling us home:

“Come, come again and still again,
even if thou hast broken thy truth a thousand times.”

We learn to have compassion for our frail humanness as we observe ourselves. Returning to God within can help us bear life’s burdens and, at times, shine a ray of light upon our suffering. Returning to God we grow our beings and our connection to our God.

“You may call God love; you may call God goodness; but the best name for God is Compassion.” Meister Eckhart, 14th century mystic and theologian

“The ultimate power of God, the universe and humanity is compassion.” Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century mystic, doctor, scientist, and abbess.

For more ideas on connecting with your God click on this link.

Return to the top of this Return to God page



Receive this
Special Report
as a Free Bonus

by signing up for Teresa's monthly newsletter with lifework stories to inspire YOU.
Enter your email address in the box below to receive your Free Newsletter AND Special Report:
"4 Ways to Be Inspired - Now!"


Enter your E-mail Address
Enter your First Name
Then

Don't worry — your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you Your Lifework E-zine.

(You will receive the Special Report link in your newsletter confirmation email.)

Testimonials

"Teresa, I love your newsletter. You're a voice of wisdom and compassion." Dennis

Thank-you. Only yesterday I was feeling quite low. Not anymore after reading this e-zine... God-Bless you, Gloria Teresa Proudlove, EzineArticles.com Platinum Author

Hi, Teresa! Great site! You're doing good things for people, I can see it! Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you to spread your message. My work is similar in vein. Best regards, Pam Garcy, Ph.D.; author: "The Power of Inner Guidance"

"Website of the Week: www.yourlifework.com
This is a beautiful place to go to read the wonderful words of an inspirational lady called Teresa Proudlove. Great name. Great instruction."Tony Cuckson www.irishblessingsmatter.com

Teresa: I discovered your wisdom in a recent issue of "Healing Garden" magazine published here in Michigan, USA. Your article is a gift I will long cherish and benefit from. Bless you. Jeff