Who is your higher power?

[Lilya]

This is a topic that come up a lot in my recovery. I´m a daughter of a firm agnostic and a Christian mother, but I´m a lapsed Catholic myself. I´ve been searching forever for a religion I can relate to but I cannot relate to Christianity anymore, because my husband and my daughter joined a cult which destroyed a vital part of my life. This has made me averse to the Bible and I become extremely afraid when people quote too much from it, because I think fanaticism (not necesseraly Christians, only cults) is one of most dangerous forces on this planet.

In France, we use the words Puissance Supérieure (Higher Power) and Puissance Inférieure (Lesser power? Negative power?). I firmly believe there is a power greater then me at work in my life, even when I don´t want to receive it. I´m a pagan at heart and nature and animals fill me with energy and faith. I´m also a great believer in Oriental wisdom. This mixture has worked very well for me for the last decade, but my religion is still a work in progress and will be always.

Well, this is me. What about you?

Use adversity

[2stop]

I have been doing some very "deep" thinking this week about what exactly I am referring to when I say God or HP. Great topic Lilya!~....nature has always been my most steady guide to what I call a power higher than myself, I never could "click" with any organized religion, not to say it's bad, just didn't set well with me....the sun is probably my most steady guide...the sun and the moon and stars at night can really calm my spirit, bringing that "knowing" deep within me that all is in perfect order..it is for me to align myself..not try to rearrange all that is around me. I am still growing and learning in this department though.

[Juls]

I am also a lapsed catholic, however in the past couple of years I have a renewed interest in faith. I do believe in God, and I find the bible to be very interesting in an historical context.

I believe in helping people, in praying, asking for guidance from God, and Jesus. I feel awkward though in discussing this since I am uncomfortable with many religious peoples due to the way they come on to me about their religion. On the other hand I feel guilty in that I don't try to go out and make converts. So obviously I have confusion about this. I don't go to church, but I would like to, however I'm lazy. I believe that I am a sinner, but I also believe that I can be redeemed.

Juls

[Mamabear]

...

[Mamabear]

ok, I've typed a response and it won't post. Only ...came up.
Anyone know what I might be doing wrong???
Mamabear

[Juls]

Sorry Mamabear, I have no idea.

Juls

[Caveman]

My cat.

All cat owners have the same awnser.

[Lilya]

Mamabear,

Oh lÃ* lÃ*, the censor has arrived! Now we finally have some fun. Do you know the word in French? I had the same problems with a certain word in English...

Caveman, thanks for reminding me. Of course I mean my cats! As it says in the poem by Charles Baudelaire: "They are pearls of wisdom, as mysterious as Egyptian Sphinxes, fickle and faithless like women..." In short: "They are not animals, they are gods." (Baudelaire)

Use adversity

[Juls]

Lilya,

I don't think the censors have arrived, since I'm the one that moderates the board, and I haven't censored anyone, yet. LOL

Juls

[Lilya]

Juls,

Oups!

Use adversity

[Juls]

Not to worry Lilya,

[Mamabear]

I shall try again.....

I am a practicing Catholic, what is termed a progressive Catholic. For many years, I had one foot out the door and one on a banana peel, until I found the following scholars/ theologians:
Joan Chittister and her book Scarred by Struggle , Transformed by Hope; Matthew Fox and his spirituality that connects God and nature; Edwinna Gately, a poet who rewrites the stories of Biblical women in contemporary terms; National Catholic Reporter, a biweekly newspaper, and Call to Action.

So, Who is my Higher power? I believe God can be found in relationship and in solitude. Nature reminds me of God's presence and power: a strong wind, a beautiful sunset, a violent storm fill me with awe. I believe we can be the body of Christ on earth by the way we treat one another. Many images of God speak to me: a female image of Wisdom Sophia, both male and female images of the Holy Spirit, yet, the image I pray to most is Jesus as friend and savior.
I don't believe in a master plan; rather, I believe we are given free will and can choose our behaviors. I believe God is present always whether we are aware of God or not and that He is with us in a special way when we suffer. I recognize that I have only a speck of understanding of who God is therefore I do not believe that my faith is the only faith.
~peace,
Mamabear

[Mamabear]

Lilya,

I wanted to say how sorry I am that a cult has taken away your husband and dauhter. That must be so painful for you.

In our family there is a rift between my sister in law and all of us. She is a right wing fundamentalist who is completely intolerant of anything other than a literal interpretation of the Bible. that has caused so much pain. (As my motherinlaw was dying, she insisted she wasn't "saved" even though my motherinlaw was a wonderful good person who practiced her faith in word and deed).

By the way, how is your dad?
has the heat subsided?
((love))
Mamabear

[Juls]

Mamabear,

That was a beautiful post, and gave me alot of things to think about. Have you ever heard of Hank Hanagram, the Bible Answer Man. It's a show I like to listen to on the radio. People call in with questions about things in the Bible and he answers their questions. It was listening to his show that helped renew my interest in the faith again.

Hmm, I wanted to say something else but it went out of my head.

Juls

[Lilya]

Mamabear,

Thanks for your beautiful message.

The heat is getting better, but my father is slowly dying. a tough thing to accept but has to be done.

My cross to bear is the cult, that´s for sure, but I intend to bend and not break. I have come to accept it more over the years, by living my life in a different context. My Higher Power gave me something else instead: A rich life full of adventures, travels, fun work and last but not least, a large family. My nieces -from age of 5 to 16 adore me and I adore them. I have most of them every weekend if I want to and on weekdays to. And I have a wonderful boy, age of 10, my fosterson. He is turning out to be quite a scientist and totally unlike his aunt and fostermother, who was quite wild in her young days!:p

I believe there are two dimensions. The world around us and the world we cannot see. I believe there are destinies at work in our life interacting with free will. It´s in our power to react wisely to adversity and with modesty to happiness.

Use adversity

[Mamabear]

Here's a related question: How do you pray to your Higher Power?

Lilya,
Why modesty in relation to happiness? Can you elaborate?
gracias,
Mamabear

[Lilya]

When I pray, I use "Holy Mother of God" or "God". I use the Serenety prayer and "Hail Mary full of grace". I pray when I´m in nature and then I use the word Almighty.

To receive happiness with modesty is for me to not fly over the hills when something good happens. I use to do that because of my Bi-polar sickness before I took meds. I went spending, rushing from one place to another and in short, I was so totally elated, when adversity hit I was like a bursted balloon.

How is your son doing? I was reading elsewhere he started school today.

Light and love,

Use adversity

[Mamabear]

Not sure yet.
He seems good...dare I say...and feels he has a fresh start.
He will need new meetings and a therapist at school. Once the transition is complete, I think it will be easier. -thanks for asking about him.
We moved him into his room, I should say closet, yesterday.
Ahhh I get the modesty idea now.

I seem to be changing my style of prayer. Most effective for me is lying/resting in svasana ( a reclining yoga position) and just be aware of God's presence. Then I visualize who I'd like to pray for and imaging lifting them to God. No words. All images. It's been very helpful for me the last two weeks. When I am struggling with depression, I have a hard time stringing ideas together and this style needs no words. I have had several emotional responses in the "letting go" part.
Mamabear

[Juls]

I was taught to pray to God through his son Jesus, and not directly to God. I don't even know why, LOL, but that's what I do. Usually I pray for others, and I always pray for world peace. I often wonder if we all prayed for world peace if that would help. However, I'm sure millions of us must be doing it already, so...

Juls

[2stop]

Juls!! I pray for world peace and talk to anybody who''ll listen about it, many think I am nuts..and idealist..and 'full of ideas"....well I tell them all good change starts with a thought, begins with an idea, and you add belief and miracles CAN happen, we've been programmed and taught that "things are the way they are" and "it's always been this way" Nonsense!! Things are the way we expect them to be, I also believe that yes therre is a "balance" of good and evil, but we must keep the "good" as majority rule. When I think over the middle east situation and see peace plans touted as the "saviour" for the problems..I think..their HAS to be forgiveness and mercy before any positive changes can occur there, Yes they must take measures to protect themselves, there must be "national security", but the security measures and policy implemented from a base of retaliation and contempt will never bring security..But peace begins at home, in each our hearts and thoughts..so as we all grow in recovery we are doing our part for world peace! Sorry I ramblrd on there!!

Lilya~ I am like you, I have to watch how "happy" I get because the fall is so violent and erratic it just unsettles me for a good while. ((((((((HUGS))))))))) and ((((((((PRAYERS)))))))))))) for you Lilya as you go through this difficult time. God bless you.....

[Mamabear]

Hi everyone,

I pray for world peace , too.
As a matter of fact, a few years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to be a U. N. delegate for the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Human Rights. It's an amazing document and centered on world peace. The woman who was the driving force behind it - Eleanor Roosevelt.
Does it do any good to pray for world peace? Absolutely. The medical profession now has empirical evidence that the power of prayer has helped so many.
I agree with you, Tammie. Peace does start in our own hearts. And, that, is quite a challenge.
agape'
((((Mamabear))))
p.s. just posted a question on Nar anon. If you gals wouldn't mind, I'd love some feedback.

[Lilya]

Tammie,
Thanks so much for your prayers for me. It´s very pleasurable to receive such a nice message. I feel you are an extraordinary person with a strong radiating light (for the lack of a better word). I also believe peace must begin at home and for the "right" reasons. I am thinking of the philosophy of Ghandi and The Dalai Lama and what they called "Non-violence".

Mamabear, what a wonderful opportunity for you! How proud you must feel! It must have done so much for you and it´s a huge achievement. I have very high regards for the UN and I pray daily for it´s strenght to provide better balance in the world. Also for Amnesty Internationale, for whom I sometimes do volunteer work. I´ve seen so many horrible things... and sometimers I feel the only way is to let go and let the Almighty take over. There is only so much we can do.

I think humanity´s biggest challenge is to learn how to interact without violence, which belongs to the "Puissance Inférieure" (Lesser power - I cannot translate that term! ) The prayer is extremely strong and it works. It can take a long time but it does. I´ve seen big changes brought on by prayer.

I try to help adolescents in trouble and ex-convicts to get back on their feet and just before the weekend the Red Cross contacted me to help deeply disturbed teenagers in a new shelter or halfway house. As I was a juvenile delinguent, and have experience of jail, I feel equal to the task and I hope I can be of service and help. It´s extremely difficult, but what a challenge!

If I can help one ex-con or one disturbed teenager to make one constructive change in their very distrubed life, I feel happy. One little task can help the bigger picture.

There is something interesting in this discussion as well: I believe it´s in human nature to be in conflict with oneself and others. The real challenge is maybe balancing out the conflict and make constructive changes through that school of life. Yin and Yang!

Use adversity

[Mamabear]

Lilya,

Amnesty International is a wonderful activist group we support wholeheartedly. The irony about my U N experience is that when I returned home, the social studies class did not invite me to share w/ their students (as they are very ethnocentric and narrow-minded) so I fashioned an English class around it using the documents as literature!! And that's my area. It worked out very well.
It saddens me to see the splintering that is occuring world-wide. On a very small scale, isn't it interesting that people all over the world can cooperate and share in peace to help one another right here on this board!!!
((((Mamabear))))

[Lilya]

Mamabear,

"On a very small scale, isn't it interesting that people all over the world can cooperate and share in peace to help one another right here on this board!!!"

That is so true. And I´m so glad we can help each other, despite any political problems between our two countries.

I have learned, since I was a young idealist, that I cannot make big changes. Small steps are the most effective. Isn´t there an old Oriental saying that we must keep in mind that the road is paved with small stones and it´s a work in progress?

Hugs,

Use adversity

[Mamabear]

Hey Everybody,

This post has 300some hits. Post a response and let's hear your description of your higher power. Don't be shy.
Mamabear