Hilltoppers-AFG Online Meeting

elizabeth

Oh yes!!! That nails it!!
Thanks, Bob, for your encouragement. When I first left religious life I could not give up my old black and white concept of God. When I finally realized that concept no longer worked for me I started on a new search, but it was quite frightening because I felt like I had no anchor, nothing concrete I could dig my fingers into and say "This Is God".
I think back to some of the writings I read by old mystics of bygone eras and I think it's very true that entering a monastery would not eliminate the uncertainty. After many years away from that way of life, I sometimes still yearn for it because I too think it "should" give me certainty. But I know better, and so I plug on, realizing I can find the peace and silence and solitude I still crave in the midst of my current world. It is a daily seeking. If I am faithful, I always find... well, Something, even if I can't define it.

bobc · Site Admin

Cool. Thanks, Elizabeth. Yes, it's difficult to maintain an "equanimity" of viewpoint that is willing to consider several aspects of a given situation. My tendency is that I want to be right, and I want everyone to acknowledge it.

I'm taking a Philosophy class, working toward finishing a degree. It's been informative and enlightening to gain insight into the ancient roots of much of our Western Ways. We've gone through a phase of Socrates, who was the pillar upon which most of our roots in Logic are built. Oddly, he devised and used logical constructs to throw (or drag or push or force) people beyond their encrusted rational thought process into considering expanded viewpoints that often had no solid concrete form or answers. I can see many correlations to the life and approach taken several years later by Jesus, even to the point that, in the end, he was executed for his belief and willingness to take a stand for it. Further, his main disciple was Plato. Then, Plato's main disciple was Aristotle. Much of their writings and dealings had to do with the exact problems we face today, even the ones I hear shared in our meetings.

Then there comes for me

elizabeth

bobc · Site Admin

Elizabeth:

Thanks for the reference. I can't get to it right now, but I'll check it out. An interesting facet of the situation that I've found recently is that, if I practice meditation regularly, stick with the program (steps, meetings, fellowship, literature, etc.), and take care of myself - the rest of life falls into place all by itself. In other words, God follows me around if I do what I need to do to keep Him "on my trail".

I'm working yet another fourth step in a sponsorship situation, brought about by the heat of the "daily forge of life itself". It's interesting that issues are up for me which have been somewhat in the background of my personality all my life. At this point, they've become the dominant "burr under the saddle", and are begging for attention. I find it interesting that the Path involves seeking Truth outside and inside myself. Then again, as it's been stated repeatedly in meetings,

elizabeth