Christmas Arrangement
State of Mind
There's the difficult way and there's the really difficult way. The Black Crest Trail is the latter--but it's the most rewarding. Culminating on the highest peak on the Eastern Sea Board, the Black Crest Trail (aka, "Death March") clambers over five peaks. That is, if one approaches from the North. We passed many hikers going the opposite direction--downhill. But for every "down" there's an "up." Scaling the first 3000 feet in the first three miles, we passed this unforgettable tree.
I was caused to remember this tree when reading my dailies: "Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently holds in thought, for the human spirit is colored by such impressions." (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.16)
On the trail I could not pass this tree as quickly and easily as the previous million. What forces shaped this tree? How long has it endured? One can only imagine. The truth is that the tree remains shaped, forked, bent. It will never be the same as when it first began to grow.
What do you hold in your mind? Anger? Hatred? Fear? Immorality? Impure thoughts? Evil desires?
And how is you spirit colored by these impressions? How far have you comes since you began?
How are you shaping up?
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)
" . . . be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God . . ." (Ephesians 4:23-24)
I was caused to remember this tree when reading my dailies: "Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently holds in thought, for the human spirit is colored by such impressions." (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.16)
On the trail I could not pass this tree as quickly and easily as the previous million. What forces shaped this tree? How long has it endured? One can only imagine. The truth is that the tree remains shaped, forked, bent. It will never be the same as when it first began to grow.
What do you hold in your mind? Anger? Hatred? Fear? Immorality? Impure thoughts? Evil desires?
And how is you spirit colored by these impressions? How far have you comes since you began?
How are you shaping up?
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)
" . . . be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God . . ." (Ephesians 4:23-24)
Popular posts from this blog
The Smooth-flowing Life
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
Rock Me, Epictetus!
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8
Three New Additions To My Desk
Actually, it’s an ad-duck-tion. I missed the perfect opportunity to say, “and they’re in a row, too!” Silly goose.