Meditating to Heal

What would it be like to be truly ignorant, to have not a care in the world except to forage for food? I have tried to think of any creature on Earth that would fit this description, but there is not. Even the ant builds a system of protection for its colony against the larger insect that threatens its existence. The most ferocious , wildest, scariest animal protects and nurtures its young until it is capable of living on its own. No, God id not create a creature that did not have some form of intelligence.

Then there is man! Our Bible says, “. . . God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:27 KJV).” We may not have the wisdom of Solomon, but we can learn to respect and to care for God’s creation. We need validity in our lives to really tend to the purity of God’s creation. This is the gift God gives, every day. I start simply. I want to be a doer in God’s world. Sitting on my back porch, I absorb God’s creation. I wonder how I can be true to God’s creation. Limited in my functionality, but not my creativity, I search the surrounding gardens, trees and grasses, wondering how I can prove my authenticity.

I am looking at my neighbor’s garden and I see a squirrel preening himself on a rock, and I am thinking how my neighbor has left a rock that size in his garden. So, I started thinking about that rock. That rock grew on me. What would I do with that rock if it were in my garden? What could I do? I started writing about being a rock. Maybe when I was twenty, now a piece of fiction. But then a light went off. I’m not the rock; He is. The reason the rock grew so big is because that rock is God. God is my Rock.

A simple squirrel was God’s messenger to remind me that I have the intelligence to continue to serve Him in love as I meet people and serve them with the Love that He gives to me and all people. Isn’t this what Jesus did and taught? As long as I have the simple smarts to recognize the little hints that God sends me each day to recognize His presence in my life every day, I will never live in ignorance.

©Russell Kendall Carter; BA, MAT, DLitt.

It is no coincidence when we find God! We awaken each morning. This morning when I awaken, it is raining, what I call liquid sunshine. I thank God for the rain. I thank God for watering my plants; I thank God for filling the rivers and the ponds allowing the animals around me to drink their fill. I thank God for doing what I cannot do, and that is caring for His creation.

Before I rise from my bed each morning I thank God for allowing me one more day of life with my wife of fifty-six years. I use a walker because my brain does not allow me to balance myself, but I enjoy every step I take.

We live with three cats; we are guests in their house. All my wife has to do is feed them and clean their litter box. Two of them bring us love in their cuddling. . . on their terms of course. The third cat is in control, she allows closeness on her terms; she will cuddle for a short period of time once or twice a day; she teaches us humility. She teaches us we are not in charge. She reminds us. . .  It is no coincidence when we find God! God is in her infrequent attention.

I talk to God in the morning. I talk to God occasionally throughout the day. I talk to God before bedtime when I meditate. I meditate to calm my mind because so much has happened in my life and so much has happened in the world that all has alarmed my soul about the safety of the future; my meditation calms me. Finally, I talk to God at night, thanking Him for keeping me safe throughout the day and keeping my wife, my grown children and their families safe. It is no coincidence when we find God! God is always with us.

©Russell Kendall Carter; BA, MAT, DLitt.

It’s about the future; when you reinvent yourself to God’s world, He gives you a new self, one that knows happiness, Truth, and Love. Jesus said if you give up your old self, you will receive a new self instead. Be it happy or sad, your past cannot rule your future. Once you see God within yourself, your future is clear; all you must do is listen.

If you truly listen to God, listen to your heart, you will begin to perform miracles. No, you will not raise someone from the dead, but you will perform miracle in your life and those around you. This is no coincidence when we discover that God is within us always. When we speak through our heart, we discover a universe both perfect and beautiful, at peace, loving.

Our brains are constantly bombarded by the news of the day, and we are dulled by the burdens of our everyday jobs. But when we pause we feel our hearts beating freely, unaffected by these turbulent pressures, for this is where God dwells. “So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Corinthians. We think that what we see and hear is permanent and affects our lives, but it is only God that truly affects our futures.

Our hearts and minds are searching the future for that one perfect thing that will change our perspective on what our lives are for. Let’s think about ourselves. First happiness. Does happiness depend on what others do? Does happiness depend on what we do? Are we here only to live a long life then die? Are we here to accept God’s eternal Love and then give it away, immediately, living a life in God’s eternal house.?

God cares not for the past because He always forgives our sins and welcome us into His eternal kingdom. So, my advice is to live your life according to the way He prefer. Accept His everlasting Love and give it away to your neighbor immediately. And enjoy an everlasting future life.

©Russell Kendall Carter; BA, MAT, DLitt.

Is it worth it. . . really? Is it worth perpetuating the social conditions they live in and the pain they absorb knowing that our culture causes their pain and suffering? Do we turn our backs on those as the people of Israel did in the time of Jesus so many years ago?

Let me tell you, if we ignore what is going on, we will never see God’s  works. We will attend our church service proudly and pat ourselves on our backs because we are doing His will and think that we are holy. And the poor are still suffering. And the poor are still dying without medical aid or proper food.

Is it worth it? No! the poor are still dying on the street right outside our church doors. We must wake up and see that we must no longer be entertained by them; I am changed by them; I am changed by them! I am woke! God woke me! I have left my comfort zone to kneel down with my brothers and sisters to pray with them; feed them; heal them, because God has asked me to do this. I do this because I care!

©Russell Kendall Carter; BA, MAT, DLitt.

I was thinking about perfection the other day. Our family was together for a pre 4^th of July dinner. I was looking at the plants around my daughter’s patio when I noticed a praying mantis preening on a branch in the sunlight. I ignored the banter of my family as I sat watching this wonder of nature, a wonder I was always in awe of its majesty of perfection.

I leaned in closer and realized it was just a leaf. Oh, how disappointed I was. But, as I turned my attention back to my family, I could not help but think about how perfect nature is regardless of how repulsive we may think an insect may be. For instance, I think a slug is. . .  ugh!

And nature is perfect! I look at my family. From my senior in college grandson and my industry captains daughter and son-in-law, I know our futures are safe. My retired brother-in-law and wife, both former finance professionals keep us honest in our views, even though my brother-in-law can be a little too pro UVA at times. And then there is me, the retired worn-out college professor and philosopher trying to keep all of them grounded to God’s earth. As much as we complain; as much as we get nasty; we love each other; and we are perfect, perfect because God created us the way we are, and we must learn to be together.

We love each other! When one is sick or hurt, we gather round to comfort him or her.  We care for each other! When one is successful, we praise each  other. When we are together, we pray together; we love each other. We are happy; and in its way, we are one of nature’s miracles.

©Russell Kendall Carter

I was alone; all alone. Or so I thought. I tried walking on water. I knew I could because if water is frozen it is hard enough to hold my body. I sank. The water was not frozen. Even though I imagined it was. I know that if I imagine something, it is real. The water in the pond was just water.

I tried something else. I lay down next to the pond. I closed my eyes. Imagined I was weightless.  I knew if I were weightless I could float in the air. Just like a red balloon. I soared through the air. I rolled over to look at the pond. And got a mouthful of grass. Opened my eyes. I was lying on the ground.

I have always been taught that if one truly believed, the belief became true. A great philosopher taught that man could walk on water if he had the faith of Jesus. All he had to do was believe. Truly believe.

Are all these stories just myths? Just illusions in the minds of the ancient religious leaders handed down in the traditions of the churches. Is all that I have learned in my life wrong? Ae the teacher and the ministers that I have looked up to and have guided me in times of trouble been lying to me all these years?

I am broken! I am broken by the reality that all is a lie! All is an illusion!

Everything I do in this life is a lie and cannot last. All of my education, all of the money I have put aside, all of the money I have given to help the poor, all of the time I have spent teaching, is a lie. Everything I have done, everything I have accumulated in this life is cruelly negated by the finality of death!

Period. Exclamation point! Exclamation point!

But all is not an illusion. I have been taught to love. I have been taught to share love. I have learned that love is eternal; I have learned that Love is God. I have learned that I am love that I am a part of  God and therefore eternal. This is not illusion; this is God’s Truth!

©Russell Kendall Carter; BA, MAT, DLitt.

I rise each morning and reach for the hem of Jesus’ robes, praying for His healing touch. But alas, His healing touch does not come. I turn my mind to prayer and meditation knowing that this time is spiritual not corporeal. I live my Life in God’s Truth, the consciousness of living in the realm of God’s Spirit, not my own.

I am not separate from God; therefore, I am a perfect reflection of God’s Truth and Life. So, I pray; I read; I write; I live. I join others in prayer bringing God’s Truth and sharing God’s Love. Every moment of every day, I try to keep my eyes on the path of life God gives me. I care not for the physical body that limits my actions, because the aura of Love fills my life.

As I hold the hand of my brother or sister laying in a hospital bed, we pray, we vow our love and life to God. We humbly ask for God’s healing touch, and it comes. But ii comes in his time, not ours; but it does come. Then we hug and say our goodbyes for the day, knowing that God has been with us in the room. As I walk to my car, a feeling comes over me. This is a feeling of extreme comfort. This is the gift of gratitude; gratitude for sharing God’s presence and Love.

©Russell Kendall Carter; BA, MAT, Dlitt.

I told my wife that I have loved her since before God placed us in our mothers’ wombs. How is this possible?

We all know how this is possible. We are all children of God, His creations; being a part of God’s creations, we are eternally brothers and sisters, siblings from the same parent. God knows our hearts and knows our soulmates. Jeremiah reminds us: “. . . before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. . . (1:5).”

I have discovered that sharing God’s Love with all whom I meet brings me closer to God. I listen to others’ stories; and when they say something that reminds me of our relations with God, I probe deeper to understand how they feel the way they stated. I may share my feelings, but only when asked. By sharing our stories, we become closer to what Jesus promised that when two or more come together, He will be with us. And, we can feel His presence.

One truth about this is that we do not need AI or cell phones to feel His presence, so, unplug and listen, God is here. If you don’t believe me, stand up, go into another room, or go outside. Stand up and take a deep breath. Do you feel Him; God is the very air we breathe. Feel Him? Do you feel the freshness enter you? This air is His gift; it is Him who heals.

This air is the life He gives; as we breathe in, Love, Promise, and Life enter us. The promise of tomorrow grows in us with strong love to share.

Then we exhale. All of these feelings of promise and Love expand from our hearts, taken by the air we breathe, it expands out over all of God’s creation, blanketing our brothers and sisters with Love and the same promise we are given.

And our prayers are. . . knowing You.

©Russell Kendall Carter

We all live a darkness created in our own minds. We suffer through the fog of our lives, praying for better days praying to be free of the burdens of life. Oh, how small we feel! So, we turn from these irritating thoughts to indulge ourselves back into our lives of technology. We return to the comfort of our lives, for our cellphones are our uncomfortable realities of what we consider places of ease and family.

What can we do without me seeing what our friends and families are accomplishing. We find pleasure in the Hades of our social life. We return to society’s stricture of acceptance; we are trapped by technology. We are suffering! Darkness has encompassed our lives.

We have tripped and fallen; with our tacit approval, our thoughts and lives are sequestered in obscurity. We must turn around and revisit what our lives truly mean.

God, search me, You know my heart. You know my every thought. Let me share Your words that enter my mind. Let them spread across the earth. It’s a little bit more Love that I feel when I too opened my heart through my desire. From You my thoughts go outward. I become a missionary, a missionary of your love, of your kindness, of your healing.

You are always with us. We are always with you. Oh, those who have joined you in eternity are still with us, and always will be with us. We and they will live through eternity. Assuring that all people feel the Love that You promise. Dear Lord. Bless me and help me to spread Your Love,. . . 

. . . which will cast off the works of darkness in this world.

©Russell Kendall Carter

I sit on my patio every morning, listening to the birds singing. There is a very oral outspoken finch. It sounds like she’s letting the world know that the sun has risen beginning the new day. It’s a shrilling sound; yet it’s a beautiful sound. It lets me know that God’s nature is living free! Such a wonderful sight. As I sit there listening to the birds, I watch a squirrel come down from the branch of our sturdy Maple and tentatively crawl across the patio border to the small feeder that looks like a picnic table; its tail twittering. Birds scatter. They go to the hanging flower baskets; they go to the hanging feeders. Chirping all the time. On one feeder there are sparrows; on the second, there are finches. We have some mourning doves on the third. The sun rises on the ground, and I see huge, massive birds, solid black. I believe they are crows. If not, they are very large Ravens.

All seem to live together, respecting each other’s territory. All species enjoy the feeder that’s on the ledge shaped like a picnic table. And the mourning doves love this one. But when Mr. Squirrel shows up, they scatter. Because he does not like to share. He loves the picnic table feeder and sits in the middle, daring any bird to approach.

Ah, the sounds of nature. In the morning, they awaken my soul.

I see a small shell. Walking across my lawn. Actually, it’s walking in the flower bed. It’s green and brown. It’s difficult to see camouflaged by the dirt in the garden. I see four tiny legs and a little moving nub sticking out the front. And I realized that it’s a very small baby turtle. And I listen.

Mr. Turtle, where is your voice? Why don’t you join the chorus of God’s nature this morning. And I listen. And I listen. Talk to me, Mr. Turtle.

I remember what Solomon wrote. “The flowers appear on the earth. The time for the singing of the birds is come. And the voice of the turtle. Is heard in our land (2:12).”

I listen!

©Russell Kendall Carter