Lightkeeper's Journal

You are the Master of Your Thoughts

Article and Photography by:  Curtis Beaird

 

You can take control of your thoughts.

You are the master of your thoughts.

 

Recognize the situation.

Shadow thoughts gain the upper hand before we know it.  First thoughts in the morning are critical.  Yesterday’s problems seep through our nights.  Lack of sleep, fatigue, persistent struggles, a steady diet of news designed to inflame, wars and rumors of wars....will all conspire to spoil our day at its beginning.

Manna, food for the soul we are told, is fresh every morning.  Just choose the best from the light and think on that.  Simple enough, right?   Uh Huh.

Deep in our soul we know there is competition for our first thoughts.   Too often, a leftover aggravation, or an argument that we are sure we could have won, grabs our attention before our feet touch the floor.  Without realizing it, an old irritation seems to dictate our attitude. Frustration pushes faith aside.

While we have seen the light of day,

hope, promise and possibility are mired in yesterday’s mud.

But wait, there is more.

By the time we flip on the light, memory serves up a list of worries to include the forgotten trash we never moved to the curb, plus the real  issue of breakfast with another forgotten…....

“Frank, we are out of milk.”   And, “Why is Puddles in the house already?”

Good morning America, how are you?

Shadow thoughts, instant aggravations, the mere fact of being human, and the mistakes that go with us, can rule our minds if we let them.  There is no reason to kid ourselves.  Dark thoughts have the power to control.  Dismal images can rule our imagination. They seem to have a power all their own.  Here is the secret.  They don’t.   We choose the shadow.  Take control.

Think on these things.

The practice of picking the bleak rather the best is a habit.  Sorting things out may be necessary. But, why make a prison of the sorting?  Spending more mental time with possibilities than the “if only I’da" is the way of hope.  The Apostle Paul, to the Philippians, a people he loved, encouraged them to think on things that were true, honest, just, pure, and lovely.  Lovely?!   Yep.   It is written right there in Philippians 4:8.  In the same list he also included for our thinking time.........virtue, praise, and things of good report.

Easier said than done. But, it is doable.

The power of the shadow is indisputable.  Its rough texture, seething demand and determined presence forces us into thinking it is the reality and all else is an illusion.  

The shadow would have us to believe that the dark is the only choice.  It would lead us to the conclusion that lovely and pure are weak and useless thoughts.  Throw in a daily routine soaked in the images of war rattling with the rumors of wars, plus the forgotten trash, milk and who let Puddles in too soon…… and we fall prey to the shadow........

......until we choose otherwise.

 

Philippians 4:8 (King James Version) 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

Copyright 2012, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved. 

 

 

What To Do.....When You Don't Like Anything

Article and Photography By:  Curtis Beaird

 

You don't have to listen close to hear that the glass is half-empty and about to be drained.  Doom is pronounced on every hand.  The dreary end is cited as an accomplished fact, even by those who once thought there was a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. 

And we wonder.  What shall we do?  Who shall we listen to?

The forward look is now controlled by the assumption that the bottom is about to drop out.  Anticipation has turned to dread.  Tomorrow is no longer welcomed.  Its arrival creates anxiety, worry and doubt.  How many of us are tired, even before we start the day?

The possibility of a bright future is automatically exchanged for a view of the abyss. Exhaustion is our reward.

And we wonder.  What shall we do?   Who shall we listen to?

Frowns are the face of choice today.  Our sense of humor has been exchanged for sarcastic barbs. Criticism powers most, if not all, observation.  Exposing the presumed and assumed ugly has been raised to an art form.  Exploring the seedy and demeaning is the path of choice.  Tabloid is relished. Honorable has been forgotten.  Anticipation is nowhere to be found, unless it is the anticipation of the next wrong thing.  We are sad.

And we wonder.  What shall we do?   Who shall we listen too?

Everyone waits for the other shoe to drop. It, whatever it is, is never right.  Whatever "they" are doing is considered wrong.

Choose any subject, even the subject of the need for rain, and you will find an instant difference of opinion.  "Push back", as it is called today.  Argument is the communication of choice.  We prefer anger to vision.  We choose fear over courage.  We indulge in preplanned disappointment rather than seek opportunity for creative risk-taking.  We quit before we start or add the burden of denial to any new effort or project.  “I really don't think this will work.  But, I'll do it anyway."

And we wonder.  What shall we do?   Who shall we listen to?

To accomplish, should we bring ourselves to the point of actually trying, requires the double expenditure of energy.  First, the energy spent to overcome our negative outlook, then the energy necessary to accomplish the goal.  Our creativity is consumed in wasted effort to resist our own initiative.

And we wonder.  Is there a source of motivation deeper than the froth of hype, and more lasting than the adrenaline rush of a moment of thrill?

Is it possible?   Can we escape the way of insanity?   Can we escape the downward pull of gloom? Can we escape the gravity of the perpetually grim?  Can we find our way into a creative future?

All of this has been faced before.  All of these questions have been answered by one man in a single sentence.   

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”   Philippians 4:13 

That one decision enabled the Apostle Paul to change his world and mark the future for almost 2000 years.

We no longer need to wonder........  What shall we do?   Who shall we listen to?

 But, will we?

 

Copyright 2012, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved.