Spirituality Is For Those Who Have Already Been There Page 1 2 3

"Religion is for those who are afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who have already been there." Cheryl's Home Webrings

Cheryl's Collection of Spirituality Stories Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

In association with all the books recommended by Spirituality Stories.

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile,"

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reaction. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say, hello anyway.....so, I thought, this would be a piece of cake literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and

I went out to McDonalds, one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell... and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling"..his beautiful sky blue eyes: were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentle man was his salvation. I held my tears......as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said,"Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford (to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something...they just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it...the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me...judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot.

I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you...God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me honey.... to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace were we able to give. We are not church goers but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it....then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings (part of God) share this need to heal.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonalds, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn... unconditional acceptance..... after all ....we are here to learn!

Much love and compassion sent to each and every person who may read this.

If we could shrink the Earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people. With all existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look like this:

There would be:
57 Asians,
21 Europeans,
14 from the Western Hemisphere (North and South)
8 Africans.

51 would be female; 49 would be male.
70 would be non-whites, 30 white.
70 would be non-Christians; 30 Christian.

50% of the entire world's wealth would be in the hands of only 6 people
(and all 6 would be citizens of the U.S.)
80 would live in substandard housing.
70 would be unable to read.
50 would suffer from malnutrition.
1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth.
Only 1 would have a college education.
No one would own a computer.

HIS NAME IS JOHN

His name is John. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it. One day John decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so John starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. John gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!) By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward John. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, "You can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?"

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The people are thinking, "The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do." And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to John and worships with him so he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

Author unknown

I was sitting out in my yard by my wildflower garden, doing my reading, prayers and meditation. I had been focusing on surrender of my will and trusting that God will make all things right. I was feeling very peaceful and it was such a glorious morning. At that moment, a hummingbird flew into my garden. This was the 1st one I had EVER seen in my own yard and I hadn't planted anything specifically to attract them....so I was in total awe. I was saying "Thank you, God for this affirmation that I'm on the right track by trying to be in your will", tears in my eyes....just full of gratitude and joy. THEN.....another gift from above. Another bird flew by and shit on my leg !!! (Can I say that here ?) I started laughing...I was still crying from before. And I was trying to wipe my eyes and the crap on my leg at the same time. So, what's the moral to this TRUE story....... ? For me, it's just like life. Sometimes wonderful, fantastic things happen and sometimes I get "dumped" on. And I can choose where I put my focus......which part of that story am I going to share most often and use as a basis for how I live my life?
Barb

COMPARISON...........
Comparison brings inferiority, superiority.
    When you don't compare, all inferiority, all
        superiority, disappears. Then you are, you are
            simply there. A small bush or a big high tree--it
                doesn't matter; you are yourself. You are
                    needed.
A grass leaf is needed as much as the biggest
    star. Without the grass leaf God will be less
        than he is. This sound of the cuckoo is needed
            as much as any Buddha; the world will be less,
                will be less rich if this cuckoo disappears.
Just look around. All is needed, and everything
    fits together. It is an organic unity: nobody is
        higher and nobody is lower, nobody superior,
            nobody inferior. Everybody is incomparably
                unique.

In association with all the books recommended by Spirituality Stories.

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