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Spirituality and personal development is pretty heavy stuff. Sometimes, we are so deep into it that we forget that there is a life out there. So the question this morning is about keeping it light. Being in the world and not of it.

What do you do for fun?

I’ll be back later on to tell you what’s on my fun list

I’m back!

Because we live in a multi-purpose world, I couldn’t just give you some ways to have fun. I thought I’d pair them up with something on the personal development path.

1. Read Chick Lit - A personal favorite, chick lit allows my mind to wonder into the lives of characters like myself and solve their problems. Don’t worry fellas, chick lit will help you in the romance department and give you a good laugh. You can even brush up on your speed reading.

2. Dance - Whether it’s twirling around on your living room floor, in a class with other left-footers, or out for the Thursday Tango, dancing burns those calories and helps you to live a healthier life. It also activates the endorphins, and adds sex appeal.

3. See a Movie - Even if it’s not Way of the Peaceful Warrior, you can still do some self exploration while enjoying the latest blockbuster. At the very least, you can examine your feelings while watching the movie.

4. Go to the Park - Step away from the computer and enjoy the fresh air at a local park. In the U.S. it’s spring time - perfect for witnessing nature come alive. It will help you forget about the taxes.

5. Visit an Art Show - Do you know your local artists? Even if you’re not that interested, checking out a local art show can help you to reconnect with your creative side.

6. Take a Hike - It beats grocery shopping! I’ve not really been hiking, unless walking through the woods on an unbeaten flat land qualifies. However, I can see the merits of getting high above something and gaining perspective

7. Have Dinner With Friends - Maybe even invite them over, and, gasp…cook! (I say this for my benefit.) You’ll enjoy stimulating conversation, or, at the very least, have fodder for your blog.

In Spirit,
Nneka

I was talking to my friend Steve Olson (can I say that now ) about the lines that we draw around our conversations. They cut us off from all that is life: sex, religion, politics. I mean what’s left?

So today, I want to talk about some of the conversations we have a hard time having in the “real” world surrounding religion and spirituality.

Specifically:

• What is your idea of God?
• What do you believe your relationship to God is?

I’ll be back later on today to share my thoughts. In the meantime, have at it!

I guess it really is a forbidden conversation!

I toyed with the idea of not providing an in depth answer to the questions because, really, this site is about explorations in spirituality, not me feeding you my beliefs. But, if you insist.

God Is

I often say God/Consciousness/Spirit in reference to my idea of God. God to me is the essence of all life, ever present, underlying all that is. To be clear, I never had a concept of God on a throne in white. I heard about it, but I was not taught to believe in God that way. God to me is as close as my breath. Is my breath. Is everything, in every moment, everywhere, all the time present.

In personal development circles today, there is much talk about consciousness. That there is only one consciousness. I sense that we shy away from the word God because we don’t think that it encompasses all that is. However, I feel that the word consciousness is a very intellectual term. Try as you might, you cannot fully know God intellectually (maybe know of God, but not know in an intimate sense). God is an experience. The word consciousness gives God the connotation of all awareness, but it is often interpreted as all awareness that can be understood in the mind.

I like using the word Spirit to describe God because it blends the idea of God being everywhere present all the time, not as a great being that’s overseeing existence, but as the essence of all that is. However, it doesn’t have the mechanical connotation of Consciousness. It feels warm, all-encompassing, and as though it infuses everything.

Any questions?

In Spirit,
Nneka