Before we purchased our woodstove Del prepared a huge stack of wood to take us through the winter. Our original intent was to purchase a stove that took 18 inch logs. However, when we were unable to find that size we ended up with a smaller stove that takes only 16 inch logs.
This meant that if we wanted to use them correctly every single log had to have 2 inches cut off. We had a few choices. Ignore the problem and let the logs rot out in the yard, or face the problem and cut off those two inches.
We choose what often appears to be the harder path. Del re-cut every log so that it can be burned this winter.
This is a choice we all can make about assets that we have that don’t quite work in our lives. Instead of letting them rot away or be buried within ourselves why not do what needs to be done to make them usable.
Often those assets, gifts, and talents are buried beneath the trash of useless perceptions; perceptions that possibly once helped us in our lives, but no longer do.
Last weekend Del and I got to ride in a parade – in a garbage truck. Del rode in the cab with Mike, and Mesa and I sat on the back, throwing candy and tee shirts at the crowd. People laughed at Mesa and me sitting on the back of a garbage truck. Who wants to think about the yucky garbage?
But what if we didn’t have garbage trucks? What if we just collected garbage in our house and yards and lived with it?
We all know that we must weekly toss the current trash and periodically de-clutter our homes in order to live happily, but what about the trash in our minds? How often do we examine what we believe to be real, and question if it is true?
This questioning is in two parts. First we ask ourselves if it is true in small r reality. We question if it is true within our daily context of life or are we seeing it from a missed or false perception.
For example, here are some beliefs we all have tucked away somewhere. Is it true that you are not loved, is it true that you have never been happy, and is it true that you are not taken care of?
When you tell the truth to yourself you will notice that there is always evidence that you are loved no matter how small that evidence may seem to you; it is true that something has made you smile, and it is true that you are taken care of beginning with the air that is provided for you to breath.
The second part of this questioning is to ask if it is True. Is it True within the big R Reality? Is it True based on the facts of an omnipresent intelligence of Good?
As you tell the truth you will notice many used assets and many trash perceptions. If it is not true or True then let’s get down to the necessary tasks of readjusting our perception or throwing them out in the trash.
Choosing the perception that chopping and trashing are two actions that set us free from the tiny perception disease that we have caught from the worldview, than let’s get to it.
I have one more symbol for you. We are building a deck for our home, which will then have two doors that open onto it from my office and from our bedroom. It’s been a dream of ours and we have been gifted with the opportunity to do it.
However, even with a gift of opportunity it still takes action to build this deck. Del and John are busy building, and I am busy shoveling the stones under and around the deck. All of it is hard work. It’s our choice once again to choose our perception of the gift and either to find delight in the result or complain about the work.
Chore or delight, it’s our choice of perception in all that we do whether it is recovering and repairing unused assets, throwing out the trash, or doing the work necessary to have what we want. I choose delight. Why not join me and we can walk on the happiness side of life together, listening and following the Angel Ideas that guide us safely back to Truth.
"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting." Buddha
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*Article by Beca Lewis, author of Living in Grace: The Shift to Spiritual Perception. Visit http://www.theshift.com/ez.html for more ideas to help Shift perception. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
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8 Responses to “Sometimes You Gotta Cut Wood – And Take Out The Trash” Leave a reply ›
Great story and slide show. Love the symbol of that two inches of difference between what's there and what you are willing to do to get the logs and fuel you really want. In a physical way it means being patient enough to go back and chop all the wood. In a deeper sense it takes a willingness to see cutting the "logs" to size as part of a glorious outcome already, instead of just a tedious chore.
Beca, Linda and I agree with all your other fans .... your web technique is quite excellent and the slide show adds a lot. Also, please tell Del we're REALLY impressed that he can build stairs like that ... didn't know that was one of his considerable talents. And, speaking of woods and Del, our woods are in their fall glory thanks in good part to his ministrations. Remember the simple truth of this poem: "Whose woods are these I think I know because the bible told me so." ( I think that's how it goes!)
It was definitely worth the time you put in to learn how to add the photos, they really do give the Ezine a little extra personal touch! (yea, I got my five seconds of fame!:)
great pictures! really helped add a lot of personal touch to your ezine this month.
keep up the cool work (pun intended!?)
What a HUGE job. I wonder if I'd have had the dedication to save the logs. I kind of think they'd be left for decomposing. Unless I could find an eager, strong, and helpful DelJohn team in my neighborhood! I love the pictures....including the one in my mind of you sitting atop the garbage truck passing out candy. How fun.
"There's nothing like the feeling of accomplishment from a good day's work !"
Great to see you two having fun, working hard, and being involved with the physical world, as all of us 'thinkers' spend so much of our time in the metaphysical world.
I'm also involved in a construction project and doing lots of outdoor work the last 2 months, as well. I love it ! Thanks for the photos, it really makes it much more 'real' to 'see' what's going on at your home. Wishing you many starry evenings of great beauty to enjoy on your new and easily accessible plane of existance right outside and level with the office and bedroom !!!
Beca, what a great job! I had no idea what to expect when I clicked on the link, and this is just wonderful! I love getting to "know you" in the Ezine; and Blooming Your Life; and other ways. It brings all that you have written and said so much closer to Reality......
this was great! and i love the pictures!!