Acceptance…
By
“You say it is difficult to walk the path of Christ, to follow the teachings of the Buddha, to hold the light of Krishna, to be a Master. Yet I tell you this: it is far more difficult to deny Who You Are than to accept it.” - from Conversations with God, Neale Donald Walsch
I have always loved this quote. Back in my Facebook days, I used this quote on an image I posted about a year ago. I hadn’t read the book then, but I heard the quote somewhere, and it instantly appealed to me.
For decades of my life I was desperately searching for a spiritual label that I could trot out whenever people asked me about my beliefs. I have always been a very spiritual person, but for some reason I felt that it wasn’t real unless I could put an actual label on it. I tried being a Christian….. I mean I really tried. Several times in fact. But it just never “stuck”. I read the Koran, mostly out of curiosity. I have read the Tao te Ching, a couple of times, since the first time it went completely over my head. One of my favourite books is the Bhagavad Gita. For 3 years I was a practising Buddhist, and I still believe that Buddhism has a great deal of merit. Actually I believe that all formal religions have a great deal of merit… They all have something wonderful to offer. But for me, at least, in and of themselves, they all lacked something.
I guess my own faith was just too “all-encompassing” to ever be able to fit into a box… no matter how wonderful or appealing that box might be. And maybe that is why the above quote was always so appealing to me….. Because it speaks of Acceptance. Acceptance of who and what we really are. And what we are is far to great to ever be contained within one box, one label.
37 Comments
great composition and atmosphere … love this photo
Thanks… I really like this one… thinking of having it framed
A beautiful zen photo and spiritual post. Jay
Glad you like it Jay
Beautiful photo, and so much more beautiful words! Never heard this quote before, now I will never forget ♥
I don’t think it is a well known quote, but it has always spoken directly to my soul. Thanks Joanna
Is it possible to contain the universe in a box? It is infinite., And as as parts of God, children of God and gods in our own right, we are also infinite! Love your blog! Thank you for finding me.
Agree 100% Thanks so much
Very nice message, Tracie. Beautiful field, beautiful photo. Wonderful post.
So nice of you to say that… thanks so much xxoo
Said in all sincerity. Lovely post. Thank you.
This is a brilliant shot Tracie! Thanks for sharing the pic and philosophy.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for sharing this. This is a struggle that is very recognizable for me
I think a lot of go through something similar.. which is why it’s good to share it. That way we don’t ever have to feel alone in our experiences. Thanks for the comment
Beautiful capture and words, Tracie!
Glad you liked it Brian
Ah, acceptance. That is the key. I grew up in a little country Methodist church in North Carolina. I was a very spiritual child. I still am. I never joined any other organized church.after I went off to college at eighteen. I am still a member there, I suppose unless they purge their membership rolls! Organized religions never appealed to me. As you said, there is always a “box”. Spirituality comes from within…as does happiness. My mother told me that once when I was a whining teenager. That moment was as close to an epiphany as I ever got anywhere at any other time in my life. Her words were enough.
This is a wonderful post. You expressed a universal longing.
The photograph is very spiritual too. I could look at it forever without tiring of it.
What a truly lovely thing to say George thank you. I think I wanted that feeling of “belonging” that comes from being a part of church, but it never really worked because even if they did accept me, I always felt like an outsider because I knew that my beliefs were not the same as theirs. Thanks again for the comment xxoo
Tracie, I will be seventy years old in May. I know what you mean. I felt that way for a good part of my life. Somewhere along the way, I stopped feeling compelled to “join” others with whom I knew in advance I would not agree. Yes, it might be comforting to have a “church family”. Or so we think. Only like people can join together. I am not like anyone I ever met in such a group, They are there for validation and support. When you are certain that nothing is certain, you cannot commune with people who are certain they know the way. There is no belonging. Anywhere. And it is not necessary to your own spirituality. Spirituality is not a philosophy or an intellectual exercise. Spirituality is living the best you can and forgiving yourself along the way. We ask questions to which there are no answers.
I know exactly what you mean… and living rurally, I have found it difficult to find like minded people where I live… but fortunately I have met many people from all over the world who understand where I am coming from and I appreciate that.
I would like to reblogg All of your nice blog posts!:)))))
That’s so sweet
xxoo
I have had similar experiences with religion. It is almost impossible to put a label on someone, especially beliefs. I have found myself taking a bit from this faith and bit from that.. Mostly my heart tells me….
Lovely p;ost. Nicely written. I really indentified with what you said.
I am so glad you could relate… It means a lot to me that others have had similar experiences… and I really liked your comment “Mostly my heart tells me”.. as I think that we all should listen to our hearts more often. Thanks so much ♥
Wow! Thank you, Tracie! You put my thoughts into words and made things so clear!
So happy you said that… hugs xxoo
I accept me. Within a box, outside of a box, I accept me, I accept you…..
Well Said…. and I accept you too my friend.
I like that quote too
And I love that photo
Thanks so much… I appreciate that xxoo
Reblogged this on Ann Novek–With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors.
Thank you so much
Fantastic
Thank You.
Certainly agree here Tracie!! I say follow whatever feels right for you as long as you are respectful, kind, loving and you feel and share joy within yourself and with your fellow humans:):)!! Peace, luv and light always:)!xoxoxo
Thank you dear friend ♥