Sunday, June 10, 2012

What Mental Goose Flesh



Page: 54

Step we are on: Step Two

Chapter: "We Agnostics"

Subject: Faith, Intellect, Worship, Logic, Reason

Read Time: 2 minutes


Being entangled in worldly concerns, replacing God with inferior stand-ins for Him––is tantamount to worship

The term "false Gods" should come to mind. 


  • What was the next thing we found?
We found, too, that we had been worshippers.

  • How did that affect us?
What a state of mental goose-flesh that used to bring on!

  • What had we worshipped?
Had we not variously worshipped people, sentiment, things, money, and ourselves?

  • What feeling did we sometimes feel when we observed some of God’s handiwork?
And then, with a better motive, had we not worshipfully beheld the sunset, the sea, or a flower?
    Have you ever worshiped nature, or been pulled into an emotional entanglement in your head by a beautiful sunset or a clear sunny day, and gotten mental goose-flesh through immersion into the material world in this manner—perhaps even thinking that somehow it was a 'spiritual' event? Many of us have had this experience. When it has, we've tried to be God's creator, bestowing Him with credit for His own work, proclaiming His efforts "beautiful." 

  •  What was the next thing we learned?
Who of us had not loved something or somebody?

People, places, and things are our golden calves when they are placed first in our lives. Then these become distractions from conscious contact with the One and only – God. 


What did you do first today? Did you consciously place yourself in God’s care through prayer and meditation - or did you take a headfirst dive into the Stream of Life through some worry or concern for you and your life? 

Did you simply consider the next 24 hours in front of you or did you fret and worry about specifics, events and tasks ahead? Which of these more closely resembles the way of life delineated in this book? 

Which one do you think indicates Faith in God - and which one indicates faith in your Self?

Peace and  Love,
Danny S – RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic
 
http://stepelevencomesalive.blogspot.com/

2 comments:

  1. In my experience I find that when contemplate the universe and enter this state of mental gooseflesh that I also want to “share” it with the God of my understanding. I tell him my profundity with the expectation that he answers my question of, “what shall I do with this weighty information?” God looks back to me and says, “tie your shoes”.

    ReplyDelete