FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY BLOG - NOTES ON ENLIGHTENMENT

THE LIVINGNESS / POTENT BREATH - SPIRITUAL POETRY INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain

 

It is not what we see that hampers

our spiritual progress, it is the

antiquated lenses we peer through,

ground by our years of well-meaning

indoctrination, tinted by our concepts

and supposed truths, distorted by

even our epiphanies and peak experiences,

producing a cataract generating conglomeration,

fogging even the most obvious insights.

 

As the two poems offered here starting off

with The Livingness and Potent Breath to follow,

indicate, overcoming this perceptual malaise is

still, a challenge for me, as I work to see

fresh again, with infant eyes, my brain

erased.

 

THE LIVINGNESS

Existing within the livingness,

robust, pulsing with vitality,

energy destined for action,

the aliveness incorporates

a whole, a completeness,

with even beyond the present

in a panorama of beingness.

 

Leaves thick, lush with May

life float and shift on the

invisible wind, shade forms

shadow scenes across red

brick walls and greener dew

damp lawns, birds express,

machines holler repetitive

roars, here, now, within.

 

Perhaps I would be better

to see without words, constructs,

terms and terminology,

my brain erased, cleared, reset

and with infant's eyes peer into

the vastness of the whole me,

no distinctions, no borders,

just an all-inclusive everything.

POEM BY G. 5.29.2017

 

POTENT BREATH

I ask at times

    to dream aloud,

fluent and wide,

    unclasped by concepts,

constraints, former truths,

    stale dictums – free

of all that hampers

    my being, my seeing,

this pursuit of purposeful

    living.

 

Free of all these frameworks

    constructed over difficult

times, or even in moments

    of elation or triumph-

worthy then but now

    just laden with dust,

their inspiration clouding

    the skies of now –

let me turn the page

    moving on.

 

And when I do

    I breathe again,

clear, free, and fragrant –

    with deep breaths

now unhindered -

    the fresh and potent breath

overwhelms with its strength,

    vitality, and sweetness –

I am alive again!

POEM BY G. 4.22.2017

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

THANKS GIVING - AFFIRMAIVE THOUGHT SPONSORED INSPIRED AFFIRMATIVE THOUGHT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON ON TE TRAIN STORY - QWEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG,

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

What a wonderful concept - a holiday where

the primary mission is to be grateful and to

give thanks, offering true gratitude for all we

have been given. I think the Affirmative

Note below sums this up and provides some

additional guidance on how we might expand

our thanksgiving.

 

THANKSGIVING 

Let us live this holiday of thanks  giving

            with true gratitude in our

hearts - fully acknowledging the gifts

   of life, we have been given – truly

     understanding the bounty that

                     surrounds us.

 

Let us live this holiday of thanks giving

        focused on love and kindness

    seeking to make our relationships

      with family, friends, associates –

    and even those we wish to change –

       deeper and more meaningful.

 

Let us live this holiday of thanks giving

      connected with our own divinity –

            knowing God is within us –

   dwells with us and allows this divine

           nature to shine through as

     we accept others and ourselves

            as God personified.

 

Let us live this holiday by giving thanks!

AT BY G. 11.23.2010

 

WIT LOVE, G.

 

 

THE DELICATE DANCE - SPIRITUAL POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG,

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

THE DELICATE DANCE

I open the vision

            of my possibility,

            clear and immense,

where surrender meets

            intention,

where the two delicately

            dance, as if in

            mid-air propelled

            each alone, yet

            together, they cruise

            across the floorless inner sky:

back and forth, the leading –

            shifts – yet in moments

            of unpursued synchronicity,

            astounded, connected,

            one evolved until, again

the voices of reasonable

            doubt capture the moment,

focusing each on their distinctiveness,

            they unmingle, individuate,

separate for now, yet

            still somewhat connected.

POEM BY G. 2.11.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G.

FOREVER AGAIN - SPIRITUAL POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG,

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

The inspired poem/affirmation below,

began as I was meditating, repeating

my favorite “mantra affirmation” –

I am a magnet…,(noted in blue below),

which expresses our natural, spiritual,

magnetic quality/capability to attract

good into our lives through aligned faith

and acceptance.

 

As I did, out of these words came a new

offshoot, growing into a  more expansive

expression – reminding me that -

"I have been before,  I am now, and will

be forever again.” I have chosen to offer

this poem, as recorded, as inspired,

allowing the verbal melody to sound

without edit.   

 

FOREVER AGAIN

I am a magnet

            for positive outcomes;

all good comes to me now;

            all of God

                 comes to me now;

forever I soar in the

            completeness of Good

                       connectiveness;

forever I thrive in the

            eternal, within the

                        infinite –

I am transcendent.

     I have been before –           

            I am now, I will

                  be forever again,

the days, the nights,

    the struggles, the insights

             awaken me, wash over me

                       this nectar of being:

I am ready and prepared

            to proceed, forward,

                           onward,

      full faithed and alive. 

POEM BY G.  8.12.2015

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

LIFE ERUPTS / SPARKING A FOUNTAIN OF YOU - SPIRITUAL POEM AND NOTE ON ENLIGTENMENT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG,

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

We, us, humankind, who forever exist

as the erupting force of viable life, let us

know this: from the very moment of the first

consciousness our ancestors ripped

at the light of the world surrounding them,

harnessing what was reachable to create

a more sustainable foundation going

forward.

 

As we, in our lives now, add our footsteps

to this road, venturing onward, we must

contribute, not tentatively, but with our

whole hearts, knowing the very existence

of future existence depends upon

the nurturing of this eruption.  

 

Let us each wade through the morass

of our unique lives, clearing away

the lethargy, stretching to discover

what sparks we might ignite;

what fountain of life we might inspire;

what wonder - personally and collectively

as a family of beings – we might erupt.   

 

LIFE ERUPTS

The road is crisp

       with becoming;

            worn bare and clean

         by the footsteps

               of the multitudes,  

                     who ventured onward,

                  with clear dreams

              and overwhelming hope,

           with faith as a shield,

      determined to reach,

              beyond the constraints

                   of nature, of God, of man,

               envisioning a life robust,

       enticing, fertile with possibility,

                just waiting for the planting

         of their souls, eager

               for the sweat of their effort,

                          knowing it is in this place –

               at this moment,

                                          life erupts.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

POEM BY G.  6.10.2016

 

SPARKING A FOUNTAIN OF YOU

Scintillate, being the spark of new life,

flashing forth the pure blessing and

the energy of being here, alive, on earth,

emitting the essence of you becoming,

share the exploding purpose of pure

and worthy intention, a soul-bursting

with possibilities – sparking arcs,

connecting, conjoined with life partners,

to create and recreate now, fresh,

patterns of presence, existence. 

 

Scintillate, with each motion, movement,

endeavor, shine forth the astounding

wonder of your individualized creation,

share the sparks of love, the creative

genius, the uniqueness of your offering,

allowing passion and purpose to ignite

and light the way, knowing the material

and kindling for this combustion resides

within you, now, release it now,

protecting each eruption as each spark

pierces the darkness until combined,

a fountain of light, of you, sustains us all.

NOE BY G. 6.22.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

THE THICKNESS - AFFIRMATIVE THOUGHT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG, OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

I believe each one of us, personally but also

collectively, are poised and capable to assist

our world’s evolution to a more cohesive,

functional, and much kinder, global family –

one where compassion and mutual respect

compel us all to reach out our hands in

cooperation, as our sights are set on creation,

rather than destruction.

 

The first step, based on my guidance, is for

each of us to enter “the Thickness” of

our mutual consciousness, armed with our

own personal imaginings of what this new

earth might be like allowing our positive,

confident and constructive vision to create

a story so energized by our love, and 

the belief that we change the very fabric

of the collective mind.

 

THE THICKNESS

Enter into the thickness of consciousness,

well aware of its aspects, its dimensions,

and its dilemmas – as you are fully immersed,

you are also dissolved, integrated, merged,

leaving boundaries unclear and destabilized –

for within separation, the distinction is self-

imposed, self-devised; all folding, sifting

into one thought, one essence, one perspective.

 

So, you must let go, give in, as you take in,

becoming one with the presence, whole,

vulnerable, attached; leaving behind what

was former existence; accepting the evidence

of expanded consciousness – one being

alive, afloat in the many, the multitudes –

here thought is the consensus, yet still,

perspectives, conflicts, and desires fail

to meld.

 

Realize that this journey, by its very nature,

is real - this quest requires preparation;

a strong heart, solid confidence in the

waves will bring all sorts. friends and foes,

personal or preconceived, to toss you about;

hopefully, in the end, emboldening you  

to break through and erupt into awareness.

Return frequently to the breath, prayer,

affirmations and God’s guidance and all

will be well, doable.

NOE BY G. 2.5.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

OUR MAGICAL MOMENT - SPIRITUAL POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE. PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

      

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG, OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

12 Everlasting Light 

(Music For The Magical Moment By Ryan Farish)

 

For all who do not have a clear fall season,

where leaves on trees burst out in flames of

yellows - reds - browns mixed softly,

but distinctly, I invite you to imagine gleefully

twisting beneath a dry rain of color, then

joyfully diving into a pile of autumn hues,

laughing and shrieking with buoyant delight.  

 

OUR MAGICAL MOMENT 

Let us enjoy the splendor and passion

of a fall day in vibrant color, transforming

from the warmth of summer into the

chill full rest of winter – preparing us to

harvest this final explosion of purpose,

this closing display of all that exists

within us, waiting to be revealed.

 

Let us enjoy the perfect cycle of coming,

becoming and going within us – the seasons

of our hearts and Souls growing at first

with a single step, then a few more,

until we run with life in all its purpose,

only to slow again in fitting time to our

waiting full restful stride.

 

Let us enjoy this living – this season

which is enveloping us in its lavish

bounty, within us – let us dance beneath

the falling leaves – alive with the joy

of knowing this is our magical moment –

our cherished memory is unfolding.

POEM BY G. 10.6.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

A SIMPLE ORDER - NOTE ON ENLIGHTENMENT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG, OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain

 

Beneath the passion play of human existence,

exists nature, the natural, God’s world,

the simple order.  It is often easy to confuse

our constant state of human eruption with

what came first. When we settle down, rest,

meditate, dream, space out, pray -  we can

reconnect with and join this order once more,

realizing we, too, are part of this simple order.

 

A SIMPLE ORDER 

Tangible life erupts in mysterious ways,

like a fire at the end of a long evening,

a flash here, a spark there, a burst

of blue light ignites only to be snuffed

out by a gentle wind, lost in the embers

of its magnificence.

 

We live in discrete but connected

particles of consciousness, moments

always quietly present, simple, silent

reflections of our inner state of peace.

 

Reflect on the moment that surrounds you –

a slender song of opulent life calmly being –

no rush – no impatience,  just a simple order.

 

No need for doing – just enjoyable reflection –

life turning at its own pace – enjoin

its presence –  its nowness – listen

to its breath, listen to it sing,  it calls you

to its place – its God-given existence –

no harm – no foul – just the simple glow

and the hum of life eternal - being. 

NOE BY G. 7.3.2013 8:15 AM 

 

WITH LOVE, G.

NOT BE TRANSFIXED - INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH THE CONCLUSION 

OF THE  BLOG BOOK - TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain

 

NOT BE TRANSFIXED

Let us not be transfixed

            upon this moment forlorn,

with emotions and perceptions

            immersed in our malaise;

somber; sullen, like a thick glue

             of despair, adhering us to a vision

of outrageous fortune.

 

Instead, let us shed this dismal goo,

            this gloom we alone create from

mishandled thought, depressed

            interpretation, hazy logic; turning

our sights towards fresher vistas

            and more worthy considerations.

 

Here, now, let us defend our right

            for joy, love, peace, and happiness,

knowing this is the only true objective

            of living, being alive on this earth;

ready, fully, to continue with vigor,

energy, and belief in our ascent

            towards lasting magnificence.

POEM BY  G. 7.26.2018

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

SEED OF GOD - SPIRITUAL POETRY INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH

THE CONCLUSION OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

THE SEED OF GOD       

At the heart is the Crystal Soul,

the gem of life, the Divine Self,

the seed of God within you,

prepared to unfold into the Divine

essence of you, thought by thought,

prayer by prayer, it unfolds as planned,

a gleaming crystal of love created –

refracting and consuming the light of God –

translating the infinite into finite form –

powering – transmitting-receiving and

connecting with God.

 

Even if it has been forgotten,

it will glow again – released

it will grow again as you pursue

the journey back to your authentic self,

rediscover your spiritual purpose and

raise your eyes to the Divine again.

If you are lost, return to the path

to your destiny – an life authentic –

a life connected with God – transmit

and receive.

POEM BY G. 1.28.2011

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

FOR US WHO KNOW - POEM/AFFIRMATIVE THOUGHT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH

THE CONCLUSION OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

FOR US WHO KNOW

Each step we take carries us through

time, a string of moments flash frozen

by a mind in pursuit of continuity,

a heart desperate to sort out meaning

in the dust disturbed, it is precisely,

this moment, when we choose joy

or despair. 

 

Even at its darkest, this life creation

we now inhabit, the muscles we empower

to move through it with tender strides,

to punch our way through the malaise

and grasp the significance of this journey,

allowing even the hollow warrior to

comprehend its delicate purpose. 

 

For us who know even more, let us

sing an anthem of unwavering gratitude,

even as we wade through the suffering,

our hallelujahs washed with the ardent

tears of living, our passion dented but

never extinguished, as we declare –

all is well with our souls. 

AT BY G. 4.14.2015 

 

WITH LOVE, G.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT - AN AFFIRMATIVE THOUGHT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPRITUALITY

 

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH

THE CONCLUSION OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

THE SECRET INGREDIENT

Let us open ourselves up to the positive

and life-affirming opportunities of this

magnificent day – pushing forward with

a strong momentum, awake to our purpose,

at one with our inner wisdom, knowing

only good awaits us.

 

Let us open ourselves up to each encounter,

every interaction, fully fit and ready

to foster an attitude of “win-win,” we

push on undaunted by mishaps or

missteps, empowered by the unexpected

challenges, emboldened by our sincerity

and sense of mission.

 

Let us open ourselves to this life worth

living, realizing we are the active agents

of affirmative change, we are the secret

ingredient that will grow miracles

and sprout limitless possibilities, totally

engaged, we create heaven on earth.

AT BY G.  4.17.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

EXPRESS LOVE TODAY - AN AFFIRMATIVE THOUGHT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH

THE CONCLUSION OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

EXPRESS LOVE TODAY

Express yourself through love today,

enabling each tender moment to burst

alive – to touch the extraordinary –

to find its essence through pure emotion -

to dance for you – connect with you

in the harmony of divine presence.

 

Express yourself through love today,

and  meet the expression of God in all

you meet, each smile you encounter,

every kind gesture, polite offering,

knowing only caring and compassion wait

for your arrival, your loving presence.

 

Express yourself through love today and

feel love’s power ignite you, awaken you,

empower you to radiate what has always

been within you waiting, the infinite love

of God unleashed. 

AT BY  G. 5.19.2012

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

THE DELICATE DANCE - SPIRITUAL POETRY INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - THE QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL. AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH

THE CONCLUSION OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

THE DELICATE DANCE

I open the vision

            of my possibility,

            clear and immense,

where surrender meets

            intention,

where the two delicately

            dance, as if in

            mid-air propelled

            each alone, yet

            together, they cruise

            across the floorless inner sky:

back and forth, the leading –

            shifts – yet in moments

            of unpursued synchronicity,

            astounded, connected,

            one evolved until, again

the voices of reasonable

            doubt capture the moment,

focusing each on their distinctiveness,

            they unmingle, individuate,

separate for now, yet

            still somewhat connected.

POEM BY G. 2.11.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

THE FIRST STEP - POEM AND MEDITATION GUIDANCE INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

FINAL CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH FOURTEEN, ALONG WITH

THE CONCLUSION OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE NOW ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com

 

 BUT THEN

 I wonder, God,

    how do you stand existing

        within my tired frame,

    worn and cracked

from too many taut days -

    ah, but then, I realize,

    this is all my illusion,

not yours.

POEM  BY G. 8.14.2012

 

Sometimes this spiritual quest gets

too complex, and I am the first to

forget the basics; that is, being

prepared to connect with God, in

the present, through meditation,

prayer, and contemplation.

 

It is within these meditative moments

where we master the skill of mind

control, clearing away the debris of

our egos and our noisy lives, to meet

the true consciousness of God, always

ready and waiting in the now.

 

So when I came across the note

featured below from 2014, I decided

to publish it as a gentle reminder,

to all of us, of the basics.

 

THE FIRST STEP

The power to clear the consciousness

is available to everyone simply by

using the techniques and approaches

honed by thousands of years of earnest

effort, one errant thought at a time.

It is a basic meditation practice, with its

focus on the breath, returning to this

breath when thoughts surface – allowing

us to lay the foundation, training our

minds, so our awareness during practice

will determine the flow and focus of our

attention.

 

For some, this may be the first experience

with mind control – allowing thoughts

to surface, but upon review, choosing

to withdraw attention, returning instead

to the breath and our meditative focus,

thus laying the groundwork for a breath

focused mindfulness, available during

meditative practice, or anytime we choose

mindfulness as our criterion for awareness. 

NOE BY G. 9.19.2014

 

WIYH LOVE, G.

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Sometimes my guidance leads

me to a message I have already

received, recorded in my journal,

but have failed to notice or fully

comprehend. This is the case

with the poem offered below from

November of 2014, on the surface,

at least provides a poetic description

of the thought-based cocreation process.

 

THOUGHT INTO BEING

Tangible existence molded

        into form by firm intention,

            powered by imaginative vision,

        a process of unfolding, being,

    total restoration of a singular

idea expressed, finding form,

    through conscious cooperation,

        the creator and the creation,

            the baker and the oven,

                the smith and the cauldron,

                meet in perfect harmonic unison,

            as the glass-blowers breath travels

        the tube, finding expression,

    breath in the molten sand, thick        

glowing liquid expands,

    expiration intent on becoming,

        life-giving way to what was not

           before, yet now, in transparent

        splendor is viable, intact, artful

thought bursting into being.

POEM BY G. 11.11.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

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When I read this poem offered here

within a spiritual context, I feel compelled

to answer its central question, what

am I “resolute to defend.”

 

First, I would be resolute to defend

the freedom of belief, and the expression

of that belief, without retribution or

intolerance. Second, I would be resolute

to defend that an ongoing relationship

with the Divine is feasible, reasonable, and

sustainable. Lastly, I would be resolute

to defend that all spiritual paths held

with love are valid, and no one path is

more legitimate or defensible than another.

 

As we search history, it is clear that being

resolute to defend controversial spiritual

beliefs often require great courage

and personal sacrifice.  Although we may

live in a country where we are protected

from this type of extreme intolerance,

a quick survey of the international news

surely conveys that we are in the minority.

 

Factoring in this reality, let us consider

again – what are we “resolute to defend?”

 

RESOLUTE TO DEFEND   

Often, I think of moments

            distant, beyond, before,

when events erupted

            unexpected or unannounced,

appearing upon the calm

            shores of conscious being,

shattering the illusion of

            serenity with a force of

nature and humanity untamed,

            like thunder rolling through

the gentle dusk or dawn,

            riveting all unclaimed

attention, forcing will and

            choice to muster the

full course and offering

            of the remotest courage,

when fight or flight dissolves

            into required action,

arms secured with strategy

            outlined; the time for

doubt dispensed, no

            escaping the truth of

destiny and duty – resolute

            to defend our solid honor!

POEM By G. 8.8.2017

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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UNFOLDING

I unfold you, Lord.

I unfold you in the spirit

of your beauty,

perfectly formed,

waiting to be revealed,

the essence of love is dramatic,

powerful in the giving of life,

purposeful in the birth of creation,

I reveal you, Lord,

layer by layer,

only to find

my soul within. 

POEM BY G. 10.2010

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

 

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THESE TUMBLING TIMES

When we tumble, we see the world

around us from different perspectives,

from different vantage points, upside

down and backward, askance, askew,

off-center - by doing so, often, the thoughts

in our heads jumble, creating fresh ideas

not yet considered.

 

It is exactly at these tumbling, jumbling,

times when we must be most observant,

vigilant to pluck, keep, or cull these

gestational gifts – tenderly setting

each notion aside for more thorough

consideration, examination, later.

 

And when we do, let us be sure

to handle these gems with due respect,

trying each on for proverbial size

and style, be sure to give the

gift horse a trial ride, realizing the

forces that be may see an opportunity

waiting in the wings!

AT  BY G. 3.10.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G.

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MIRACLE OF BEING 

We sit together, God, in our joint worlds

holding each other's hands,

at peace with all and our own creation,

knowing each moment is a blessing,

each breath a resurrection,

every sound or silence an awakening. 

Clear we are in our purpose:

the full utilization of this day of life,

singular in its magnificence, its opportunity

to move our existence, all existence

further, stronger, wiser, abler -

to flourish, strive, reach beyond all false

limitations and restrictions, 

as we lovingly represent 

the pure miracle of being. 

POEM  BY G. 8.6.2017 

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

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“It’s a sure thing.” This is a phrase that often

makes me chuckle for all the times I have

heard it used in business, only to discover

it was anything but a “sure thing.” We human

beings are created to be innately suspicious,

it is the quality most likely to have ensured

our continued existence. A sure thing is what

we least expect, and the use of it often makes us

think of the mountebank preparing to fleece us.

 

So here I come like a spiritual sophist with

a new take on the sure thing – let us call

it surety – the state or quality of being sure –

certainty – which is the very underpinning

of faith. With our list of well-honed intentions,

spiritual or secular, we need to be able to fully

envision our desired outcomes, believing, with

surety of their intended success. I offer

the brief poem below, aptly titled Surety,

to assist all of us with the mental strength

training of our sense of surety: thus creating

our own sure thing. 

 

SURETY

The future is carved

from well-honed intention –

clarity of vision is fundamental,

determining the scope and depth

of each reverberating stroke against

a fertile now, once chiseled,

all is beyond repair or reversal.

Know the truth lies

within the vision first framed

and outlined - then crafted,

propelled by the belief,

the surety of intended outcomes,

the awareness of God’ s intercession,

delicate but determined.

POEM BY G. 11.11.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

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NO VOICE

My master hides from me –

    the voice I yearn to hear

        floats no longer in the

    silence – but is silent –

and with it, my connection

    to serenity, grace, life itself.

        I have been here before

    with no voice – no guidance,

lost in the dark, treacherous

    woods of my mind – angry –

        dismal – stumbling my

            way, searching for the

    Divine light lost for now.

POEM By G. 6.29.2011

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

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FACETS OF LIFE/LIGHT 

The gem of life offers

            distinct facets of light,

hold it in contemplation,

            examine its flashes and shards;

 splashes of light,

                        chips of light,

                                    tossing the senses

                        to and fro,

    with clarity,

then explosions,

            then reflective wonder:

know this is the very

            nature of God’s scintillation,

present in every intimate

            and minute detail,

an orchestrated marvel,

            a dance of divine illumination -

                                    focus as you will;

fully recognize that

            each delicate spark conveys

                        one note of a more

magnificent image –

            a truth reflected.

POEM BY G.  3.28.2017

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

 

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LISTEN. LISTEN.

Listen. Listen to the whispers.

Listen to the gentle guidance,

the inspirations, the circumstances,

the possibilities, the accidents.

 

Listen to the odd thought,

the surprise emotion,

to a faint suggestion.

 

Listen to your heart,

to your Soul pointing the way,

guiding your hands,

pushing you forward.

LISTEN. LISTEN.

 

POEM BY G. 1.17.2011 9:50 AM

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

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constancy -  noun - the quality of being

            enduring and unchanging.

flux  - noun – a state of continuous

                      change.

 

God is the energy of creation within the fluid

flux of existence: the thrust that evolves us,

that improves us, that has taken us kicking

and screaming from our dingy cave dwellings

into the existence of continuously more profound

possibility; with a growing, expanding insight,

that allows us to push all-natural constraints,

and, even as our repeated attempts may fail

at times, often at an incredible toll on human

life, this spirit of God born within us, wakes

our aching souls as it stirs our daunted desires,

inspires our muddled dreams as we stumble

forward, humbled but wiser.  

                                                                                   

                 FLUID FLUX

        There is no constancy,

    only life in fluid flux,

        an ocean of possibilities,

        appearing, being, then

            fading; moments sought

            and then discarded;

     desired briefly, only to be

        repelled - as we in lucid

            stretches intend our destiny

                with passion embraced,

            knowing clarity melds reality;

           some faint semblance of order,

                    yet even in this turmoil

                springs a synergy of faith,

              knowing this continual

           birthing will spawn

                  a wellspring of new,

                       fragrant life,

                layer upon layer

              of potential being, until

           in moments unexpected,

               it takes form and becomes

                   a resemblance of our

                 most potent yearnings,

                   stark and appealing.

                POEM By G. 9.13.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

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What might spiritual joy be like?

Today this poem leaped out at

me for publishing.

 

LOOK

Look into your heart and hear

    the pounding of the beat

        of a thousand trumpeters

            heralding the way.

 

Look into your Soul and feel

    the calling of a thousand mystics

        chanting the words in your head.

 

Look into your essence and find

    the Divine nature of your quest -

        the light of a generation in darkness.

 

Look into God’s eyes and see yourself

        alive in a world of wonder

            with lungs full of blessing and grace.

 

Look until you see!

POEM By  G. 9.3.2010  

 

WITH LOVE. G. 

 

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Perhaps we have become too tame,

too civilized, too cultured; and in our

indoctrination, perhaps, we have lost

sight of who we are, unable to fully howl,

to roar, to dance to the ecstasy of being. 

 

REFUSING TO BE TAMED

Let us sit upon this universal

    life and breathe freely,

for we are alive, flourishing,

    enormously prepared to enjoy

each moment, celebrate every

    gesture, announce to the skies

our destiny, our purpose,

    unwilling to stand solemnly

or in repose; instead, joyfully

    flinging our every limb,

physically testifying to the

    eternal truth of our being –

aliveness so worthy and strong,

    we, the participants, the bearers

of connected existence –

    God’s chosen, everyone alike,

refusing to be tamed.

POEM By G. 8.18.2015

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

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As I finish my meditation practice, as is my habit,

I often sit and listen for whatever might need recording, 

often resulting in the notes I published on this blog;

realizing what I am, is a listener, one of those who, 

figuratively, get down on their knees, put their head

to the ground, and try to hear what the universe has

to communicate.

 

Below is a yield from such an effort, not really

a poem, better described as a “Listening”  - like

a note from a thoughtful friend in the cosmos,

offering advice, and reminding me of the wonder

I am partaking daily. Like Emerson, I believe

we are all equipped to do our own listening, 

to connect with Spirit and share our musings,

if desired, with the world. 

 

WRAPPED IN LIFE

Sit still allowing the stillness

    to envelop your being, feeling

        the peace pervade the moment,

            breath upon breath, layering

        the motions of  your focus, here

    the unity of being exists, resides,

ready to reveal the secret of the

    universe - an energy of life within

        every cell, each thread, evolving

            with the oneness of purpose, to see,

        feel, touch, smell, and taste this

    experience of being, willing

        to cherish one morsel of the

            elaborate feast of living,

        a texture, a haze of color,

    the clang of an acorn

finding  ground – realize

    what a wonder surrounds you,

        celebrate the opportunity

            to be here, now, wrapped

                in life and alive.

POEM By G. 9.11.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

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WE STRETCH 

Often we stretch to grasp something

beyond our reach, for a moment,

during the reaching, our balance

wanes and it is as if we become

unfixed, unhinged, lost in free fall –

with our minds calculating the merits

of retreat, or further tetherless

commitment, as a burst of adrenaline

stokes our aching pride, pushing

our outstretched desire within tentative

touch; now, we, realizing, as with all

of life's contests, more is required:

all we cherish must be wagered

to own this prize, and before our yes

is even conceived, our souls extend

our reach beyond comprehension,

grasping, at last, our surfeit destiny,

for now, our balance restored.

POEM By G. 4.18.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G.

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JUST BEYOND OUR REACH

Often, we stretch to grasp something just beyond

our reach, for a moment, during the reaching, our

balance wanes and it is as if we become unfixed,

unhinged, lost in free fall - with our minds

calculating the merits of retreat or further

tetherless commitment, as a burst of adrenaline

stokes our aching pride, pushing our outstretched

desire within tentative touch; now, we, realize,

as with all of life's contests, more is required: all

we cherish must be wagered to own this prize,

and before our yes is even conceived, our souls

extend our reach beyond comprehension,

grasping, at last, our surfeit destiny, for now, our

balance restored.  

POEM By G. 4.17.2015 

 

WITH LOVE, G.    

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I have found it worthwhile, daily - and some

days even more often - to conduct a positivity

check, to see what is swirling around in my

head: is it empowering, encouraging, purposeful;

or a litany of complaints, poor me’s, and/or

ongoing despairs.

 

New Thought folks would say a negative mind

is attracting  just as vigorously as a positive mind:

reminding us that it is essential to ensure our

thoughts of anguish and angst do not betray us.

 

As the note below indicates, one way to do this

is to envision our dreams as already fulfilled,

obtained – and by enabling every detail to come

to life within our imaginations, we keep our

minds focused on what we truly intend: our

mental sights set to attract our greater good.

 

THOUGHTS OF DREAMS FULFILLED

Often we must inspire ourselves with

    thoughts of dreams fulfilled, keeping

our intended life well placed in our

    perspective, ensuring our focus is

not blurred by transitory moments

    of angst and anguish, lifeless than

desired or hoped.

 

To see us through, we must maintain

    a vision of all things intended,

allowing every detail, every nuance

    to find expression, to play and

interplay within our imagination,

    vivid and tangible, complete in

every way.

 

It is with this imaginary activity,

    we clearly frame our purpose,

setting our expectations even as

    contrary events unfurl before

our eyes untended, our thoughts

    and fervent emotion involved in

truer pursuits within, attracting

all honestly desired, forthrightly

intended. 

AT BY G. 2.18.15

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

 

 

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scope - (noun) 1. the extent of the area or

subject matter that something deals with

or to which it is relevant: 2. the opportunity

or possibility to do or deal with something:

(verb) 1. assess or investigate (something):

2. North American Informal – look at

something carefully. 

  

Daily living is all about making distinctions, 

differentiating the incoming stimuli, labeling

what is experienced, comparing  and contrasting

each stimulus, to identity, sort, and file it away

for current, or future action-based choices.

 

I often find myself focused on what I am attending

to at the moment in my life, rather than what might

be beyond it, creating it, or fostering it.

 

From time to time, I receive guidance, like the note 

featured here titled Scope, clearly urging me on to

expand my awareness, to stretch my spiritual field

of vision, to perceive beyond the simple reality

I live through and with each day.

 

For some of us, our current spiritual scope maybe

all we desire at the moment, our existing connection

with God fitting our actual needs, not requiring any

further stretching or expanding our perspective.

 

I guess the question requiring some attention

is primarily - what is our personal scope; that is,

what are we seeking to achieve with our spiritual

quest? And based on this answer, if we believe

it appears warranted, we can assess what type

of scope, adjustment needs to be considered.

Then perhaps, the note offered below, might

serve as a starting point or framework.

 

SCOPE

Scope is an essential aspect of the quest 

for a positive, personal spirituality.

Scope – the depth and breadth of any 

earnest pursuit of clarity or truth; a more

encompassing perspective; a more focused

intention, one allowing us to peer beyond

the limits of the periphery, stretching our

field of vision, our comprehension, the

elasticity of standard or expected conscious 

possibility, accepting full well the folly 

of material, concrete, solid; conscious and

aware no such a distinction exists; here now,

our scope is broader, blending the dimensions

of reality with imagination, secular with the

mystic, tangible with the forming and formless:

and now with this ever-broadening scope, we

begin to reveal the true nature of being,

the continual incorporation of all with all,

a borderless, boundaryless wash of watercolor,

where this is attached to that, as our scope

unravels the folly of distinction, separation, 

uniqueness – knowing only oneness, absolute

unity.

NOE By G. 5.31.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

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AN INVISIBLE HAND

Often when we least expect it, help is on

the way, the conundrum unraveled, the hot

issue is cooled off, the potential demise

averted, the misdirection appropriately

rectified,  and what was once dark is now

rightfully illuminated.

 

Yet, as serendipitous as this may appear,

we are fully aware of the source of this

good fortune, the invisible hand moving

these disjointed and disparate threads

into a whole cloth, the perpetuator of

unseen grace in our lives.

 

So today, let us proceed on with a full

measure of confidence that our good,

will arrive in time, as needed, with no cause

for fret or dismay, requiring only a small

portion of faith to be threaded with our

unwavering belief in the totality of Divine

love.

AT By G. 3.31.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

 

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POTENTIALITIES

With this breath

I enter the moment

of infinite possibilities

all forming within

creative consciousness

to exist – unfolding -

becoming – then being -

a marvelous display

of potential existences

off and on their way

budding and flowering

even before I take

my next breath.

 

Still, I am here,

and there, and

everywhere,

a soaring

creation.

POEM G. 10.11.13 

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

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FORSAKEN PURSUIT

Lost upon the waters 

    of this life, I struggle

        to gain balance, to float,

            to remain intact; whole;

                unsure of my destination,

            or even my point of origin,

        a battered leaf of sorts,

    a forgotten moment of a

foreign destiny, a forsaken

    pursuit experienced but

        not recalled. I battle the fog,

            the mist, the sprays of my

                own creation once conjured

            with joy and celebration, now

        burdensome, faint memories 

    as I submerge under its weight.

Is it just change, or perhaps

    stagnation, or a deep malaise

clouding my soul; I know not.

POEM G. 7.25.2018

 

 

 

PIECES OF GOD/THE ORIGIN - SPIRITUAL POEM AND NOTE ON ENLIGHTENMENT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

 

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PIECES OF GOD 

Everywhere I go

there are little pieces of God,

by gathering them together,

perhaps, I will see

the whole picture,

or at least,

like a puzzle partially

completed,

a rough outline will appear,

and I, with a little patience,

can imagine the rest.

POEM G. 3.26.2014

 

In my opinion, a key to a viable spiritual

quest requires the tenacity to find our 

unique perspective of God, which, in

the end may sync with a traditional concept,

or be something altogether distinctly

different, as indicated by the note below

titled, The Origin.

 

This Meditation Note is the answer to

my direct question, during meditation,

regarding the origin of God. Now, this

response may be impacted by an idea

I have been considering, or better put,

fixating on lately  – what if God-conscious-

ness was not the originator of all existence,

but evolved out of the very consciousness

of all existence - formed out of evolving life

itself. What if God is, basically, all existing

consciousness - plus, all awareness - plus,

everything awake - plus.  

 

THE ORIGIN 

I want to say - look beyond the horizons and

into the life, breath, and pulse of humankind.

Here, within exists the beat of a living God,

the anointed desires of all existence made

manifest by a single intention: this sliver

of purpose formed from a consciousness

combined to be something more than

the sum of its parts; a primal force realizing

random exist0rs would not transmit a

greater destiny than mere being.

Here is the transcendence into an organized

being a conscious entity formed and fed

from the totality of each thought, sense,

feeling, aliveness, and in turn, growing its

beingness, reaching out to foster well-

being of all nature, striving to navigate

the parts towards a more viable, pertinent,

and self-sustaining existence.

Here is the origin of everything awake. 

NOE G. 4.19.2014 

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

NEW GROUND/FREE THE FIREFLIES - A NOTE ON ENLIGHTENMENT AND A SPIRITUAL POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

 

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Much of my spiritual life is spent listening,

and then it is occupied with interpreting

and understanding what is being conveyed.

At times, there appears to be a theme or

concept connecting what I am inspired to

write and record.

 

I received the Meditation Guidance

below titled New Ground.

 

NEW GROUND

We attach ourselves to the function of things,

to the sequence of things, to the process,

following the ritual required, hoping

to find structure, concreteness, and order

where only fluid change exists – eternity,

where only impermanence abides; today

let us release our grasp and allow the fiction

of control to ease, moving toward looser,

more spontaneous paradigms; mindful,

aware, stretching each moment by truly

being in it, engaged and ultimately unscripted,

a free-range being without role, egoless,

forsaking the comfortable for new ground,

virgin, fertile - requiring the shedding

of repetitive being.

NOE G. 3.29.2017

 

I rarely ever receive guidance that

is not in some way personal and related

to my life. When I received this guidance,

I was drowning in my output, still

going strong writing the Finding God On

The Train Story - Notes On Enlightenment –

with well over seven hundred pages, still

seeing no end in sight.

 

I needed to step back and seek new ground.

This new ground, if fully embraced, would

require a radical shift in my consciousness:

most notable; the desire for permanence;

the need for control, the ability to just let go –

and the most difficult, at least for me,

choosing spontaneity over preparation. 

 

Being spontaneous rather than prepared,

almost beyond graduate business school

and professional conditioning to comprehend,

let alone actually do. My favorite phrase

underscores the challenge of this note

for me to live -

 

“ultimately unscripted,

                  a free-range being.”

 

The second offering below, Free The

Fireflies is an inspired poem from

a Sunday morning meditation.

 

FREE THE FIREFLIES

It is the ramifications of fierce expectations,

formed in off moments with fleeting desires

that limit and spoil our possibilities;

forever taking infinite possibility,

truncating it, squeezing it

into our preconceived containers,

our goal-directed edict, our years

of misguided conditioning –

like fireflies jarred

on a summer night,

these bits of magnificence

lose illumination and darken,

only to fade from existence

and our grasp.

Let us endeavor to shed our forethought,

expecting less of ourselves, others,

life itself -  learning to live, to be again.

POEM G. 4.30.2017

 

Again, a plea for more spontaneity,

as well as the elimination of expectation

and forethought, moving toward

the “shedding of repetitive being.”

Offering, for me, a rather radical

approach:

 

“expecting less of ourselves, others,

            and life itself.”

 

What I like most about these two notes,

is that they convey what has been

the spiritual wisdom of the ages for those

seeking enlightenment – expressed in

a more soul-catching garb, difficult

for me to ignore or dismiss.    

 

In all of this, I was able to see a fresh

approach for my book with too many

pages.

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

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Every moment, every day, every year is

a fresh creation, and with each wave of life,

we have the opportunity to keep growing,

creating, and becoming. Every wave is

essential – no wave is pointless or misses

the mark.

 

All the waves are perfect.

 

PERFECT WAVE

Form the wave each day

swelling with personal power

moving forward, backward

gaining momentum, growing

until full and bursting

with creative force reaching

to the sky to become more -

stretching, reforming, finally

to explode in divine splendor

new, fresh, more alive than

ever thought possible – a

perfect wave for now. 

POEM G. 12.31.2010

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

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Sometimes my guidance leads me to a message

I have already received, recorded in my journal,

but have failed to notice or fully comprehend.

This is the case with the poem offered below from

November of 2014, which on the surface, at least,

provides a poetic description of the thought

based cocreation process.

 

THOUGHT INTO BEING

Tangible existence molded into form by firm

intention, powered by imaginative vision, 

a process of unfolding, being, total restoration

of a singular idea expressed, finding form, 

through conscious cooperation, the creator

and the creation, the baker and the oven,

the smith and the cauldron meet in perfect

harmonic unison, as the glass-blowers' breath

travels the tube, finding expression, breath

in the molten sand, the thick glowing liquid

expands, expiration intent on becoming, 

a life-giving way to what was not before,

yet now, in transparent splendor is viable,

intact, artful, thought bursting into being.

POEM G. 11.11.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

PRECIPICE OF BEING - SPIRITUAL POETRY INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

 

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Meditation is the vehicle for exploring

the various levels of consciousness;

within the one universal mind that all

sentient life shares. We, like deep-sea

divers must set our sights on reaching its

extraordinary depths, following its siren

calls, listening for its sonar-like belts

in the bend-producing waters, submerging

blind at times towards the most profound

levels, where the treasures of oneness

and universal connectivity is strewn

haphazardly for ripe detection at the

precipice of being.

 

PRECIPICE OF BEING

A simple song - its soundless

rhythms - permeates my heart,

the invitation of an outer

consciousness erupts

in flavored words, meandering

in meditation’s hollow moments,

floating thoughts pulling me

towards a precipice of being,

shedding what was once

so meaningful, but now lies

at my feet discarded, my soul’s

flight in the ecstasy of becoming –

of what, I have no clear

interpretation, yet.

POEM G. 4.28.2015

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

DIVE DEEP/THE HUM - A NOTE AND A POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY EVOLVES

    

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The past few weeks have been a blur,

literally, as we took turns as the patient,

first Ann, then me – were forced to realize

that flu vaccinations do not necessarily

mean you will not get the flu, although,

most likely, not the one you are protected

to resist, but instead, some genetically

unplanned for next of kin that has gone

under the radar.  

 

Although on the positive side, this medical

hiatus has proven supportive of spiritual

pursuits, especially prayer, and meditation.

Given the extra time, attempting more

intensive meditation seemed to be a viable

option.

 

When I decide to, as I call it, go deeper,

I always prepare the way with prayer,

explaining what I am about to do and what

I want to accomplish. I ask for God’s assistance,

especially when dealing with the occasional

negative thoughts, images, memories, or

whatever might be unleashed.

 

When I did, I received the note below titled

Dive Deep– an example of what over the

past ten years of my quest, I have recorded

as inspired guidance and have termed

as Notes On Enlightenment(N.O.E.’s) -

to reflect that these are responses I receive

when I ask for God’s guidance. I consider them

inspired because I write down or transcribe,

what comes to me, word for word, without

editing. As the note below explains, most

mystics have conveyed, deep diving offers

its own spiritual treasure.

 

I close this post with a poem/prayer

titled, The Hum.

 

DIVE DEEP

 

In the vastness exists all things, all that was,

all that is, all that will ever be: allow it to flow

unchecked, go with its currents and tides,

allow the waves of awareness to wash over

you and through you; observe without judgment,

for in this place, qualifications, expectations,

judgments are needless, wasted energy –

observe and move on when unappealing or

distressing, languish if desired, dive deeper

if desired, for this is the basis of life itself in all

its vagaries, vicissitudes, the essence of passions,

of desires, of strivings, of successes, and of course,

of failures – hopeless or needless blunders – yet

more important – the reachings, the yearnings,

the outstretched hope for more: what lies ahead,

the next step, the possibility if only, if only all

things are aligned – and when they do or are –

the expression of unbridled joy – the hallelujah

of existence. Dive deep, dive often, and be

transformed.

NOE G. 2.6.2016

 

THE HUM

 

In your grasp, I am one,

    flesh made whole,

        soul within a greater soul,

            waiting, appeased by

nothing less than clear,

    complete immersion,

        to drown away this

            worldliness, this focus

on folly, to cleanse away

     this desirous appetite,

        left only with the hum

            of self-contained peace,

the original selfless

    soul of pre-emergence,

        one, one, once more.

POEM/PRAYER G.  1.29.2016

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

 

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For the mystics through the ages, spiritual joy

and Divine love seems to represent the state of

being lost in the love of God. I find poetry 

the perfect medium to express spiritual sentiments

such as joy and divine love, as in my poem

below titled Divine Light.  Note that these

poems often sound like traditional love poems

and seem to reference what seems like romantic

love to describe the spiritual experience.

 

DIVINE LIGHT

The sun shines brightly on my soul

     full of love and joy, waiting

      to burst forth on this day

             and on humanity

 warm – enticing –  penetrating

    like a lover in full ecstasy –

    I am alive within the divine

       within the energy of life

                  refreshed.

 

Rumi, the Sufi mystic and poet, was born

in Afghanistan in 1207, wrote many poems

that focused on spiritual love and ecstasy, and

only after a few readings do you realize he is

referring to God, not some overpowering

romantic love. This type of love is described

by the Sufis as “full fana,” which represents 

annihilation in God.

 

Here is the poem O Love by Rumi.

 

                             O LOVE 

O Love, O pure deep Love, be here, be now

       Be all – worlds dissolve into your

              Stainless endless radiance,

Frail living leaves burn with your brighter

                        Than cold stares

Take me your servant, your breath, your core.

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

A REDIRECTION UNFOLDING - SPIRITUAL POETRY INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY.

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A  REDIRECTION UNFOLDING

I hold on with earnest expectation,

knowing my time adrift

is but a casual delay -

an impediment in perception,

a fog that, when cleared

will reveal a solid vision.

 

Perhaps, again, I have failed

to listen to the stirrings,

the whispers, the faint cautions;

or having recognized their message

have misperceived the content, so

captivated by the desired outcome,

so enticed by the eventual evolution

warranted, the potential becoming –

so here I remain befuddled but

hopeful for a more solid truth,

a basic transcendence, a progressive

step forward and beyond.

POEM G. 6.1.2018

 

WITH LOVE, G.

BUT THEN / THE FIRST STEP - A SPIRITUAL POEM ALONG WITH A NOTE FOR ENLIGHTENMENT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

 

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 BUT THEN

 I wonder, God,

    how you stand for existing

        within my tired frame,

    worn and cracked

from too many taut days -

    ah, but then, I realize,

    this is all my illusion,

not yours.

POEM G. 8.14.2012

 

Sometimes this spiritual quest gets too complex,

and I am the first to forget the basics; that is,

being prepared to connect with God in the present,

through meditation, prayer, and contemplation.

 

It is within these meditative moments that we

master the skill of mind control, clearing away

the debris of our egos and our noisy lives, to meet

the true consciousness of God, always ready

and waiting in the now.

 

So when I came across this note featured below,

I decided to publish it as a gentle reminder, 

to all of us, of the basics.

 

THE FIRST STEP

The power to clear the consciousness is available

to everyone, simply by using the techniques and

approaches honed by thousands of years of earnest

effort, one errant thought at a time.

 

It is basic meditation practice with a focus on

the breath, returning to this breath when thoughts

surface – allowing us to lay the foundation,

training our minds so our awareness during

practice will determine the flow and focus

of our attention.

 

For some, this may be the first experience with mind

control – allowing thoughts to surface, but upon

review, choosing to withdraw attention, returning

instead to the breath and our meditative focus,

thus laying the groundwork for a breath-focused

mindfulness, available during meditative practice,

or anytime we choose mindfulness as our criterion

for awareness. 

NOE G. 9.19.2014

 

WITH LOVE, G.

PRAYER FOR THE SEASON - CHRISTMAS AFFIRMATIVE THOUGHT INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

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PRAYER FOR THE SEASON 

Today let our prayer be one of thanks

            for the abundance of our lives –

            for the warmth of a heated home

on a cold December morning –

            for the lives of those we love

            and hold dear – for our freedom

to become who we wish to be.

 

Today let our prayer be one of hope

            for all who are without –

            for all those who need the basics –

for all those suffering from not enough

in their hearts, minds, or souls –

            may they be filled with plenty.

 

Today let our prayer be one of peace

            and joy for all families,

            communities, countries,

for the world and the universe –

let joy and peace always be available

            by a single heartfelt thought.

 

         Season’s Greetings!

AT G. 12.8.2010

 

WITH LOVE, G.  

 

THE CLAY - SPIRITUAL POETRY INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

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THE CLAY

Look at the clay of this day,

alive in the sculptor’s wheel,

ready to be formed into shape,

through the loving touch

of your hands – feel the life in it,

press your hands against

the flesh of life, knowing

you are the creation of God –

creating.

POEM G. 11.1.2010

 

WITH LOVE. G.

 

REFUSING TO BE TAMED - SPIRITUAL POETRY INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - THE QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

 

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Perhaps we have become too tame,

too civilized, too cultured; and in our 

indoctrination, perhaps, we have lost

the sight of who we are, unable to howl

fully, to roar, to dance to the ecstasy

 

of  being.  

 

REFUSING TO BE TAMED

Let us sit upon this universal life

and breathe freely, for we are alive,

flourishing, enormously prepared

to enjoy each moment, celebrate

every gesture, announce to the skies 

our destiny, our purpose, unwilling

to stand solemnly or in repose; instead,

joyfully flinging our every limb,

physically testifying to the eternal truth

of our being – aliveness so worthy

and strong, we, the participants,

the bearers of connected existence –

God’s chosen, everyone alike,

refusing to be tamed.

POEM G. 8.18.2015

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

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@GodOnTheTrain

 CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH THIRTEEN OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com      

 

Beneath the passion play of human existence,

exists nature, the natural, God’s world,

the simple order.  It is often easy to confuse

our constant state of human eruption with

what came first. When we settle down, rest,

meditate, dream, space out, pray - we can

reconnect with and join this order once more,

realizing we, too, are part of this simple order.

 

This morning, as I prepared for meditation,

I opened my journal to the note below.

As I read it, I felt a sense of calm, peace,  

and I wanted to share it with all who might

benefit from a pause in this life's hubbub.

 

A SIMPLE ORDER

Tangible life erupts in mysterious ways,

like a fire at the end of a long evening,

a flash here, a spark there, a burst

of blue light ignites only to be snuffed

out by a gentle wind, lost in the embers

of its magnificence.

 

We live in discrete but connected

particles of consciousness, moments

always quietly present, simple, silent

reflections of our inner state of peace. 

Reflect on the moment that surrounds you –

a slender song of opulent life calmly being –

no rush – no impatience,  just a simple order.

 

No need for doing – just enjoyable reflection –

life turning at its own pace – enjoin

its presence –  its nowness – listen

to its breath, listen to it sing,  it calls you

to its place – its God-given existence –

no harm – no foul – just the simple glow

and the hum of life eternal - being. 

NOE G. 7.3.2013 8:15 AM 

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

PURSUIT OF BECOMING - SPIRITUAL POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

@GodOnTheTrain

 CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH THIRTEEN OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com      

 

Often, I allow the words to appear and find

their place as willed from beyond, or perhaps 

deep within myself, I am never quite sure,

and as with most things spiritual, the source

is not readily clarified. 

 

I do believe this force that touches our hearts 

that some of us recognize as Divine is not

held to our narrow perspective: our sliver

of time; but is the becoming itself is 

the emergence of life pursued, encouraging

all who will listen to strive further, to keep

pushing, thus being made more alive by

the very momentum created out of our living,

and like a joyful child being playfully spun -

shrieking with laughter - cajoling us to spin

faster - please, faster. 

  

THE PURSUIT OF BECOMING

Allow what is to be without fret

    or sorrow or consternation,

        being aware of the true destiny

of this existence, a life lived

    in pursuit of becoming what

        has been established before,

and will be forever after:

    predestined destiny, the arising

        of fuller, more fragrant possibilities,

do not dismay but flourish,

    for this time has been and will

        forever be a charted course

of a multitude of strivings,

        reachings, graspings, and when

            a grip is found, seeking leverage,

        summoning strength and finding

new ground, an unexpected stance,

        a wary balance, a fresh perspective,

            a new, ripe beginning from which

to reach, to strive, to seek again

            and again, and forever again –

in pursuit of becoming. 

POEM BY  G. 9.24.2015 

 

WITH LOVE, G. 

OUR SOULFUL VOICE RESOUNDING - SPIRITUAL POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

@GodOnTheTrain

 CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH THIRTEEN OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com      

 

The only criterion, in my opinion, for 

the successful spiritual quest is the ability

to foster and maintain an ongoing personal

connection/relationship with the Divine.

 

God, I believe, does not care what vehicle

we use to arrive at this connection, only that

we do. So we can chant, pray, sing, meditate, 

dance, bow, kneel, bounce, be mindful – 

the method or path chosen is not

the sole determiner of spiritual success.

 

Only the connection and this actual 

connection, again, in my opinion, can be

accomplished through words, music,

dreams, inspirations, voices, signs,

signals, visions, imaginings, or the arts –

here again, I believe God is fully flexible,

ready, and surely able to communicate

in whatever way will best foster this

ongoing, personal relationship.

 

With this connection actuated, the poem/

note offered below serves as a reminder

that we may now be ready to move forward,

to ignite our true, authentic passion, to offer

our unique contribution to let our soulful

voices resound.

 

OUR SOULFUL VOICE RESOUNDING

We are each now complete

        and ready to proceed,

to progress onward,

        sure-footed, clear-hearted,

realizing all paths lead

        to a full and clear

destiny, a time of open

        and complete awareness,

a period of fluid, unobstructed

        being, a flourishing,

an elevated, unrestricted

        consciousness, what is

and always was the essence,

        the idea, the spark capable

of igniting our unique

        passion, our ragging

offering to God and man

        alike, a crisp expression

of our “whyness,” our heartlight          

        connected and charged,

animated, alive, sincere,

        perpetually vibrant,

our soulful voice resounding.

POEM/NOE G. 3.23.2017

 

WITH LOVE, G.

 

 

 

THIS CHEST - SPIRITUAL POEM INSPIRED BY THE FINDING GOD ON THE TRAIN STORY - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE, PERSONAL, AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

@GodOnTheTrain

 CHAPTERS ONE THROUGH THIRTEEN OF THE  BLOG BOOK - 

TITLED THE CRYSTAL PATH - QUEST FOR A POSITIVE,

PERSONAL AND CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY

AVAILABLE ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDEBAR OF THE BLOG

OFFERED FREE AT 

www.FindingGodOnTheTrain.com      

 

accouterments – noun: personal

clothing, accessories, or equipment;

trappings.

 

This morning, out on my deck as the Fall

unfolds, I opened my journal to the poem

featured here titled This Chest. Well, here

it is years later, and I still have the chest

referred to in the poem.

 

Perhaps, you also have a chest that you drag

around with you. For me, sometimes it is

difficult to differentiate between my dreams,

my often self-centered longings, and my,

hopefully, positive, authentic mission.

 

Maybe my chest actually encloses all of these,

and more: the contents are shaped into an

ever-expanding ball of  yarn created from

life’s remnants – its hopes, its frustrations,

its struggles, its deep desires, as well as,

its dreams, its purposes – all parading

in a multitude  of colors and textures,

all vying for attention.

 

As I write, I realize that the chest may

not be the problem, but an opportunity,

an accouterment of sorts, holding

the clues  needed for a more productive

and positive life. So rather than stow

the chest, I need to open it up and

rediscover what it may have to convey. 

 

OK, I can do this.

 

THIS CHEST 

In the perfect peace

    of this tranquil morning,

        I seek nourishment,

    as we sit together

        watching life unfold;

why do I persist in

    dragging this chest

        around with me,

    I have no explanation;

just a desire to be

        free of it, of the me

            who will not give up

        the longings – these

desires to be more.

POEM G. 8.21.2013

 

WITH LOVE, G.