by
Hossca Harrison
Most everyone wants a peaceful life, yet many seem to experience one trauma after another. Mother Earth teaches us about life, primarily through the weather patterns we all experience. One can experience the still beauty of a mountain lake, the gentle waves of the sea reaching the beach, or the beauty of the desert. We also have extreme weather patterns, rainstorms, snowstorms, and more frequent firestorms. The earth is ever the influential teacher to her students who listen and learn from what she offers.
We are all students of the earth, the universe, but to what avail is a student who does not listen and learn the teachings offered? A few weeks ago, we saw the horrors of the mass tornados descending from the heavens causing death and destruction. What did humanity learn from this teaching? What has humanity learned from the past? Run and take cover, or be prepared, as you know the storms are coming.
Spiritual maturity brings us closer to Mother Earth, the universe, experiencing the art of a peaceful life. Do we listen, learn, or use immaturity in our lives as we experience the earth’s teachings?
What wave did we choose? One requires spiritual maturity, the other not so much.
Spiritual maturity is a lifelong endeavor. How many were taught spiritual maturity as a child? How many were taught immaturity as a child? How many have accepted immaturity as a way of getting what they want? How many have brought this forth into adulthood?
A billion Christians just observed one of their major holidays, Christmas. How many children and adults used immaturity in gift-giving? How many children received cheap plastic toys that will break in a week? How many adults will be depressed when the bills come due on their credit cards, paying for broken toys? How many complained, I did not get what I wanted? Get, get, and get. Is that what Christmas has become? What about giving? I am not referring to giving from the heart, but rather giving out of guilt. Perhaps the more toys I give my child and grandchildren, the more they will love me. Please don’t count on it. Giving out of guilt or giving out of expectation to receive something in return is spiritual immaturity.
Beyond Christians and Christmas, how many carry the state of consciousness, I better get what I want, or I will be angry? It reminds me of when I was sitting with Rebecca at a restaurant with an outdoor patio ordering lunch. Next door was an ice cream shop that also had an outdoor patio. Two women with a boy of about five sat down just a few feet from us in front of the ice cream shop; as all the tables were full for the restaurant, we were sitting waiting for lunch. Immediately the little boy said, “I want ice cream,” the mother said, “No, we are here to get lunch.” A few seconds passed the little boy said in a louder voice, “I want ice cream.” Again the mother said, “No, we are here to get lunch.” Then the little boy took it to the next level. Screaming and crying, “I want ice cream”. You would think the little boy was being severely abused. Everyone stopped talking to watch the show. The mother went and got him an ice cream cone; he was all happy, the mother was relieved. Thirty seconds later, the boy dropped the ice cream cone on the concrete—everyone watching as the boy was taking a deep breath to let out a blood-curdling scream. The mother showed such embarrassment she picked up the little boy and walked away, leaving the mess on the concrete for someone else to clean up. Who taught this boy to behave as such? Who taught him how to get what he wanted? The parents, of course.
We had a front-row seat to an extreme version of spiritual immaturity. How many adults do the same thing? Instead of screaming, they manipulate to get what they want. This feeds not the art of a peaceful life but rather plants the seeds of pain.
Instead of asking for what you want, ask for what you need to assist in your spiritual journey.
Instead of expecting others to take care of you, ask what you may offer to others in need.
Instead of controlling your journey, ask that your journey will produce a peaceful life.
We all have choices in life; our choices when using spiritual maturity will lead us into the reality that will allow for the most significant and most peaceful growth.