Listen, Listen

April 30, 2024

Forget not the central truth that God is seated / In your own heart. ~ Swami Ramdas

Although being mobile again through the intervention of hip replacement surgery is fantastic, I’m still “old” and getting older. So I haven’t forgotten the promise of the med beds. However, having been restored to a much more comfortable physical state through 3D surgery reminds me: do what’s possible now. Move, walk, strengthen, dance. Eat beneficial foods, avoid detrimental substances. 

I’ve noticed a recent uptick in my sugar consumption. So far that’s all I’ve done: notice it. Sugar is an old adversary, but like an aging, wily boxer, it can still sucker punch me if I let down my guard. It’s easy to ignore what isn’t really a problem, at least in my estimation. But the possibility of bollixing up my place in the med bed queue because I refused to consider decreasing sugar intake (“why bother, the med beds will fix it!”) gives me pause. 

Wouldn’t I be healthier, happier, and better off now, if I raised my awareness of sugar intake? I could have a chat with myself, do some journaling, sit quietly in awareness, receptive to God’s opinion. I don’t actually want to be told what to do, even by God. But I would like to understand where the increased desire for sugar comes from. And, possibly, decide if I want to continue the elevated consumption.

Perhaps I could set the timer for five minutes and freewrite on this topic. The static of my mind can be so loud, and God’s voice so gentle and soft, it can be mighty hard to hear. Putting pen to paper and allowing the Universal Voice to come through bypasses the mental static.

I am willing to listen. I want to listen. All I need do is choose five minutes out of a 24-hour day to approach that doorway to God, put my ear to the keyhole, and listen, listen.