Thursday, August 12, 2021
There is excess everywhere, we hoard it, and we are fully absorbed by it. Living in a world with so much excess, on the external level, has led to internal poverty, the condition of the spirit. Too much social media, too many errands, too much work, too much debt, too many distractions, too much food, too much money, too many clothes and shoes, and basically all of this excess stuff is the cause of inner poverty. The emptiness of the spirit is amplified when you deprive yourself of prayer, quiet, reflection, solitude, and gratitude, all because of the overindulgence of unnecessary, and often excessive, “stuff.”
Back away from all of the excess, and take a closer look at what consumes your attention. Are you paying attention to excess noise, that really doesn’t matter? Or are you paying attention to your inner callings, your spiritual vitality, or your how you can contribute to lifting the spirits of others? Pay attention to what fragments your attention span, what distracts you from what’s important, and what keeps the hum of anxiety, buzzing in the background of your daily existence. Most of this is usually caused by ignoring yourself – time to think, time to reflect, time to be quiet, and a chance to become still.
The quality of life can quickly diminish under a junk pile of excess “stuff.” The spirit is hushed, unable to breathe life and space into your mind and body; unable to allow you to pay attention to what brings joy, fulfillment, and energy into your existence. Yes it’s good to be active, but excess doth not make the quality of your life better. It’s the gifts of the spirit which makes life better. Don’t let your own, external excesses bury your awareness of what is really important in life. If anything, be excessive in the gifts of the spirit – joy, enthusiasm, peace, helpfulness, love, etc. Get creative, become a contributor to revitalizing the intangible excesses of your spirit! Realize what you can live without, on the external, and and start focusing on really matters.