The Traitor Within

Life is like an obstacle course in which we run like an Olympian athlete and at times getting nowhere. We exert a lot of energy trying to avoid life's ditches, jump over the potholes, leap across stumbling blocks, miss the dangers, and somehow sidestep the troubles. Of course, we could significantly improve our quality of life if we took the time to seriously think through our responses to situations. A load of troubles can be alleviated by a little forethought, a little preparation, and a little contrivance.

Some of the experiences we suffer we bring upon ourselves because we do not take the time to think through what our next move will be. We drift into so many agonizing complexities through our own thoughtlessness, hasty judgments, impulsive reactions, rash decisions, and failure to consider the cost.

We can also diminish some of our suffering if we could understand and accept the fact that most of our conflict is really mental. Our most insistent and insidious enemy is our own reactions to human situations. Our personal pride often prompts us to fear, shrink from, resent, or combat certain conditions, circumstances, or people. We do not want to love them or do not see how we can. Consequently, we draw back into our inner quivering, impotencies, aversions, and rebellions.

If we could only understand that there is no enemy, no conflict, except that which rages within. Our self-concern, self-importance and our almost unconquerable desire for self-justification causes more dissension and stress than any other element in the human makeup. It is the human traitor within ourselves that bars us from yielding to the will of God. It is time the traitor be exposed. God is waiting to take His rightful place in your life.

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available in July.

---

Energy Fields and Group Healing

I have held numerous teleconference workshops where I help individuals... Read More

Religion or Spirituality

There is a natural tendency to asociate spirituality with religion,... Read More

Simple

It was my intention to explain the word "simple," and... Read More

From Spiritual Cry Baby to Bold Seeker of Truth

Ever notice how people dread discussing... Read More

The Terminus of Existence

Setting boundaries is a common expression that we hear almost... Read More

Book Ends

In the responsibility we have as Christians, we are displayed... Read More

Gods Name... Creation and Undoing!

Over the past number of years, while going through my... Read More

When Bad Things Happen (Part 1)

Rabbi Kushner in his book "When Bad Things Happen to... Read More

You Have a Friend in Jesus

Have you heard the saying that; You have a friend... Read More

The Path Less Traded - the Spiritual Road to Financial Abundance!

There is nothing more valuable to a sentient being then... Read More

Beyond Life

The question of life after death is one that continues... Read More

On Seeking The Silence

Within every obstacle there is an equivalent or greater benefit.~Napoleon... Read More

Animal Spirit Guides & Totems

Animal spirit totems can be viewed in different ways according... Read More

Shamanism

Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although... Read More

Loving Your Neighbors

If I speak in the tongues of men and of... Read More

The S Word

We all sin. To avoid using the "s" word, we... Read More

Gentle Whispers

Today we do not experience great manifestations of God as... Read More

Gods and Energy

An interesting question that frequently comes up is "Which Gods... Read More

Dimensional Shifts

"Spirit is beyond the void of space. This realm, beyond... Read More

Tarot Basics

A Tarot card deck typically consists of 78 colorful cards... Read More

Its Not What You Know, Its What You Do

Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More

Will Science Get Closer To God Than Religion Has?

A subject of debate for thousands of years, spirituality will... Read More

Resisting Temptation - The JESUS Way

One thing that Jesus was NOT - was flashy. When... Read More

How Its Always Now

How do we feel the fullness of life itself?We have... Read More

Believe-Dont Doubt; Give Thanks-and Receive!

Does this ever happen to you? You ask God for... Read More

Creating Your Soul-Centered Community

Imagine for a moment. It's Tuesday night about 7pm. You... Read More

Anam Cara - Life as a Box of Paints

Lonely Song"a box of paints - lament for my da"It... Read More

Do You Have Hot Buttons?

You may ask, "What are hot buttons anyway?"Hot buttons are... Read More

Can Moms Have a Quiet Time, Too?

Spending 'Quiet Time' with the LordFrom the beginning of my... Read More

The Flow Of Money

The more we worry about money, and who's asking for... Read More

Dancing with the Devil

"If you can't dance with the devil You will never... Read More

What Is Wrong With Being Common?

The Emmaus Journal What is Wrong With Being Common? This... Read More

Dream As Big As God!

Sounds like a tall order doesn't it? But I think... Read More