The Fame Game: Keep Watch

 

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever

a man sows, he will also reap. For the one who sows

to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption,

but the one who sows to the Spirit will from 

the Spirit reap eternal life.” 

Gal 6:7-8

 

St. Augustine reflected on mastering inner peace

and communion with God

and came to a simple conclusion: 

“I have learned the secret of interior success

over my fleshly responses to life

 and that being my daily

commitment to giving my Spirit permission

to guide my flesh into all things.”

 

Flesh in this case is linked to those

choices in life that flow from a self oriented nature 

in such a way that they drown out the whisper

of God which is constantly calling

us into our highest good & the good of

all concerned.

 

When our desire for fame exceeds our moral compass

or distracts us from the things that are highly

valuable commodities of the Spirit: love; joy; peace;

patience; kindness; goodness; gentleness & self-control we

render ourselves extremely vulnerable to

the world’s definition of success over Gods.

 

I speak from my own personal “mini-possessions” as I

have used up, on occasion, my time, talent &  energy in the

endless pursuit of the flesh: unbridled ambitions & 

worldly position and recognition.

 

This fame game is like a slippery serpent and will

often slither in our ambitions and motivation under

our conscious radar. We will know it is present

when we begin to put things above God & people.

 

Exploring the following questions will often

reveal the level at which you are engaged in the fame game:

 

Am I Ok without this accolade? (Do I feel loved, accepted?

enough?)

 

How does pursuing this goal make God recognizable in this 

world by contributing to the higher good of all concerned?

 

What is my level of attachment on a scale from 1-10 

(1 being not attached at all and 10 being very attached) 

to the success of this project?

(Remember, an attachment is an emotional state of

clinging due to the belief that without some thing,

person or situation you can’t be happy).

 

Does pursuing my goal or desired position take precedence  

over prayer/meditation time and service of others?

 

How high is my irritation level when my plans are thwarted?

 

Am I putting the success of this project above 

humble, kind & integrous responses to people?

 

Do I feel entitled to “it” (whatever “it” is)?

 

Am I comparing myself to another human being?

(feeling less than, envious, jealous?) 

 

The most wonderful thing about the fame game is this: as

soon as you realize you are playing it, the light of your

awareness offers you the opportunity to begin again with God

as you recommit to the practice of giving your 

Spirit permission to guide your flesh.

 

Dear God,

 

Help me to recognize the

interior discomfort when I am sowing to

please my flesh verses my Spirit.  Grant me the grace to 

flip back into the person you have called 

me to be during this earth journey. I

rededicate myself to the daily practice

of pursuing those things that expand your

presence on earth: love; kindness; humility; gentleness and

patience in my words; thoughts; deeds and actions.

May everything I do begin with your

inspiration and continue with your saving help.

Let all my work find it’s origin in you and through

you reach completion. 

 

Because of His Love,

Lauren

 

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

The presence of God is like a fish swimming in the ocean, as Mother Teresa suggested, no matter where the fish swims, it is surrounded by the water.  We are consistently surrounded by the presence of God and our ability to access this truth lies in our ability to slow down, be still and lean into God over the demands of the world. Jesus was masterful at this as he consistently found himself surrounded by questions, doubt, fear and anxiety.  He knew that the Father was in Him, around Him living through Him, in this space He lacked nothing and ALL things were possible.

How much of your day do you spend leaning into your to-do list? How many moments do you pause and remember you are like a fish in God’s endless ocean of possibilities and purpose?  Are you feeling overwhelmed by circumstances in your life? Unsure about your future? Remember that God’s omnipresence surrounds you, like a fish in water, no matter where you go, you are engulfed in God’s loving guidance.

One definition of omnipresence is to be present everywhere simultaneously. God is omnipresent. He meets you in the present moment; wherever your present moment happens to be. Your great­est peace always comes when you remain present to the moment of life in front of your face.

The power of God’s presence in nature calms the soul/body instantly when you are present to it. Choosing an inspirational verse or saying and repeating it throughout your day creates enough of a mental distraction to keep you present; safe from the fog of the future or regrets from your past.

Want to know peace? Know God. Want to know God? Practice stillness within your day. You will find strength in quietness and trust. Do animals ever fret over whether or not they will have enough grass to eat tomorrow? No, they simply enjoy the grass that is available to them today without any thought of lack in the future.