Embrace Your Inner Grump

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Reflections

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Posted On December 31, 2016

There’s a grumpy old man living inside of me.
He rears his warted head every time I judge myself, grumble at the world, and grouse about life’s imperfections.

He tries to put out the light that lives inside of me. He’s angry because the light blinds his eyes to the good in the world, to the good in me. He wants the light to go out so he can dwell in bitterness, darkness, and remorse. It’s easier that way, he believes.

I whisper to my grumpy old man that the inner light cannot be put out. It is the light of love. And love endures. It never ends. It never fails. It pierces the darkness because it’s the Divine Energy that sustains all creation.

As we begin a new year, I’m making a pact with my grumpy old man. I resolve to acknowledge and embrace him, to reach out to that crotchety guy who lives inside of me, hold him in my heart, calm him, quiet him, reassure him that he’s safe, and help him choose love so he becomes the Light itself.

brian j plachta
brianplachta.net

Written by Brian J. Plachta

Following the Breadcrumbs God Leaves Along Our Path

What if God is speaking through ordinary moments more often than we realize?

A conversation that stays with us. A door that closes. A quiet nudge we can’t quite explain. An unexpected invitation that seems to come at just the right time.

The challenge is learning to notice these moments before we have any idea where they’re leading, and trusting the next step.

Over time, we may begin to see that God’s guidance doesn’t always come as an answer. Sometimes, it comes as a trail.

What to Do When God Seems Silent

Has silence ever made you feel like God is far away? When we feel this way, it’s easy to start looking for answers or waiting for a clear sign. But prayer can also be as simple as slowing down and noticing what’s already here. The breeze. The waves. Your breath. The quiet. God’s presence doesn’t always come through words. Sometimes we just need to be still enough to notice.

Let God Alone Define You

Ever have someone’s words get stuck in your head?
Maybe they criticized you, misunderstood you, or told a story about you that doesn’t feel true. And before long, you’re holding a courtroom in your mind—defending yourself, replaying the conversation, wondering if maybe they’re right.

There’s another way.

Bring it into the quiet with God.

Ask: Is there something here I need to learn? Is there something I need to own? And what was never mine to carry in the first place?

We can stay humble enough to receive the truth without letting someone else’s opinion become our identity.

Because in the end, God alone defines you.

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