Why a Lightening Rod?
August 29, 2009
The excitement of life is what makes us get up in the morning and go back to work, school, a hobby or relationship for that matter. It is the electricity that swarms around us and makes us feel, really feel alive and that life is worth living. The question is how do we keep that excitement going, alive and focused without our need and want of it becoming destructive like that excitement of drugs, alcohol and obsessive behavior? Or if you are anything like me you find yourself asking is that question is that all there is or why does a certain thing or relationship not give me that spark of excitement that it used to? For some however the sparks are there daily but in the guise of self created drama or gossip about someone else’s life because we do not know how to focus or renew that excitement in our own life. And all this is rambling on leading me up to a single word; the word purpose and its function of becoming a Lightening Rod in our life; a lightening rod that serves as a grounding for all our energy’s into a central point. And finding that once we have a defined and constructive purpose we are on a path to a fulfilling and productive life with a lightening rod focus that takes this energy and transforms what had the potential of be destructive and converting it into both a powerful and constructive force.
So I am asking what is your lightening rod, your purpose that stabilizes all the crazy thoughts both creative and counter creative into a single point that leads you on a progressive journey? For many it is their faith, others their family and others a personal goal to be the best at a given task. For myself it is both faith and family especially my children, but to say I am free from all the destructive forces and thoughts would be a lie and the need of constant reminder and the need to look up at that Lightening Rod of Purpose is a daily task that helps keep me on the road to a positive life. For life is not easy for anyone of us and many times when we hear of someone dying at a young age or someone findin g out that they are full of cancer when they worked so hard to be their best makes it all seem so senseless, but that is when we need to look to that lightening rod the most and take any negative thoughts and energy and hand them over to be transformed into the purpose we were was born to fulfill. signed bkm
August 29, 2009 at 10:44 pm
comments welcome
August 31, 2009 at 6:29 pm
This is wonderful, Barbara. It gives me much to think about. My purposes are God, family, and writing. Sometimes, I put my faith last, and that’s when I get into trouble. But those three purposes create many other purposes. God teaches me to love others, not just my own family. So then I have many opportunities to put that into action.
It’s not always easy, especially when nasty people come along. That’s the real test for me. Sometimes I lose my temper in a bad way. Other times, I’m able to think beyond their actions and try to understand why they are nasty. Whenever I stop to think from another person’s point of view, it really helps.
Writing is what I do, and I feel like I couldn’t live without it, but it comes third. A professor in grad school told me that I should put writing first, above family or anything else. He actually said that I should lock the door when my kid is crying and learn to ignore the crying while I write. He was an amazing writer. But I think that attitude is very self centered and sad. Will a person who ignores his own crying child also ignore a hungry person in the street? I wonder.
I like what you say about the lightning rod grounding all of the energy into one central point. Maybe I could combine my three purposes into one. Love.
I don’t mean to make myself seem like a saint. Ha! Hardly! I fail every day. But like you, that purpose makes me keep trying after I screw up. Thanks for a thought provoking post.
September 1, 2009 at 9:28 am
Julie, I totally agree with you about the writing – it is something that comes naturally as getting up in the morning, but to place it above family and God is not for me. In fact it is the tool that helps be stay focused on exactly those two things in my life. Like you I can honestly say I fail everyday but having something positive to pull me back in focus keeps me from wondering to far off the path.
Thank you for your honesty and great comments. It is always a joy for me to hear from you.
bkm