Chosen

You have been chosen
Do you chose you?
A tangled web woven
Navigate through

See the light
And follow the path
Fear not the plight
Cast aside all wrath

Change happens from within
Brace at the core
Breathe out, breathe in
You were born to soar

Through obstacles and barriers
Around corners and up stairs
You'll travel with carriers
Maybe with burdens or gray hairs

At slow speed
And maybe at fast
Take heed
You will last

Today is your day
To shine, to glow
Turn to Him to pray
For a seed to sow

He has chosen you
Did you call Him to mind?
You will navigate through
Your path you will find!

Verily, God has chosen you for His love and knowledge;
God has chosen you for the worthy service of unifying mankind;
God has chosen you for the purpose of investigating reality and
promulgating international peace;
God has chosen you for the progress and development of humanity,
for spreading and proclaiming true education, for the expression
of love toward your fellow creatures and the removal of prejudice;
God has chosen you to blend together human hearts and give light
to the human world.
The doors of His generosity are wide, wide open to us; but we must be attentive, alert
and mindful, occupied with service to all mankind, appreciating the bestowals of God
and ever conforming to His will.
- `Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 334-335

May today there be peace within; May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith; May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God; let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. - Mother Theresa 

Meditation

ADDRESS BY ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ AT THE FRIENDS’ MEETING HOUSE, ST MARTIN’S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Sunday, January 12th, 1913 "These people, who are called ‘Followers of the inner light’, attain to a superlative degree of power, and are entirely freed from blind dogmas and imitations. Men rely on the statements of these people: by themselves—within themselves—they solve all mysteries.

If they find a solution with the assistance of the inner light, they accept it, and afterwards they declare it: otherwise they would consider it a matter of blind imitation. They go so far as to reflect upon the essential nature of the Divinity, of the Divine revelation, of the manifestation of the Deity in this world. All the divine and scientific questions are solved by them through the power of the spirit.

Bahá’u’lláh says there is a sign (from God) in every phenomenon: the sign of the intellect is contemplation and the sign of contemplation is silence, because it is impossible for a man to do two things at one time—he cannot both speak and meditate.

It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is revealed.

You cannot apply the name ‘man’ to any being void of this faculty of meditation; without it he would be a mere animal, lower than the beasts.

Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life; through it he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit—the bestowal of the Spirit is given in reflection and meditation.

The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation; through it affairs of which man knew nothing are unfolded before his view. Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives heavenly food.

Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries. In that state man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves. To illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight is being used the outward power of vision does not see.

This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal nature, discerns the reality of things, puts man in touch with God.

This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the sciences and arts. Through the meditative faculty inventions are made possible, colossal undertakings are carried out; through it governments can run smoothly. Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom of God.

Nevertheless some thoughts are useless to man; they are like waves moving in the sea without result. But if the faculty of meditation is bathed in the inner light and characterized with divine attributes, the results will be confirmed.

The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror; if you put it before earthly objects it will reflect them. Therefore if the spirit of man is contemplating earthly subjects he will be informed of these.

But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, the heavenly constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in your hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom will be obtained.

Therefore let us keep this faculty rightly directed—turning it to the heavenly Sun and not to earthly objects—so that we may discover the secrets of the Kingdom, and comprehend the allegories of the Bible and the mysteries of the spirit.

May we indeed become mirrors reflecting the heavenly realities, and may we become so pure as to reflect the stars of heaven." http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/PT/pt-55.html

Sweat It Out

It has been scientifically proven that sweat has many benefits including:

Easing Pain, Unclogging Pores, Detoxifying Body, Releasing Endorphins, Controlling Mood Swings, Preventing Colds & Infections, Regulating Body Temperature, and Lowering Kidney Stone Risk.

"Indulge not your bodies with rest, but work with all your souls, and with all your hearts cry out and beg of God to grant you His succour and grace. Thus may ye make this world the Abhá Paradise, and this globe of earth the parade ground of the realm on high. If only ye exert the effort, it is certain that these splendours will shine out, these clouds of mercy will shed down their rain, these life-giving winds will rise and blow, this sweet-smelling musk will be scattered far and wide." - Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 

Energy committeed

Effort exerted

Lift and burn

Lunge, pivot, and turn

Rep after rep

Set after set

One minute at a time

Heartbeat does climb

What may not seem possible

Or beyond one's reach

Is just mind over matter

Commit to the latter

Put in work

Let it hurt

It will soon be over

A few minutes moreover

Warm up

Count up

Count down

Cool down

A damp forehead

A tear burns the eye

Rewards abound

Spirit profound

Releasing dirt and grime

Breathing in another time

Exhale each negative thought

And consider joining our cohort

Lead by Example, Build Strength

Did you get in your 30min of strength building today? Mentally, physically, spiritually? Please share.

"Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel, and keepeth the precepts prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All- Wise."
("Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah", sec. 139, p. 305)

Train to Trainor

I train to Meghan Trainor and like artists -- who do you listen to when you are working out? 

She accompanied me on my 5K treadmill run this eve -- did you get a jog/run in today?

Rave Wave Transform - Intro

This blog was created for you to explore the transforming power of RAVE & WAVE - Raw And Vegan Eats & Wellness And Varied Exercise.

Follow me on a 21-day journey of transformation -- this journey will stimulate mind, body, and soul and hopes to inspire you to make similar progress in your own lives.

What to bring with on this journey:
A Smile
Plenty of Joy
Deep Breaths
Spiritual Writings
Inspiring Quotes
Organic Plant-Based Food
Lively Demeanor

Things to leave behind as we embark on this journey:
Guilt
Disappointment
Expectation
Jealousy
Processed Foods
Negativity
Chemicals

The 21-days starts now -- grab a mat and let's go!