Inspiraelevation

There is a path that is overgrown, and narrow. There is an isolated path, that leads to greatness, but few travel it.

It is often said that on this road a traveler is found every now and then.The overgrowth is due to the lack of use. This is the road that you must take.

Eschew the crowds

Follow that straight and narrow path, where few crowd, where few choose.  Avoid mental contagion, group think, the collective mind. Dare to be different. Dare to be set apart. Dare to choose the road less traveled.

Broad is the way that leads to destruction

The roar of the collective turns men into sheep; desperate to fit in, clamoring  to give up self just to be accepted.  They run to exchange their freedom.

So many  full of desperation, seeking, and looking, but lost on so busy a path. They have been reduced to sheep, shorn,  lined up for the slaughter of innocence, of virtue, of morality, of humanity. Although, possessors of their own minds, hearts, passions, and pursuits they  bend to the whim of the mass. They stumble along life’s journey willingly to their slaughter.

Boldly they flock,  readily holding out their hands to accept the shackles of slavery. Even with the full knowledge that the greatest gift of humanity is the freedom to choose, to think, and to be. Nevertheless, they conform. They conform to belong, to be recognized. For recognition and adulation they become sheep, full of fear, and loathing but  afraid to bleat because  of the off-chance that others may uncover the charade and they lose their standing. The fear of rejection drives them. They fear living life as a pariah ( an outcast) ,  labeled  the black sheep. Little do they know that,

Yes, it seems easy to take the road traveled by many. The path is laid, the travelers are plenty. It seems that there is no way to lose self,  or to lose at life because there are just too many arms to prop you up, shoulders on which you can lean, wisdom from which, truth can be gleaned. This is only an illusion.

The narrow way

Traveling the narrow way isn’t easy, it is very  uncomfortable. To do so  one must be full of courage and strong in faith. It is difficult to push through the overgrowth. It is difficult to diverge and journey solo. It is not easy being  different. It is often lonely

One must have the mental and spiritual aptitude to withstand every thing that tries to turn one  from his or  path. Especially, when the human body craves affirmation, adulation, and attention.  You must strive to subdue does things daily which call unto you, to draw you from  your journey. You must power on despite this to achieve. One must choose virtue, over vanity.  It must be a purposed journey walked with boldness.

It is worth every stare, every tear, and every jeer. Traveling the overgrown path less traveled is worth it.

 “Be not weary in your well-doing in due time you will be rewarded” .

 

Today, is all  you have so make the best of it.

Utilize your time to the fullest.

Every hour or second is a gift. In every second, minute and hour we make crucial decisions that affect our very destinies and for some their eternities. How much more important can any one thing be.

Each and every dawn you are given a gift in the form of 24 hours. It is a fresh start, an opportunity to change your life; an opportunity for success.

Success that results from those cumulative seconds, minutes, and hours poured out in meaningful activities and purposed pursuits.

Where a man’s heart is therein so lies his treasure. 

One must always remain mindful of how and where he or she spends their gifts.

Your life and the state of  existence depends on it.  If you want to  find out what drives a man or woman, find out where he or she invests most of their time.

You want a happy and fulfilling existence, find out where  you spend your time. “where a man’s treasure lies so does his heart.

Find your treasure and give away all that is not profitable. Some treasures rust and corrupt.

Be not concerned about tomorrow

One cannot and must not be concerned for tomorrow. Tomorrow never arrives, for it is always today. Tomorrow is always a hope and a dream away.

Hoping without action is as someone once said , purely wishing.

The worlds of the quaint song of aspiration  and inspiration says “when you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, when you wish up on a star, your dreams come true.”

While this is partially true, many forget the latter part which bolsters the former. “if your heart is in your dream, no request is to extreme, when you wish upon a star as dreamers do.”

Yes,  it is beautiful to wish, and desire, and hope, for humanity merely thrives in the absences of  dreams and hope.  One must not merely wish, but pour out his or her soul in to the resolution of the dream.

Wishing without action is merely hope cloaked in fear. One always wishes for that, which seems unobtainable while believers, achievers, and over-comers  work for it.

Our daily bread

We are given what is sufficient for today and no more. Each day we are given enough time to sustain us, enough time to build a brilliant future, enough time to right wrongs, enough time to build good habits, enough time to do the right thing.

Future bread cannot satisfy a current hunger. We must seek today for that which will fill our minds, hearts, and spirits with that which is needed to succeed.

Never throw away or hoard your most valuable asset 

So many simply throw the gift away or attempt to hoard it for some future use.

Time cannot be hoarded. One cannot borrow from time. One cannot accumulate time. One can only use that, which has been given.

That which is stored up can never be re-claimed, it is lost.

That which is buried until the hope of later accumulation will never total the sum we need.

How does one throw away so precious a gift?

By serving things that don’t serve you. By investing in things that don’t build your character or move you forward. Relinquishing control of your mind to that and those whom seek to control you. Such leads to fruitlessness and bareness. Yet, so many wonder at the point were humanity begins to regress.

You only have today.

A wise man of nobility once proclaimed that there is nothing new under our celestial star, the sun. All things that are, and shall be, already have there origins in time forgone. All lessons to be learned have already been taught we merely must devote ourselves to unearthing those gems.

A re-visiting of the orchard

Many of a tree are purposed to bear fruit, to re-create, to bring forth, hold, and nourish seedlings until they  fully ripen into beautiful fruit. The beauty and majesty of the orchard cannot be denied. The radiant beauty of the final fulfillment of a promising sapling, bursting into bloom, successful in fulfilling its purpose, is awe-inspiring.

So must one see the purposed existence of humanity.

We exist to bring forth, hold, and nourish good seeds (habits) that will flourish into a brilliant, beautiful, and strong character; one which results in a resplendent soul.

While the seedlings of a tree are those such as pear, fruit, or apple; our fruits can be defined as actions one commits to on a daily basis.

While the fruit of a tree identifies its bearer, as do our actions.

Our actions  reflect seeds of character. Such are  the rulers, to which the depth and breadth of one’s humanity is measured.

Those who bring about comely, and beautiful fruit (practice rightful action),  are counted among the prosperous, exquisite to their very core.

What are such fruits

As in past accounts so do I give an account. This is no secret as it has been recorded, re-framed, and related throughout time. Yet, the list remains unaltered. The fruits of such a spirit are Galatians 5:22-23

Love- showing demonstrable care and concern for another regardless of relationship,division, or circumstances. To give no less than you would desire to receive.

Joy- showing demonstrable contentment,  to display pleasantness of nature stemming from  and attitude of gratitude. Does not infer that one must exist in a constant state of euphoria or elation. It simply means that one is content despite circumstances and situations and exhibits that through a pleasant nature.

Peace- Demonstrating calm. To know that all things work out and time happens to all man,  and express that through calm and rational dealings.

long-suffering – Demonstrating the ability to be patient with a lengthy process. To be able to take all manner of things in stride. To be able to patiently wait out storms, trials, and tribulations without much complaint.

Kindness (meekness)– To be pleasant in nature. To display a heart for giving without condition. Thinking of others first and foremost.

Goodness- Demonstrate a spirit of goodwill. To do the right thing, not merely do things right. To do right because it is the correct thing ,despite how you feel.

Faithfulness- To demonstrate a deep and abiding loyalty. Steadfast, immovable, and trustworthy.

Gentleness- Demonstrated through compassion and concern. To handle one with care. To learn to give a soft answer and turn away the wrath of another. To be reposed (calmness of manner).

Self control  (temperance) – The ability to keep a level head. Being able to guard one’s heart and mind. The ability to limit excess. To live a life of balance rather than neglect. To be stable in all dealings.

One must plant an orchard within him or herself which bears all these fruits. It is by laboring to plant those seeds that excellence blossoms.

 

In all things be humble.

To be humble is to show humility.

Humility is the act of esteeming oneself as not higher than that of another. To walk in the understanding that, all which one has is a gift, and though possessed, one can never fully be the possessor of that which is gifted. Those gifts  and talents are the fruits of divine favor not earned but bequeathed to you. You are merely the custodian (the steward). What you have been given must at some time be given back. No more should a person boast his or her gift than the eagle its  natural inclination to take flight.

That which is gained can easily be lost. Talent and gifts do not guarantee success.

A humble spirit keeps you grounded. It reminds one of the source of all things and directs  one to work harder to cherish, protect, and grow those gifts and talents. This is the current that underlies the spirit of renewal, strength, and  mastery.

It is never wrong to take pride in your work, efforts, and accomplishments. The person who takes pride  shows they are passionate and take a great deal of care with themselves.  Having pride in oneself and having a proud and boastful look are not synonymous.

A person with a proud and boastful look are often wise in their own conceits. Such bravado and conceit, is always the pre-cursor to a fall.

Keep well the law of sowing and reaping. The seeds you sow ,that shall you also reap. Sow seeds of conceit and boastfulness, and the inheritance is wind. That which has been built will surely topple. What goes up must come down. Plant seeds of humbleness, and you shall reap the just fruits of honor, respect, and a  legacy. Character counts.

Practice humility and learn to become humble.

A vow is a solemn promise. It is a sacred covenant one makes to be fully committed and vested despite hardships, trials, or storms. It is not to be made lightly. “it is better to not make a vow than to break one” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). To break a vow demonstrates weakness of character.

This must be something that is significant to you

Only those things of supreme importance and significance can be deemed sacred. if something is sacred it is to be set apart. It is special. It is unlike any other. Thus, it must be guarded and kept with the utmost care.  Only those who truly love and have a demonstrable passion about something can make such a promise. Such a vow takes a commitment of the heart,soul, and mind.  It means giving your all until there is no more left to give. This must be something that you are bound to 

A covenant is a contract or an agreement solidified by word and deed. A covenant keeps a man earnest. Even when running, cowering, or giving up is the easiest option he or she considers the promise and the bond and gets up and soldiers on. He or she knows that the reward is great for the one who has practiced diligence. A man is only as good as his word.

This is the type of commitment you want to make. You want to invest all that is necessary to that and for that which you love.  Success is sure to result.