They are here to get you! So, Bend Down.
" Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath."
My brothers and sisters constantly disappoint me; They never step up when I need them most. Why did my father have to die? Why was he taken to feel his guidance when I needed it most? Why he divorced my mom? My friends—don't act as I expect, as if my feelings and needs are invisible to them. My partner? I can't tell if he loves me, not how I crave or how I've dreamed love should feel. Sometimes, I wonder if he's even faithful. It feels like the universe is conspiring, aching, and constantly questioning whether I'll ever be enough for anyone.
First, it's okay to feel this way! These issues can feel overwhelming, and it's okay to question. The reasons for conflicts, problems, and conflicting thoughts can be complex on a practical and even on a spiritual level. If you think about spiritual levels, this is for you!
Appetizer
There are always things that the world worries about: Read the survey What Worries the World .
Each generation faces unique challenges • Baby Boomers face health concerns, retirement savings fears, and adapting to a rapidly evolving digital landscape while striving to leave a meaningful legacy. • Generation X navigates work-life balance, financial pressures from supporting both aging parents and children, and the stress of maintaining mental health amid societal changes. • Millennials and Generation Z grapple with economic uncertainty, mental health struggles, and climate anxiety, alongside the complexities of social media, delayed milestones, and a shifting global landscape. From caveman to the man who surfs the universe, this issue will be there. Yes, it's never-ending!
The relationships in our lives—whether they bring joy, challenge, or even pain— hold deeper spiritual significance. They serve as mirrors, lessons, and catalysts for growth on our spiritual path. Because we all are karmically connected.
Dare to act?
Those closest to us, whether family or friends, can sometimes feel like opponents because they challenge us in ways that force growth and self-reflection. From a spiritual perspective, these connections are karmically woven into our lives, serving as mirrors to reveal our strengths, weaknesses, and unhealed wounds. They're not enemies but rather angels in disguise, guiding us—sometimes painfully—toward greater understanding, self-awareness, and spiritual evolution.
These connections offer lessons and opportunities for spiritual growth—the ultimate path to the kingdom. When we see these relationships through a spiritual lens, even the most difficult interactions can transform into meaningful steps on our journey.
All the little and big issues in our minds seem to swirl together into chaos. As if that weren't enough, the world adds its weight: people with their opinions, expectations, and actions, stirring the storm even more.
Can I just be alone? To escape it all, to find silence where the noise finally stops, feels like the only way to breathe again. But even in solitude, the mind chatter often follows us.
Peace doesn't come from running away!
"While walking, contemplative, you say, 'I have stopped.' But when I have stopped you say I haven't. I ask you the meaning of this: How have you stopped? How haven't I?" Angulimala Sutta
Ego-peeling boot camp on steroids:
There's the boss who emails at midnight like we're robots, the coworker who never refills the coffee pot but always drinks it dry, and let's remember the neighbor who treats their leaf blower like a personal anthem every Saturday morning. Then there's the friend who "forgets" their wallet at every lunch and that one stranger who thinks cutting in line is a sport. Sure, they drive us nuts (perhaps life would be dull without these characters keeping things interesting!).
By seeing these moments, see if you can grasp these as opportunities. Hang out with people you don't like. Do things you don't enjoy and let your mind's chatter say "no." This way, you'll peel away your ego faster.
The next time something happens, or a thought arises about an incident or someone in your life, pause and ask yourself: What is this angel here to teach me? Reflect on it and listen to the quiet wisdom of your own inner voice. Keep practicing this.
It'll be more challenging, but it's the way…
A divorce, an accident, a loss—whatever the pain maybe—take a moment to bow down in surrender and trust. Bow everyone and everything. To Buddha, God, a deity, or the divine soul within—simply bow physically and mentally with all your energy. Then, pray, chant, or sing.
“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” Psalm 116:2-4
Surrender: “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:39