Look Above The Bar

Norman Vincent Peale tells a story about a pole vaulter who only had to make a vault he’d made before in order to be awarded a college scholarship. The young man lost his confidence and told his coach, “It’s too high. I can’t do it.”

The coach responded, “I want you to throw your heart above the bar. In you imagination and in your eyesight, see only things above the bar.”

So often we look at the “bars” we have to vault over in life and we say to ourselves, “It’s too high. I can’t do it”

We are not alone. God is with us always.  We can remind ourselves if this by using one of these affirmations when we face struggle in our life:

·         God is the strength on which I depend (Lesson 47, A Course in Miracles)

·         I can do all things, through God who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)

If we wish to keep up comfortable place in mind, and have a peaceful soul, we must distance ourselves, at least somewhat, from negative distractions around us.

But distancing our self isn't always easy, especially when so many negatives are struggling to get our attention, and our participation.

Each week we close our service by reciting The Prayer for Protection and we affirm, “Wherever I am, God is, and all is well.”

What this prayer is affirming is that we are not alone.

We are not alone – God is with us always (all ways)

We all have this habit – when we realize we’ve been unconscious we get upset with/at ourselves… isn’t that accepting the call to participate in negativity?

When you have a spiritual realization, what do you do, get upset or be grateful? 

Realizing that you’ve been unconscious is reason for rejoicing because now you’re conscious again!

Would you be willing to focus your attention “above the bar?”  Would you be willing, for the next 24 hours, to deliberately speak in positive terms about everything in your life? Would you be willing to speak, positively, about your job, your health, your relationships, your marriage, and your future?

Would you be willing to GO OUT OF YOUR WAY to speak, optimistically, about everything? The pessimistic way doesn’t work—it NEVER did. Look for the positive in everything… talk positively.

Enjoy this video: http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/99-The-Greatest

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To read the complete text of "Look Above The Bar" from Sunday, August 12,  click here.