[alchemy63]

Ben had always had a fearful spirit. When he was young, some kids were playing with a ball in the park. They took turns kicking the ball to each other, laughing and happily chasing it with each other. It looked like so much fun, Ben decided to join in and at first he felt the rush and exhilaration that kicking the ball and playing with his friends brought. One day, while playing, Ben fell and scratched his knee pretty badly. He was still a young boy then and he went home to his mom and had his wound all bandaged up. Ben swore he would never play ball again.

Many years later, Ben had his own apartment. There was a closet in his apartment where he stored his vacuum, some other cleaning supplies, and a fire extinguisher. One day Ben went into his closet to pick up some cleaning cloths and was bitten by a spider. He was so fearful the spider was poisonous that he called his doctor and made an appointment just to be sure. At the doctors office, he was assured the spider hadn't been poisonous and he was given some ointment for the bite and sent home. But Ben wasn't so sure. He swore he would never open the closet again.

Joe was one of Bens' old playmates. He had an optimistic spirit about life. He enjoyed the ball game he'd played with Ben as a child. Joe fell several times while playing the game and some of the cuts and scrapes he received while playing were severe, but, with his optimism, it didn't deter him from returning to the field where all his friends were. Joe grew up and got an apartment in the same building as Ben. Joe had a closet too, and, just like Ben, he stored his vacuum, cleaning supplies, and a fire extinguisher inside it.

One day, a fire started in the apartment building. The investigation revealed some young kids had been playing with matches and the flame accidentally landed on a flammable section of the carpet in one of the rooms inside the building. Being about 9pm, most everyone who lived in the apartment was home and soon the smell of smoke began to fill the building. People rushed outside, in the night. It was winter and some of the people were barely dressed and it was snowing.

Ben panicked. His fear told him something like this was bound to happen. He raced through his apartment, opening the windows for fresh air. He lived on the 7th floor so jumping was impossible. He thought about the fire extinguisher but he'd told himself so many times never to open that door again and the idea of retrieving it was quickly erased from his thoughts. He crouched in fear and waited.

Joe, a few doors down, had been sitting at his computer reading the news when he heard all the commotion. He looked out his window and saw the people gathering outside, shivering. He, like Ben, thought about the closet where he stored the fire extinguisher and quickly ran and retrieved it.

The flames hadn't yet grown out of control and Joe was able to extinguish the fire within minutes. The people outside were grateful and came indoors to their homes again, shaken, but unharmed. Many named Joe a hero for saving the building from the fire but, to Joe, he'd only done what anyone could do, if only fear had not presented a barrier.

[CANDC]

A very good read with some insights on living life. Thanks for sharing that.

[alchemy63]

Thanks CANDC. In writing this, I am trying to show that spirituality is not something that requires a book, or heavy texts, or even philosophy (although you can do that if you want to). We all have spirit. Spirit is our mood and personality. We all, at different times, have been both Ben, and Joe. Whatever emotion is ruling our conscience in the present moment, is our present spirit. If we are depressed, we have a sad spirit; if we are uplifted, we have a happy spirit; if we are concerned, we have a thoughtful spirit, etc. Everyone has a spirit and it can change, moment to moment.

[Fuzzybear]

[Thunder Bow]

Originally Posted by alchemy63

Thanks CANDC. In writing this, I am trying to show that spirituality is not something that requires a book, or heavy texts, or even philosophy (although you can do that if you want to). We all have spirit. Spirit is our mood and personality. We all, at different times, have been both Ben, and Joe. Whatever emotion is ruling our conscience in the present moment, is our present spirit. If we are depressed, we have a sad spirit; if we are uplifted, we have a happy spirit; if we are concerned, we have a thoughtful spirit, etc. Everyone has a spirit and it can change, moment to moment.

A dynamic spirit is a living spirit.