Spiritual Reclamation

Good afternoon and evening to all.  I want to begin by saying thank you for continuing to view this blog.  I have had more fun with this blog than I had initially thought.  Today's theme is Spiritual Reclamation.  While at church today, the preacher talked about Maintaining Momentum as Part 7 of "The Road To Recovery."  The preacher said that reverting to our own will power can cause a (Spiritual) relapse.  One aspect of preventing spiritual relapse and is meditation or slowing down long enough to hear God's word.  These spiritual moments can occur anywhere...just depending on what has meaning to you.  A friend of mine says that one of her spiritual moments and connections with God is when she sees a Red Tail Hawk.  While working in Bowling Green, she would tell me how excited she was to see a red tail hawk, especially on her drives into the office.  While on my journeys, I have visited and captured pictures that were spiritual to me.  Today, I would like to share them with you all.  The first two pictures were taken in Gethsemane.  Gethsemane is a monastery located a few miles outside of Bardstown, KY.  Gethsemane was probably the most spiritual and inspirational places that I have been to in quite some time.  On the day that we went, it was extremely hot and muggy, but still the trails, church, statues...everything (including the company) that made the weather conditions bearable.  For me, the first picture has a little bit more of a story than the second.  The site was located on a nearby hillside across the road from the sanctuary.  There was a trail leading up to the site that was a bit overgrown.  There were bees all around us buzzing, but for some reason our walking along the trail did not disturb them.  The site on top of the hill had a couple of chairs and benches facing the cross for meditation. 

The third picture is of the Goddard Covered Bridge in Fleming County off of Highway 32.  More notably is the view of the church through the covered bridge.  For me, the picture is more peaceful than the actual site because of the location near the main highway.

The fourth picture is of my home church...Loving Chapel Baptist Church.  I like this picture because of the deeper meaning behind the picture.  It is through the word that we can focus on the importance of the cross.

The final picture was taken when I accompanied my nephew and his classmates for their class trip to Washington, D.C.  The picture is of Robert Kennedy's grave in Arlington Cemetery.  According to the tour guide, she said that Robert Kennedy said that he wanted a small cross located on a hill if he were to die.  I chose this picture because the cross on the hillside seems so simple, but yet, it feels peaceful. 

Since I moved to Eastern Kentucky, I will say that I have came up with tons of excuses as to why I have not attended church regularly.  Whatever the excuses the only person that it hurts is...me...I understand that.  It is very easy to say that I have it under control, but underneath when it all is said and done...I don't (maybe that is why I titled this blog Spiritual Reclamation).  I am no where near perfect nor claim to be perfect.  I have a long journey ahead of me, but I always find it interesting the way that special moments happen in your life to make you realize that you can not live this life alone and that God is always with us in spite of ourselves.   I know that this post may draw an email from a special friend because it appears that I am trying to act as though I am holier than thou, but it is one that was on my heart today and I wanted to share.  In closing, I will share the message on a church sign that I passed yesterday, "Don't worry about tomorrow, God will be there too."