by Joseph Wardy

Created on: February 11, 2009

We can use the meaning of poems to help our spiritual life. I have written a book of poetry called " Poetry To Awaken The Spiritual Giant Within>

The book is made up of four chapters: " Healing", " Awakening", 'Kindness" and "Love". Healing and awakening represent our inner being, leading to the external behaviors of kindness and love. As a basis of illustration, I will share the first book of the poem of the book as a vehicle to personal and spiritual development:

Guard.

We guard vulnerability with masked behavior,

We guard the ego to avoid losing,

We guard power to falsely control.

We guard approval to be liked,

We guard knowledge to gain respect,

We guard feelings to not look foolish.

We guard image to preserve our reputation,

We guard security by not taking risks,

Guard not....Live fully.

It is my feeling that every line can be applied spiritually. Let's explore how:

* We guard vulnerability with masked behavior in our relationships. Masks are for Halloween. But is every day Halloween for you? The more we mask behavior, the less genuine we are. The challenge here spiritually is not to mask behavior. Is vulnerability a weakness? Yes and no. If we have developed the diagnostic skills of people's behavior, we can demonstrate vulnerability to the right people.

* We guard knowledge to gain respect. If we are protective of our expertise, we will find some success. Truly spiritual people share their knowledge without a feeling of insecurity but with the glow of contributing. Knowledge is not always power, but it becomes so when the knowledge is skillfully applied and communicated.

* We guard security by not taking risks. As George Carlin once said, " When was the last time you noticed an 87 year old man floating around his resume'? Why do we not take risks? I suspect it is to avoid the pain of failure, whereas real failure, ironically, is not taking risks. The most important question for me to share related to risk is as follows: If we reject taking risks, how will we ever know if we reached our potential? at age 90, do you want to wonder what if? Here's a thought for consideration: The greatest risk is not taking a risk.

The closing of the poem states: Live fully. A full life is not easier but a life of greater meaning. A meaningful life is the courage to audition our passion to the world. And spirituality must include a life of meaning!

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