In my spiritual evolvement, I have spent hours upon hours reading, meditating, doing Yoga, and exploring all phases of developmental sciences as well. Hindsight is truly 20/20 though, and as I look back on my growth searching for the quantum leaps, I always find myself returning to the days when my children were little, and all that they taught me about purity of spirit and focus of intent.
Perhaps the greatest influence of my spiritual life was being around people that always awoke every morning and embraced life totally with the first rays of daylight hitting their eyes. The grandness of their excitement to dive into their day inspired me to be and feel the same way because my heart could not escape the feeling this is where I was trying to get back to in my quest. My mind would drift to a scriptural quote of my youth " Lest ye be like little children, you cannot see the kingdom of heaven ." These little ones live in the kingdom daily, until we drag them out of it in the name of maturity and responsibility. Within the veil of innocence they laugh, play, and move about the world of seriousness with a glee we envy in our hearts depths.
I have heard the debates that they are so because they lack the responsibilities of their parents, running through life care free and oblivious to the darker side of life, but I do not feel there is much validity to these arguments. I was abused and I would not let it steal my joys when I could feel them. Upon awakening, I would see the rays of light coming in through my window, reach up and slowly pass my hand through them, seeing the colors, feeling the warmth, being spellbound in its simple wonder. I could hear birds singing and smell the trees. Standing to look out the window, a breeze would embrace me making a smile spread across my face. I knew God then better and more intimately then, before I was taught God.
As a Father, I was given a second chance to re-experience this bliss and simple joyousness of life. Still carrying the burdens of adult life in my mind, I was dragged into the woods and made to feel once more the wonder that is life and the joy of being born Human. In the celebration of being alive, I was forced to see life as the wondrous miracle my spiritual seeking was hunting for. By simply being with little beings that refused to let a days problems overpower their joy I saw clearly the place I was to arrive at when I became enlightened and awakened spiritually.
All the knowledge I was cramming into my mind could not hold an enlightened candle to the lessons I was getting freely everyday, I had only to notice them and to honor them. Meditation helped me to stay centered enough to see this miracle, while Yoga gave me the endurance to keep up with them, and the knowledge helped me to understand that these children were not mine, I was but a caretaker for a short time in their lives.
I realize that not all parents see their kids this way, spend the kind of time I did, with the eyes I saw them through. I do know however that it will not change how they see life, feel spirit, and walk through a day acknowledging the Sacredness of just breathing in life. I also know that if they continue t feel this way, someone will tell them that they have ' issues ' and need to get a grip on reality. People in our culture that smile too much, laugh too often, and act as though life is great in and of itself are usually suspect of being " not right in the head " somehow. I just know I will be forever grateful for the experiences we shared and the Godly wisdom I saw in their approach to ever day just by waking avery morning in a full embrace of life.
