Living This Life

By William Doyle

This book aims to encourage communities and nations to revitalize. Tomorrow must be better than today. Is not truth stronger than a lie, love stronger than hate, togetherness stronger than division, and life stronger than death? The message in this book is a reminder that we build our own inner world and that consciousness is our guide. Though deceptive practices abound in society, we do well not to rest from the task of creating a better world. By the grace of God, our eyes will be opened to the human potential and the world of rational thought. It is not until our own inner world has matured that the outer world be settled.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781728380988

William Doyle

William Doyle has written or cowritten seven books, including PT 109: An American Epic of War, Survival, and the Destiny of John F. Kennedy and American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms (with “American Sniper” Chris Kyle). He served as director of original programming for HBO and was coproducer of the PBS special Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story. He lives with his family in New York City.

Book preview

© 2018 William Doyle. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  11/15/2018

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8099-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-8098-8 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Website

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Dedication

1.     A New Day

2.     A Fresh Approach to Self-improvement

a) Negativity

b) Removing nagging thoughts

c) Renewing the mind

d) Finding our true self

e) Tuning in to higher consciousness

f) Concluding thoughts

3.     The Spirit of the Age

4.     Guidance

5.     Science and Religion

6.     Encouraging Ourselves in Prayer

7.     The Abiding Seed

8.     Materialism vs Transcendence

9.     The dark night syndrome

10.   Glancing into the mirror of time

11.   Do Your Words Help or Hinder You?

12.   The Search for God

13.   Discontent

14.   A Word to Men

15.   Wellness Issues

16.   Apostasy

17.   This changing world

18.   Contentment

19.   The struggles within

20.   Alone and Loneliness

21.   A personal belief system

22.   Doubts

23.   Everyday Living

24.   Faith

25.   In the Silence

26.   Two questions often asked

27.   A Renewed Society

28.   Knowing Ourselves

29.   It begins in the Womb

30.   Holy Innocents

31.   Education not aggression

32.   Making sense of Learning

33.   The sacredness of nature

34.   Love Has a Message

35.   Rising debt and the Laws of life

36.   Failure

37.   The enervating influence of materialism

38.   Spirituality

39.   Time and Eternity

40.   Teen-ageing

41.   Spirituality and Health

42.   Deception in Society

43.   Freedom

44.   The Earth: A house divided against itself

45.   Being of Service

46.   Mental Health and Religion

47.   Thoughtless Fanaticism

48.   Persistence

49.   God’s Silence

50.   Metaphysics

51.   Education

52.   The Absence of a Father

53.   Accepted in the Beloved

54.   A Chance Meeting

55.   Consciousness

56.   The Quest for Truth

57.   Eternal Songs

58.   The Co-existence of Life

59.   Global Threats to Humanity

60.   The End-Times

About the Author

Works cited

Book Reference Initials

Glossary of terms used

Preface

39478.png

T his Book addresses some of the issues that have a profound effect on us all, in living this life. However, it is merely an introduction, gleaned from my years in Clinical Psychiatric Counselling and ministering in the Church Community. This treatise aims to contribute to the band of knowledge of those seeking to contribute towards a more enlightened and civilised society. The human potential is of staggering proportions, capable of good and evil deeds, wounding even itself. These matters will be addressed, encouraging a love for God and neighbour and a broader understanding of self, leading to an enlightened and more satisfying life.

Many people today live without firm beliefs in themselves, a Divine Creator or a bright future and increasingly experience mental traumas of various kinds. Misunderstanding about reality abounds, there is a general lack of interest in using one’s innate abilities. Life is constantly changing, nothing is stationary in the created world of nature; all things animate are in the process of motion. The seasons are a reminder of these changes. Even the weather is out of sync (no surprises there), so we shouldn’t be surprised about the changes taking place in society, any more than we should that there is a departure from a metaphysical outlook on life’s issues. However much we despise the unpalatable human behaviour responsible for much of these changes, we need to keep in mind the potentiality of all human beings, since nothing in nature remains inactive. There is a power that makes the impure perfect and rids the heart of evil and carnal desires; no human being is beyond redemption. However there are unrealised threats to society in the form of weakening ethics and uncivilised behaviour. These need to be addressed. Whilst everyone makes mistakes - no one is perfect – all people are obliged to help shape the moral character and safety of the nation in which they live. This is a requirement of decency and concern, not an option.

There is and has been for some time, a dispute about dependable human needs and true values being lived out; many are caught up in a Crisis of truth and a Culture of destruction, the latter being disposed toward evil, denying the reality of corrupt behaviour, such as seemingly innocent threatening messages sent to strangers and the cyber bullying tactics, our young people have to endure. Communities and nations need revitalising; tomorrow must be better than today. Is not truth stronger than a lie, love stronger than hate, togetherness stronger than division and life stronger than death? We build our own inner world and consciousness is our guide. Though deceptive practices abound, we do well not to rest from the task before us, i.e. creating a better world. By the grace of God our eyes will be opened to the human potential and the world of rational thought. It is not until our own inner world has matured, that the outer world be settled.

If this work speaks to you as it has to me, whilst preparing it, it will not have been otiose and I shall have been rewarded. May reading it contribute towards those sublime moments of enlightenment, bringing you a ‘pearl of great price.’

William Doyle

Acknowledgements

39478.png

I acknowledge the encouragement of my students and parishioners who, out of love and compassion encouraged me to write this treatise, which echoes many homilies shared with them during forty years of mini stry.

Dedication

39478.png

T his book is dedicated to those men and women who through selfless devotion, put aside their own needs and applied their energies and skills to making known the Message of the Good News. It is to these heroes of faith and the many kind souls who have supported me during my service to the community, that this work is humbly dedic ated.

1

39552.png

A New Day

A s we start each new day, how shall we face it? Shall we allow past mistakes and misunderstandings to nag and go round and round in the mind, like an old video/vinyl recording? Or shall we resolve to think positive thoughts and allow confidence in our deeply held principles of faith and belief in God and in ourselves to guide our ways.

What of the circumstances that prove to be daunting, the relationships that are no more, the loss of someone dear to us and those moments of worry and anxieties that drain our vital energies and weaken our immune system? We are wise if we remind ourselves from time to time, there is no road back to yesterday, some things remain irreparable and there is little use sighing for the ‘old days.’ Should we not do all we can to make the present better than the past? It is possible that bad memories keep returning to haunt, how can we be rid of them?’ We shall address these issues together.

The Ancient Wisdom informs us: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, we press on towards the goal …’ (Philippians 3:13-14). This wise teacher says that we should forget the past, i.e. unwanted thoughts. If the shadows of the past keep returning, renew the mind. How is this accomplished? Every time unwanted thoughts arise in the memory it may help to reverse the process by thinking about some former pleasant experience. For example, the day you passed that difficult examination, the joy of attainment in your chosen field. That moment someone showed you true friendship, the birth of your first child or grandchild and so on.

We do well to think of the interests of others and not nurse the hurts caused by another. Forgiveness has the power to take the sting out of painful memories and transforms the mind. Everyone makes mistakes. Concentrating on unwanted thoughts keeps them locked in the memory. Be open to the Higher Mind and by ‘Higher Mind’ I mean the Christ Mind within us all. Focus the heart on love, forgiveness, peace and joy, the painful images will then have less chance of returning and as the mind is filled with godly thoughts, a hidden strength will emerge providing a renewed confidence and the shadows of the menacing past will eventually disappear.

To change ourselves we must first change our attitudes towards that which irritates. Know that creation is finished, what we desire is already in existence, we have to discover it. Look with the inner eyes of imagination and reality becomes clearer. This is not day-dreaming, or creating delusions, it is a matter of moving from the present state, to the desired state.

Every event in the visible world is the result of an idea in the unseen world. ‘… men look on outward appearances, God looks on the heart’ (1 Sam 16:7). Let each new day begin with the resolve: ‘assume the virtue if you have it not.’

2

39552.png

A Fresh Approach to Self-improvement

a) Negativity

M any people experience negative as well as positive thoughts, it is part of being human. But harbouring negativity is the enemy of the soul. This series in a Fresh Approach to Self-improvement explores how best we may rid the mind of unwanted thoughts that obstruct our perception and cause a mist that blots out the sunshine of our more creative thought processes.

How we deal with these trends makes a big difference to our well-being. If the trends that fill our minds are of a negative nature, the energies of our body become unbalanced and may lead to further unwanted trends; these inhibit the mind and interferes with acute awareness. Yielding to negativity only creates further destructive tendencies and this delays the change we hope and work for.

Whenever there seems to be a negative or difficult trend in one’s life, this is the time to change our pattern of thinking. It calls for a conscious effort; i.e. we replace unwanted thoughts with more creative ones and not allow our thoughts to become negative, especially about ourselves or other people. Such behaviour colours our view of everything else and our situation may become worse.

Keeping a positive attitude attracts more positive actions; it offers health benefits too, lessens depression, minimizes stress and increases resistance to the common cold. As we age our bodies change and we may feel its aches and pains acutely. But there is an invisible part of us that’s immune to the ravages of time.

What is being outlined here is not unscientific; it follows natural law – every cell of the body has its own intelligence and messenger system. In truth, when we change negative attitudes into a more positive outlook, the higher spiritual energy acts on the lower physical energy of our body.

b) Removing nagging thoughts

To make progress in all areas of our life, we need to discipline our thoughts. One contributing factor that colours our awareness of the environment and other people, are the ‘nagging’ thoughts that often go round and round inside our heads, like a ‘terror go round’ not a ‘merry go round.’ We need to address these and replace unwanted thoughts with the assurance of a beloved‘s embrace. The outstanding Greek philosopher Socrates commented: ‘The unexamined life isn’t worth living.’

It is important that we think for ourselves and lean towards Transcendent Learning, i.e. assisting the soul to find fulfilment in knowing the True Self. This means ‘going beyond’ what we see or sense with our objective senses. You will have discovered for yourselves, the reality that we have a lower self and a higher self; this is reflected in the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ we experience, from time to time, which is much like living in a ‘house divided against itself’ - it may eventually fall!

To remove nagging thoughts that race around in our head, best seek peaceful repose, moments of gentle melodious rest and the ‘holiness of the hearts affections.’ We rid ourselves of nagging doubts by remaining calm, with quiet self-assurance, no matter the nature of the problem. Replace unwanted thoughts with confidence, maintaining positive views of self and others. whether or not the problems we experience are new or have been with us for some time. Whatever thoughts may be lodged in the subconscious mind, these influence conscious behaviour; our response will depend on the influence of the powers of the higher mind, that we have developed.

Allow thoughts of love and peace to flow through the mind and a new unfolding awareness of the true self will be revealed, showing who we truly are. As