Spirituality for the Unbeliever

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

My PCP asked me about my spiritual life this week. I told her that I'm an atheist and express what she's talking about through my work and volunteer work. She didn't seem to get it. Perhaps she should come this week to the beginning of a cool program starting here. UK Shetland ponies are renowned for being very intelligent, patient and have a special affinity for disabled children. Specially bred and trained ponies are being given (as in free) away to disabled children as companion animals.The program has been other places in the US, but it's brand new here and I've been helping the state director get volunteers for boarding, someone to build her website, support from veterinarian, begging for hay, etc. Well, I just learned that our first three ponies will arrive this week.

I'm so pleased and cannot wait to see the faces of the kids who are going to get them. First though, the ponies are going to visit a nursing home and children and teen grief groups for hospice.

It is a beautiful program that is so jam-packed with the warm fuzzies that it's almost impossible not to fall in love with it.

More info is here: Personal Ponies Ltd..

[rubywillow]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

Top, while we differ in our spiritual beliefs, I whole-heartedly believe in the therapeutic benefits of animals, in EVERY part of life. A very close friend started a riding progam a long time ago for disabled children, and it's really magical. My dogs have been with me through so much trauma, and the only downside is when they pass away, which for me is akin to almost any loved one.
Great job being so active in this wonderful program. Keep us up-to-date on the progress.
CORRALTRC.ORG

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

COWETA sounds awesome! I love the natural horse training program they are sponsoring. Thanks for the link, Ruby.

Most of our ponies will be too small to ride. I think the smallest of the first three is just 18 inches. They are intended as companion animals.

[Ringing Cedars]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

Nice work Tracy. I helped in the initial fundraiser for this one to get it off the ground.
EQUALL - Equine Assisted Living and Learning | Therapeutic Riding Program

[Doggygirl]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

Tracy, one of my favorite lines in the Big Book (AA) is "The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it." Sounds like you are living it. Good for you!

DG

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

WTG Ringing Cedars. It looks like a wonderful program. I don't think we have anything like that here - and I live in ranch country (lots of horses . . . and cows and sheep, etc.)! Something to look into.

DG, thanks. For those of us without a "higher power," all there is us. We're not less able or likely to reach out to others, IME. A lot of people do not understand that, but they don't really understand what they mean when they use the word "spiritual," again IME.

[rubywillow]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

You're right Top. But for everyone, where they are in their beliefs is SUCH a personal thing. What I believe, and have experienced in my life, has nothing to do with what someone else feels. It's our own journey, like quitting AL, that ultimately leads us to how we think about this life, and the possibilty of others. I'm very comfortable with mine, and that's what's important for me. But what we DO in this life is SO important, and how we take care of our fellow man. IMHO, I've entertained angels unaware. That can mean a lot of different things.

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

rubywillow;978104 wrote: But what we DO in this life is SO important, and how we take care of our fellow man. IMHO, I've entertained angels unaware. That can mean a lot of different things.

I agree totally, Ruby! But sooner or later, somewhere along the line, it all boils down to caring about people. At least that seems true to me now, at this point in my life. And "now" is all I've got at any given moment.

[Guitarista]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

Great stuff Tracy,

What about the power we already live amongst and have to abide by? The natural law's. Particularly the positive and negative energies, and those law's that make up the universe we live in. The universal law of positive and negative energy sure is a real one, and i know we can tap into either one and go with it for better or worse. This is what i would call 'higher power', or perhaps, 'sideway's power'. Positive and negative energy is all around us constantly, and i know from experience, that we can tap into either, preferably the positive, (!) and it will flow with us, or us with it. So i've noticed there are some basic energies, and forces present as part of the natural make up of our world/universe. Don't know if i'm making any sense, but it's all very interesting stuff that we have right here 'on the ground' as part of nature, even before we get into possible world's far away from here. There are a few natural law's present here, that i'm still learning about. I acknowledge i am a bit slow to catch on.....

Best wishes with your journey, and the pony program. Good job!

[Topsy-Turvy-Tracy]

Spirituality for the Unbeliever

Guitarista, I always think about the AIDs orphans in Africa. So when I think about things like positive/negative energy, I think about what it would mean to them. Brought down to it's simplest formula, the basic energy of nature is death. It is the only sure law in nature (as life on Earth goes) and it is ever present.

I think that there are interesting ideas about quantum stuff. I think the laws of thermal dynamics (energy is never gained or lost - it simply changes form) can make for interesting fodder in trying to make a connection between the mundane (literally, nature) and whatever else.

I know that starving children in Africa don't worry much about economy, and they sing and dance instead (when they are well enough). I don't know if they are catching a positive flow or just trying to keep enough sanity about them to survive for another day - and maybe there's no difference!

I don't know.