All my life I’ve experienced a sense of wonder that has to do with something that’s out there but also touches a place within me. It feels as if I’m part of something bigger. Can you relate to this sentiment? The words above are from the American philosopher Jacob Needleman and strike at something that a lot of us in the “spiritual but not religious” community feel deep within us. It’s the seeming knowledge that something greater than us exists,... Read more
It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more ‘manhood’ to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind. The passage above is from the late Alex Karras who was anything but weak. Karras played with the NFL’s Detroit Lions for 12 years and was a four-time All Pro lineman. He later... Read more
I’m sure you’ve witnessed this scene recently. You’re out to dinner and glance at the table next to you—only to see that the entire family has their heads buried in their phones. Mom, Dad, teenage daughter, even preteen son. What does this picture say about our current way of life? If you’re like me, you ban smartphones and any related-Internet devices from the dinner table. A Wake Up Call reader recently told me that her and her husband go a... Read more
A 20-year study was recently completed at Florida State University on the positive effects of prayer—and the results were startling. Read more
Are you busy? In today’s modern world, it seems we all are. We cram our lives with so much busyness that we, in effect, become spiritually lazy. We don’t allot the time, or have the will power, to engage in a regular spiritual practice—including the recommended two daily meditation sessions that can lead to greater mindfulness (the ability to focus our attention on the present moment). There may be an easier way to be mindful and it comes from Google.... Read more
People who are not religious are twice as likely to believe in ghosts and UFOs as those who are religious. Read more
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them. Read more
I’m not on Facebook much, but a few days ago I stumbled upon a startling post on my feed. It was from a “friend”, a woman named Jolie, who was announcing her own death and memorial service. Upon closer inspection, I realized Jolie had given the keys to her account to someone else—and actually had passed away at the age of 49. Like a lot of Facebook friends, I didn’t really know her, though we had been friends since 2012.... Read more
In his recent book Unshakeable, the life philosophy guru Tony Robbins lays down the basics on smart financial investing. In a nutshell: stick with index funds, diversify, and invest with your head, not your heart. Yet most interesting for the spiritually inclined are the chapters toward the end of the book where Robbins steers away from financial advice to make an important point: Financial well-being means nothing without mental and spiritual well-being. Robbins uses the following quote by Mahatma Gandhi... Read more
As we grow spiritually, we can sometimes get ahead of ourselves. We may think we’re leading a pristine spiritual life, regularly attending religious services, reading the latest spirituality best-sellers, engaging in a yoga or meditation practice. But we can sometimes forget the basics—the simple daily acts that can enrich our lives and the lives of those around us. I was reminded of this when I picked up a book by someone I consider my spiritual mentor, Sir John Templeton. While... Read more
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