“It seems that any moment of interest or pain or adversity can surprise us into the larger totality of life, breaking our current limits and allowing us the chance to redefine ourselves in regard to the larger sense that is upon us. That we are opened – so suddenly, so often – is the way the soul unfolds on Earth.

We can never be prepared for everything. No one person can anticipate all of life. In fact, overpreparation is yet another way to wall ourselves in from life. Rather, we can only prepare for how we might respond to the gift of surprise that often moves in on us faster than our reflex to resist.

Life is surprising, thank God, and God, the chance to know Oneness, lives in surprise. For God is seldom in our plans, but always in the unexpected.”

Mark Nepo, in “The Book of Awakening”

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Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified and Codi’s Journey, launched Pondercentral.com in April 2007 as a Web-based forum for “PONDER on THIS,” a series of weekday inspirational email messages he began sending to subscribers in March 1999. A FREE service since its inception, “PONDER on THIS” provides subscribers with meaningful content to assist them on their individual paths of spiritual growth. In addition, it benefits subscribers, authors, and publishers by including links to Amazon.com where subscribers can learn more about the book being quoted, and also purchase it.

“Another painful burden that comes with increased consciousness and competence is the loneliness of transcending traditional culture. Throughout the ages, only a  few among millions have obviously risen above the rigid culture and simplistic thinking of their times. Now as a result of mass communications, psychotherapy, and grace, I would estimate that there are hundreds of thousands of adults in our country who are on this cutting edge.

These individuals think well enough to challenge conventional and irrational thinking. They question blind national and tribal loyalties – and the limitations imposed by their culture – in order to grow. They no longer believe everything they read in the newspapers. They seek truth and challenge the illusions about “normalcy” as promoted by society and the mass media. They show the courage to no longer be sucked into the simplistic thinking around them. They have redefined “family” to include not only blood relatives but the meaningful relations they establish with others who share common interests and a common – and growth oriented – approach to life.”

M. Scott Peck, M.D., in “The Road Less Traveled and Beyond”

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Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified and Codi’s Journey, launched Pondercentral.com in April 2007 as a Web-based forum for “PONDER on THIS,” a series of weekday inspirational email messages he began sending to subscribers in March 1999. A FREE service since its inception, “PONDER on THIS” provides subscribers with meaningful content to assist them on their individual paths of spiritual growth. In addition, it benefits subscribers, authors, and publishers by including links to Amazon.com where subscribers can learn more about the book being quoted, and also purchase it.

“Do not wait for other people to respect you or treat you in a more positive way. They will not until you treat yourself with respect. You do not have to be around people who do not honor you, respect you or treat you well. If you do find yourself around those kinds of people, act with dignity and remember that they are not respecting you because they do not respect themselves. Others only take advantage of you and take you for granted if you let them.”

Sanaya Roman, in “Living with Joy”

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Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified and Codi’s Journey, launched Pondercentral.com in April 2007 as a Web-based forum for “PONDER on THIS,” a series of weekday inspirational email messages he began sending to subscribers in March 1999. A FREE service since its inception, “PONDER on THIS” provides subscribers with meaningful content to assist them on their individual paths of spiritual growth. In addition, it benefits subscribers, authors, and publishers by including links to Amazon.com where subscribers can learn more about the book being quoted, and also purchase it.

“Many people today are confused about their spiritual purpose here on earth. Many feel impatient to begin what they perceive to be their destined work, but Teresa warns about “going out ahead of time.” We can damage both ourselves and others she said, if we do not wait for the Beloved’s direction. It is the Beloved who chooses what is required of us and when this will occur; we will not discover our work by thinking about it. As Teresa said, it is our job to love much and not think much…It is not what we do, but how we do it, that matters, said Teresa. Each of us has a designated role to play on this earth, and when we enter into true harmony with our own being, this special place will be revealed to us. Be patient and know that “she who receives more, serves more.”

Megan Don, in “Meditations with Teresa of Avila”

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Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified and Codi’s Journey, launched Pondercentral.com in April 2007 as a Web-based forum for “PONDER on THIS,” a series of weekday inspirational email messages he began sending to subscribers in March 1999. A FREE service since its inception, “PONDER on THIS” provides subscribers with meaningful content to assist them on their individual paths of spiritual growth. In addition, it benefits subscribers, authors, and publishers by including links to Amazon.com where subscribers can learn more about the book being quoted, and also purchase it.

“True salvation is a state of freedom – from fear, from suffering, from a perceived state of lack and insufficiency and therefore from all wanting, needing, grasping, and clinging. It is freedom from compulsive thinking, from negativity, and above all from past and future as a psychological need. Your mind is telling you that you cannot get there from here. Something needs to happen, or you need to become this or that before you can be free and fulfilled. It is saying, in fact, that you need time – that you need to find, sort out, do, achieve, acquire, become, or understand something before you can be free or complete.

You see time as the means to salvation, whereas in truth it is the greatest obstacle to salvation. You think that you can’t get there from where you and who you are at this moment because you are not yet complete or good enough, but the truth is that here and now is the only point from where you CAN get there. You “get” there by realizing that you ARE there already.”

Eckhart Tolle, in “The Power of Now”

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Jeff Maziarek, author of Spirituality Simplified and Codi’s Journey, launched Pondercentral.com in April 2007 as a Web-based forum for “PONDER on THIS,” a series of weekday inspirational email messages he began sending to subscribers in March 1999. A FREE service since its inception, “PONDER on THIS” provides subscribers with meaningful content to assist them on their individual paths of spiritual growth. In addition, it benefits subscribers, authors, and publishers by including links to Amazon.com where subscribers can learn more about the book being quoted, and also purchase it.