The Ants Go Marching

Speaking of ants, it’s spring and after a hearty much needed rain the ants began to make their way from my yard into my kitchen and into my living room. Quite honestly these little creatures make their way into any part of my home they choose! Marching single file or two by two they make a trail. I choose not to use insecticides because I don’t want Micah, my golden retriever, or Arthur and Sophia, my cats ingesting the insecticide. They are after all, my precious animal family.

Instead, I use an old remedy that my dear mother-in-lay, Helen Mappin, taught me. I use cucumber slices. Yes, that’s right, cucumbers. After I slice a cucumber for my salad or sandwich, I lay several slices of cucumber on the window sills to redirect the invading ants. I find it interesting that the ants can be so easily redirected.
This causes me to think about my own life and the path I take. I think about this season of Lent, the intention I set and how the universe has supported me in realizing my intention.

Often, I was redirected. Often, I course corrected. There were days that the course correction came gently and easily as a road closure in my neighborhood after a night of spring storms. There were days that redirecting came in a big booming voice of a very tall, strong person explaining their point of view, with the expectation that I concur.

However the lesson or message from the universe arrives, the great task for me is to be an open eyed traveler in my world so I am able to recognize that the universal energy of the Divine is guiding my intuition.
I focus my hearing so I can listen to the still small voice. When I don’t, that voice must shout “Karen, pay attention here!”

I then choose to follow my divine intuition – or perhaps not. The challenges and the obstacles that rise along the way may gently guide me to fulfill my intensions. I may resist a challenge that comes and find that it grows even stronger as I resist.

I may yield to the flow of the challenge and become malleable. Either way, the choice is always mine. When I find myself in the midst of resistance, I may move into my practice of meditation. I may spend time writing denials and affirmations to see me through. I may journal and allow all that is within me to purge onto the blank pages. I may sit in contemplation and inquire as to the underlying true source of my resistance.
I may ask, “What feeling has risen that causes the discomfort that triggers my resistance?” Sometimes it is simply my human ego needing to be right. When this is the case, I call upon my powers of wisdom, discernment and dominion to gently guide my ego.

When I learn that my resistance is motivated by fear or doubt, I go a little deeper to know the source of these feelings. This opens the door to my practice of forgiveness, of letting go of attachment, and for spiritual and emotional healing.

I am reminded of our Unity Principle: “God is absolute good and present in everything”. I ask, “Where is God in this experience that triggers resistance?”. I may need to sit in an experience or contemplate for a while before my human eyes can see the good. It is all part of my spiritual practice and maturing. I am grateful for the teachings of Unity that are the foundation of my personal, spiritual and emotional evolution.
And the ants go marching on!…hurray, hurray!

Sunday join us at 9:30 for Metaphysical Bible Study of The Beatitudes. We welcome Unity Minister Rev. Felicia Searcy as our guest speaker at 11:00 and she will facilitate a class at 1:00. The theme this Palm Sunday is “Do Greater Things”. What a way to begin The Week That Changed the World. Why not make it a day of Unity?
PS. Don’t forget to check the website or the bulletin insert for all the events for Holy Week.

Blessings on your journey