Transformation

Today's post is a follow up to a comment posted by Gio yesterday that it takes sometimes a "catastrophic event" in someone's life for that person to reach a spiritual path. I agree in that the majority of times event(s) is/are what push us toward a "transformation" or at least an effort to begin that process. However, why wait for that event to happen in order for us to realize that something needs to change in our lives? And what is this transformation that I am referring to?

I believe that there is reason why we came into this world. It is not simply to acquire wealth, to collect degrees and diplomas, to travel and enjoy life, to retire at age 65 and play golf every afternoon, or whatever else this society tell us that we must do as "happy and successful" human beings. There is nothing wrong with these things if we understand them as part of our material everyday world which is very important but should always take a backseat to a critical element - our spiritual transformation. We are reincarnated souls that are here to pay a debt for something we did wrong in a previous live(s) and He has given us an opportunity to redeem ourselves. For some of us, this transformation comes natural in that we are raised in an environment that promotes charity, forgiveness, generosity, and moral certitude among other thing. As we mature, so does the fruit of those things that He wants to see in each one of us. For others, the transformation is forced upon them via tragic events - an illness, a series of failed relationships, the departure of a closed family relative or friend, etc. The signs are there early on but we tend to ignore them. It is similar to someone walking through the forest and wandering into different paths that lead nowhere only to be taken back into the main one when one realizes that the "big bad wolf" could be hiding behind the tree.

It is a long process that doesn't evolve overnight. The first step is a recognition that our purpose of reaching a higher spiritual level is an everyday task. A realization that our imperfections (ego, vanity, selfishness, anger, dishonesty, etc) are not permanent and can be polished bit by bit to bring out the best of us. It is a war against ourselves and many battles will be lost. The key is recognizing what we need to change and evolve (honesty being the key), and make a conscious effort to do so. When God see us making that effort, He will start opening new doors in our lives and the obsessions or imperfections that affected us prior will somehow begin to dissipate.