Exhale #24: Giving the glory to God

Spirituality for the non-religious

My courage is not my own

My parents gave it to me when they loved me and gave me a home

When they supported me enough to take risks without fear

And taught me through actions the values I hold dear

When I succeed or win

It’s because my grandfather taught me discipline

And my equanimity

From my grandmother teaching me to find meaning in suffering

And my wife for being my sanctuary

And all the people who’ve believed in me

Luck, timing, generosity, forgiveness

Simply being born into the family I was gifted

I am in no way a self-made man

But a collaborative effort by the universal hand

In his book, The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible, Charles Eisenstein says that his courage is not his own but is held by those closest to him. This really hit home for me.

While I have played a role, I am not ultimately responsible for creating my own success or positive attributes. 

I am certainly responsible for taking care of myself and my commitments, but thinking that I am solely responsible for creating the good fortune I have in my life would be a mistake. 

It would require me to overlook the influence the people closest to me have had in my life. It would require me to overlook the way the universe has unfolded for me to be where I am. The way things have just fallen into place. 

Some call it the grace of God.

Any public recognition I’ve gotten for my years competing in Crossfit, business, etc. is also not my own. Knowing that helps me see the significance in the roles those closest to me played that had zero praise or recognition. 

I am very proud of who I have become and what I’ve accomplished, but this reminds me to always acknowledge the people that have loved me, supported me, and given me unearned chances.

This leaves me in a state of gratitude rather than a state of “well, I earned it.” In this state I feel compelled to give to others, especially those that have contributed so much to my life. 

When I think that I created it, then I’m just focused on how I can personally squeeze more out of life. How I can experience more pleasure. And that tends to leave me feeling empty.

It helps me be content with exactly the way my life is right now rather than placing my happiness on some future, better time.

I used to make fun of people that say “I give all the glory to God” because I thought they were virtue signaling (which some might be) and because I didn’t understand what it meant. 

Now I think that it might mean the same thing I’m saying here. I attribute all of the praise, success, and good fortune (the glory) to the way the universe has unfolded for me (God).

My hope is that you see yourself and your life this way so that you might feel more gratitude for those you love the most. So you can be in a state of awe and wonder over the gift of life you have.