Shining like stars

Philippians 2: 14-16. “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” 

Do everything without grumbling or complaining.  Then you will shine like the stars in the universe.  I believe this is true and I think this is also the other way around.  When we allow ourselves to shine like the stars, then we stop our grumbling and complaining narratives in our heads.  

When we allow presence now to bubble up, we stop replaying all those negative, griping thoughts.  We recognize: I am not the bad news I just got.  I am not the identity I thought I was or who I thought others thought I was.  

We go around thinking that we know what other people are thinking about us... and it’s usually not pleasant... and we grumble and complain in our heads about how unfair it is.... but when we practice presence, we recognize that those are just thoughts.  

So when we stop the inner complainer or grouchy self, who is constantly offended by others, we shine!  And when we focus on now and  allow our spirit to bubble up, we shine and now we are able to silence that inner complaining voice, which is always concerned with either the past or the future.  

We can choose to abide now.