Sunday, on the way home from church, I decided to take Heights Road to see the view of the lake. People were out skating and enjoying the ice. It made me wonder how long it takes for the ice to freeze to a thickness safe to be on. I marveled how comfortable the skaters looked when I drove by, hockey sticks in hand, having fun.

Seeing the people happy, I knew they had faith in their decision to be out there on the ice and it was safe.

Not being one to enjoy that outdoor activity, I would have no faith in my ability to understand or know when the ice would be safe to walk on. In my life, I have not placed my consciousness on activities that happen when you live on the water. I like to drive by to see others enjoying life different than myself. It feels good to see people busy doing life in their way while I do life in my way, which is viewing life as a spiritual journey.

The spiritual path is more like an exploration of our connection to all that exists. You spend time pondering life, wondering about the existence of it and I enjoy that.

Unity teaches us to explore the many different ways to connect with God. While I enjoy my pathway to understanding life, I admire how others connect with life. I see many enjoy life through running, biking, boating, skating, art, music and so much more.

Everything we do gives us an opportunity to see the world outside of ourselves and how to connect with it. Life always provides a lesson that, when we pay attention to it, will show us there is a greater consciousness to life.

We do us and life happens! How good we are at understanding life and holding onto a faith in the greater existence of life is up to us. Just like the ice on the lake forms when the weather changes so too does our beliefs and our understanding of life when something big happens in our world.

Our lives changed plenty after the 9/11 attacks. Loss of work, weather calamities, car accidents, divorce, death, pandemic and so many other things also change our life.

Dealing with the changes, trying to balance ourselves to life after them is often difficult to understand.

Those times can make us form a distance, a wall or separation from our faith. We can feel like we have nowhere to turn or question what’s left.

When you wonder what’s left or find yourself anxious or worried that is where spiritual teachings come in handy. What happens in life is always to open our minds to the higher power at work. No need to be worried — it’s just showing us the example of something bigger than our self.

Connecting to that awareness of a power greater than the human awareness leads us to examine life on a deeper level. Researching that thought is a spiritual journey and definitely worth your time.

So, how cold does it have to get and for how long before you can walk on the ice? How long before this pandemic ends? What happens next? How did this happen to me, or to us? How long do you have to pray before life changes?

All are good questions and all are relevant to someone. Remember, we learn from everything we do and from all things that happen on this spiritual journey. The universe often challenges our good forces of faith and belief to support our learning.

When you don’t know what to do, just pray. If praying hasn’t been your spiritual practice or just doesn’t seem right to you try this: think about how big this world is. Think how far it stretches out into the universe. And, just be grateful for knowing something has created life which is so vast that you are only a tiny piece of it.

Then breathe in and accept you are a part of that. Know life has taught the lesson and now goes on and you can and will too.

John 16:33: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Many blessings as you move forward; put your understanding and faith to good use,

Linda La Croix

Unity Director & Prayer Chaplain at Unity of Lake Orion.

Find positive and uplifting posts on her Facebook page: A Spiritual Walk or website, Aspiritualwalk.com.