Tag: Ndairah Aqueelah Shakir

Grateful For the Human Experience

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by, Nadirah Aqueelah Shakir

My schedule was jammed packed last night, to God be the glory. So, when I got off of work, I was tired and hungry. I fast during the day because I like to eat at home, sitting down, and mindfully. I had to stop to the grocery store to pick up a few more items for Thanksgiving dinner. When I finally found a parking spot, I reached into my wallet to grab my debit card and headed into the crowded market.

Once I got the herbs, gluten free noodles, water, purple onions, celery, and ice cream I headed to the checkout line. I thought about going to self-checkout lane, but opted to support a human behind the counter doing what a robot could have easily done and a bit more quickly. The guy at my checkout lane was slow and got the feeling that it was deliberate; but rather than get upset about him taking his slow time I decided to take a deep breath and bring presence to the situation.

Because he was going so slow, I decided to take my cell phone out of my pocket and see what was going on Facebook; but then I realized what I was doing. I was avoiding being present. So, I put the phone back into my pocket and took another deep breath. I had been avoiding turning around to see who was behind me because I felt a presence watching me, and it made me somewhat self-conscious. I surrendered to the discomfort and made eye contact with the individual behind me–a stout black man, with happy eyes adorned with very nice glasses with a gold frame. We raised our eyebrows at each other as we both directed our attention at the slow man behind the cash register.

Then the man behind me commented on my grocery selection. “That’s an interesting diet, vegetables, herbs, ice cream, and water.” He wanted to know where the turkey was. I told him it was in the crock pot at home. We both laughed. He said I didn’t look like someone who ate ice cream. I smiled, as I thought about my love affair with ice cream. By this time the guy behind the registered was saying hello to me and ringing up my grocery. When he was done. I pulled what I thought was my debit card from my pocket to pay. Accept it wasn’t my debit card. It was my minister’s license card. Embarrassed, I told the guy behind the counter I’d be back. I was headed to my car to get my debit card. Before I could take another step the black man with the happy eyes behind me told the guy behind the register to add my groceries to his tab. I asked him if he was sure. He said, absolutely, told me to have blessed night and a happy Thanksgiving. As I bagged my groceries, he told me to enjoy my ice cream. I assured him that I would.

I walked out of the grocery store feeling grateful that I chose the human experience. Uncomfortable as they can sometimes be, there’s a beauty when you can look into the eyes of another human being and actually feel seen.

Focus On The Source

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” What’s on your mind is probably on God’s Mind too.” ~Nadirah A. Shakir~

I was having a conversation with my father the other day. I asked him why it seems like just when things are going great there seems to be one obstacle after another. He smiled so calmly and said, “Iblis (the devil) promised Allah (God) that he would come for the righteous doers from every direction. You are righteous doer, and Iblis is after you.” He shrugged his shoulders and proceeded to pit his dates. Okay, I’m thinking. So what am I to do? Before I could ask the question my father had already responded. Keep your mind focused on Allah (God) and the vision that he placed in your heart. Your focus on him, with continued forward motion will eradicate the ill will of Iblis (the devil). So I move forward, hoping that what I am doing is right.

 

I thought about what my father said. Although our spiritual beliefs may differ, I focused on the essence of his advice, and what I know to be true. The truth is, there is only one mind, and when our minds become fragmented and divided that is when Iblis—the devil—shayton—erroneous thoughts and beliefs have their power. Okay, so how do our minds become fragmented?  Our minds become fragmented when we take our focus off of God as the source of our supply and start depending on channels—people—places—and “opportunities” as the way to come up when we have already been risen to begin with! We fall down when we forget who and what the source is, and that we have unlimited assess to God at all times.

Taking our focus off God, and putting our faith in people, places, and “come up opportunities” is where we trip ourselves up, falling down, and hitting our heads so hard until if feels shattered. We become scattered and frustrated, because our mental energy is all over the place…invested in the wrong things. The remedy for this is simple, but it is not easy (because there is so much BS vying for our mental energy at any given moment)—FOCUS ON GOD as the source of your supply and stay steady in THAT mental vibration. The things, people, places, and “comeups” that you require to do what you have to do in this world will be there, and they will be evident to you if your mind is focused on God. And, because your mind is not divided Iblis (the devil—shayton—erroneous thoughts and beliefs) will not be able to enter. After all the devil is a mind divided against itself, and if it (whatever IT is) is on your mind then it’s probably on God’s mind too, so God will work it out for you to do what you need to do.

I AM one with my Father God. My mind is his mind. My thoughts are aligned. I think right. Blessed Be.