The Music of Life - Rev Paul Gonyea

All the beautiful music that we have ever heard, or will ever hear, is the result of conscious and deliberate effort, sometimes applied over the course of many years. Skill and talent are certainly a part of it. But practice is the most reliable predictor of a successful musician, or (for that matter) anyone else who wants to become good at what they do.

Why then, are we so surprised, when we're told that becoming spiritually aware also requires a certain amount of conscious and deliberate practice? It's amazing how many people seem to think that just by showing up at church every so often, and reading a few books, they can develop a consciousness that will carry them through any of life's problems that they happen to run into along the way. Then they're surprised when it doesn't quite work that way.