Something Missing

QUESTION: "Dr. Remington, why can't I be more consistent in living my life? I think I am missing something, but what could it be?"

ANSWER: May I start answering your excellent question with a joke? A man is drafted into the Army, against his wishes. All during boot camp he walks around babbling, 'Where is it? Where is it?" Finally, his commanding officer calls him in. “Young man. All you have done since you arrived here is walk around asking, "Where is it?" The Army has had it with you. You're out of here. Here is your discharge.” To which the man replies, "There it is!"

Perhaps the reason a life is not being lived consistently is that the person hasn't found the deeper, inner, stability to do so. This ties into the second part of your question. A possibility exists, as you state, you have a nagging sense that something is missing in your life.

Most often, understandably, a client comes for counseling hoping to "fix something." Sometimes that "fixing something" is uncovering something.

Throughout the Judeo-Christian Bible, for example, Jeremiah 16:06 and Matthew 11:29 (and in many of the major world's religions) there is an insight into all humanity for all time - a restlessness of our spirit to be in touch with who we really are - spiritual beings.

Please, please, do not make the judgment that every person with a physical or psychological problem has a spiritual problem.

Rather, please be open to the possibility that behind a physical or psychological problem there may be an uncovered desire for a spiritual intimacy. To be sensitive to this is one of the many unique services offered by the counseling staff of the Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center.

Something missing in your life? Maybe.

READER: Submit questions to Ask-A-Counselor, obtain information, or make an appointment by calling 843-448-4820, Fax: 448-9875, send to the Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center, 901 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, or log on to http://coastalsamaritan.blogspot.com.