Oneness

 Every rose has its thorns  —-  Poison

I try, I really try, to believe in the oneness of all. That every single thing, every single person, has been thought into being by the Universal Mind. That’s my thinking and I claim it as my own. There are as many belief systems as there are people; this is mine.

How, then, do I reconcile the reality of Oneness with those with whom I vehemently disagree? Ugh. It ain’t easy, but I try. It’s a practice.

The best analogy I can come up with is to envision a rose. Better yet, a beautiful bouquet of roses, which you lovingly present to someone special. Unless the thorns have all been trimmed, your recipient will be wounded. In the giving of thorny roses, you yourself are bleeding.

There are many people who are the thorns of my bouquet. If they haven’t already been trimmed, then I must try to do it myself. Maybe all the thorns decide to stay sharp, despite my efforts to dull them - what then? How do I protect myself while recognizing that I don’t have the ability or the patience or the right tools to get the job done?

If we are all One, I have to reconcile the reality of all that wounds, all that I dislike, those thoughts which are either foreign to me or have been rejected as part of my life’s journey, all of it is a part of the All. When I see harm being done to others, I don’t think that it’s just the way things are; they are part of that which is thought into being and I must simply accept it. No! I must hold fast to the principles I wish to embody, and be a light in the darkness. 

These days are challenging. There are thorns on so many roses, and they are ripping into the skin of others. It is my duty as a “spiritual being having a human experience” to do whatever I can to connect with my Higher Self, to listen to those whose words and actions feel right and just and fair. With them, I can take whatever action feels right in the moment.

There are thorns, but there are beautiful, fragrant flowers as well. I choose to stop and smell them.

Radical Kindness

My religion is very simple — my religion is kindness. Dalai Lama

I’m often given the opportunity to extend the radical kindness which transcends differing beliefs to those whose world view is different from my own. That certainly doesn’t mean having a blind acceptance to that which is odious. It simply means that, even in the midst of disagreements, my responses can recognize the Light within them, no matter how dim it may seem.

I have to be charged up. I have to take the time daily to meditate and to chat with my Posse. They remind me often, even though I sometimes only hear the message in retrospect. I’m challenged to “say what I mean, and mean what I say, not said in a mean way”, as my friends in a 12-step community advise. 

I can challenge something which I see as wrong in a way that recognizes the Divine within the person or group that espouses a belief far from my own. It’s there. I can do it with respect, if I slow down, take a deep breath, and remember that we’re all in this together.

I’m writing to myself here. I’m trying to remind myself of the values I want to embody. It’s so hard, not just sometimes, but daily. I see injustice on a major scale, and tighten up inside. Self-care insists that I look away for a moment, to find the beauty and fun which is more obvious. I satisfy my inner Kali by taking appropriate action within my limitations. 

Radical Kindness is kindness found in hard times. It is taking care of myself and my needs responsibly. It is recognizing that others may not agree with me, but that is their right. I can speak my truth with conviction, holding fast to my heart-centered beliefs. It’s not the first response necessarily, but I have the choice to give in to anger or to elevate my vibrations.

Radical Kindness begins with how I treat myself, how I talk to myself, how I honor myself. From that base, it is my sincere hope that I can extend an olive branch whenever possible, or walk away without self-harm when I can’t.

May I remember today to be kind to all beings., and may all beings know kindness themselves.

I’m Still Here

 Life has taken a decidedly sweet turn for me in the form of a lover. Not to overshare, but wowie! It is a grand thing!

I continue to do the things which call to my soul: I am a hospice volunteer as well as a singer in Threshold Choir, which also takes me to the bedsides of those who are nearing their transitions from this plane to the next. I’m involved in several book clubs, which feeds my intellect as well as providing the gift of social interaction. I’m training to be a prayer chaplain for my church. 

My point is that these things, all of which are important to me, have not fallen by the wayside due to spending all my energy with my sweetheart. That has happened in the past; I abandoned the important things for the momentary thrill. This set the tone which followed in that the pressing needs were always shuffled to the back of the line, based on the needs of “the one”. Inevitably, this was the breeding ground for resentment. 

There are no positive aspects to resentment. It is the beginning of the end of love and care, growing bigger and stronger each time authenticity is squashed for the expediency of a relationship which actually no longer exists. In 12-Step groups, resentment is called the “number one offender”, often leading the one resenting back to the addiction they’re trying to overcome. It is a negative coping mechanism. 

So while it’s true that I have let this blog falter, it has more to do with the lack of a theme, rather than the time taken by appeasing another. I am, after all, on a journey of discovery and growth in this Earth School, and the lessons just keep coming!

So, hello again. I’ll sneak in from time to time, because writing this is fun, and that’s what it’s all about!

When One Door Closes…

 I was always of the opinion that if a door was closed to me, I just had to keep pushing until it finally opened. Inevitably, what I found behind that door was something I only thought I wanted. I’d find myself in a muddy swamp instead of the beautiful field of grass I had imagined. Sadly, that forced-open door was no longer there — there was no going back, no starting over. 

These days, I’m more likely to walk away from those closed doors. When I am operating from my gut instinct, I’m better able to leave them alone. Not for me? Ok, I’m cool with that! My path may be difficult at times, but I don’t need to invite into my life anything which isn’t in my highest good, tripping me up and obstructing my true way.

I’m human. Learning is what I’m here to do. Repeating the same mistakes is like being on the hamster’s wheel — lots of effort with no ground gained. I want to gain as much knowledge as I can, while thoroughly enjoying the ride. Accepting limits is part of it. Finding the blessings in the challenges comes with the program. Learning to ride the waves leads to joy in the swells!

Today I’m grateful for closed doors. I’m grateful for the experiences which have led me to feel that way. I can be at peace with knowing that although one door may be closed to me, there are many more which open gently, inviting me to those adventures which are meant for me.

Love, Love, Love

 Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.  The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

There is too much of the former; not enough of the latter. My daily resolve is to be a blessing in the lives of those I meet. If I can’t be a blessing, may I not be the cause of any further pain. Seems easy enough. But what about those days when I’ve just had it with humanity? Those are the days where I need to receive a little random love. 

Being human is a trip! Ain’t nobody got time to hate! 

Today is a day especially marked for love. We think it’s just for sweethearts, but it just ain’t so! Today I will walk with joy. Today I will find the love in all I do. Today I will include myself in that love. 

May the actions of today, based in the pureness, the gentleness, the actuality of felt love, guide me in all I do. May that become the launchpad for the Allness of Love in everything, everywhere, every day.

Grace

 I have a friend who needs surgery. It’s not urgent, but it needs to happen at some point to relieve pain and current difficulties. She was scheduled to receive that surgery this week, but in her final consultation a few days ago, she learned that rather than the two week recovery time for which she’d prepared, she would need a full six weeks. She opted to wait until she could prepare for such an extended recovery time.

A few days prior to when the surgery was originally scheduled, she learned that her work hours would be cut. The industry in which she works has suffered great losses since the pandemic, and was facing further loss. If she had gone ahead with the surgery, she would have been placed in the position of being unable to pay her rent. The consequences would have been dire.

When I thought about the timing involved, I concluded that while the situation is still scary for her, she is in a position of strength. She gets to decide, based upon all aspects of her situation, when it will be an optimum time to go ahead with the surgery. This, to me, is an example of Grace. Santa Claus God didn’t take all the troubles away, but Divine Grace interceded to ease the process.

We humans, as we are in Life School, face many obstacles. How we handle them is how we learn, grow, and develop the compassion to help others. Ofttimes, we need the edges of the rocks in our path smoothed. This is Grace. As we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”, we can steadfastly move forward, knowing that Divine Grace is with us, every step of the way.

We the People

 Today’s date marks the third anniversary of the apex of idolatry in America. This date must be remembered as one which showed us all how fragile our unique system of government is. That one demagogue could incite such senseless fury based on nothing but an outsized ego and refusal to allow truth to prevail, is utterly frightening.

This man’s apologists released an ad yesterday claiming that God Himself had chosen this one man to save us all. It is an abomination, an affront to those who actually believe in the tenets of the teachings of the Master Teacher Jesus. Anyone who isn’t this particular brand of “Christian” is an enemy. 

My freedom to express my thoughts is a treasure. Your freedom to reject my, or anyone’s, thoughts is an absolute right. These basics are but two of the freedoms under attack right now. 

Let me say this clearly: Donald J. Trump is NOT the “second coming” of Christ. Those who believe such utter nonsense have no place in our government, yet they are there, from top to bottom. This is a festering wound upon the Republic, and must be recognized, confronted, and rooted out. Those who would legislate based purely on a skewed belief system, one which can’t be explained or proven, one which claims superiority because of a religious fervor, must be voted out.

I like to keep things light; to find the joy and beauty in the moment, and to recognize the wonder of the Love which created the universe (my belief). This day, however, is one which must be recognized and remembered. It is our Kristallnacht. 

Let freedom ring! May peace prevail upon the earth, and let it begin with us, we the people.