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Dr. Sue's Blog Page Beautiful Children June 23, 2009 First, I will admit that as enticing as the blogging seemed at first blush, it is really hard to sustain, especially when one is a writer in her day to day profession! These are, therefore, pretty far apart. Still, it is an opportunity for me to get thoughts down for my own benefit giving me seeds for future talks. I have been noticing the beauitful, gifted, sweet children that are coming into our realm of late. More and more are deeply connected with the Creator and come in with that awareness. How can we be concerned about the "end of the world" if we know that these souls are here to walk the path with us and to help us usher the new age in? And that is what I believe. I suspect that souls much wiser than I have the plan for the universe in front of them and guide those who are to be present on the planet into new bodies. I believe that just as I believe that all of us on the planet are here for a Divine appointment to make better decisions and/or to help contribute to the consciousness of peace, understanding, tolerance and love. Recently I saw a YouTube segment on a 9 year old American girl who has been painting since she was 4 years old. Her work is absolutely "heavenly". She has a strong memory of God and Jesus and paints images of heaven as well as of heaven on earth. She is love incarnate in a child's body. She believes in every fiber of her being that she has a purpose here and her artwork is to touch us on a deep, deep level. You can see her as "Nine-year old artist prodigy" onYouTube. I have had connections with children out in the public, at restaurants, stores and parks. Momentary connections where I can see the reflection of the Divine in the soul so, so clearly. How about you? No fear, only a sense of wonder. Yes...anyone who knows me knows that I live in a constant state of positive expectation and I do believe that these souls chose to be with us to help with the consciousness of innocence, non-judgment and love. Bless the children. They hold the memory of the consciousness we each need to remember. Finding Forgiveness April 28, 2008 The "Course in Miracles" teaches that all forgiveness is self-forgiveness. When we forgive others, we give ourselves the gift of not hashing a situation over and over. By the same token, when we are forgiven, it is a positive step for both parties to move forward in life. I find that self-forgiveness is harder many times. Especially when I believe that I "should" be above feeling guilty about something I "should" not have done. Do you see that I also "should" myself? We all need to allow ourselves our human-ness. We are going to fall short of the mark sometimes and if we are to love others, the falling short helps us to also practice loving ourselves. I recently "fell off the wagon" in a behavior that I have strived to eradicate from my life. It is not a substance abuse issue but it is a character flaw that I am a particularly sensitive about. And I have been really careful about keeping myself out of any situation that might bring it up. This weekend gave me the opportunity to re-visit this particular character flaw and I indulged in it. Now, a part of me believes that depriving one's self does not honor who we are in this life, so balance is always the path I strive for. I know that I may have consequences for my particular "fall" but I am prepared for that. Perhaps understanding that and knowing that I have the inner strength to deal with those head-on is, in part, the growth that I can acknowledge in myself. Not side-stepping or avoiding but meeting each challenge head-on is a major sign of growth for me. I know that I would much rather find a compromise than face conflict. Each time I face a conflict and deal with it, it is a positive step for the wholeness of who I AM. Each of s must find a way to forgive ourselves and, for me, that is through understanding what I have gained from an error or a missed opportunity. I don't personally find the feeling that I get from self-punishment at all tolerable anymore. That is probably what helps me make positive choices in my life. My tolerance for pain is much lower and my enjoyment of pleasure is much higher! I wish for you a knowledge of joy and love for your self on your journey of life! People are a Little Tense February 26, 2008 It seems like people are feeling pretty touchy of late. Even though the full moon was last week and Mercury is supposed to be out of retrograde, the world seems to be a little crazy. Even in Cottonwood, Arizona last week, there was an act of road rage that left someone dead! My co-workers at the college have been affected by this mood too. I receive a weekly "energy update" from an intuitive sensitive who talks about the transitions and changes that all of humanity is going through and I must say, that in the last week, it does seem like she is on to something! How can we gird ourselves up to avoid getting sucked into this vortex of energy that brings out the best and the worst in people? I believe we take extra time to get the rest we need. We take time away from the "maddening" crowd to build our own energy reserves. And I also believe that we need to spend time in meditation. I've been having wild dreams and even my meditations have been affected with intrusive thoughts and images. It does take me longer to reach the space of complete relaxation in order that I allow my mind to focus on my center but it is worth the effort. I feel much more centered and open to love flowing in and through me when I need to take on the role of a manager and help others move through the web of daily activities. It is times such as this that we need to call in our guides and angels to work with those on higher levels who are assisting us with the planetary changes. I don't believe that people intend to be mean-spirited, they are simpy reacting to what is unfamiliar. On some level I believe people are frightened. Some people are stuck and don't know what to do with this new energy. Others are simply reacting to those in the world who are acting out. We need to be centered on Spirit--knowing that we are in the right time and the right place for our highest good! It is the right time for Lightworkers to be active in the world. To lead in front of others and especially, especially to maintain a sense of humor. The world is way too serious! God has a sense of humor. The Creator is not "doing" this too us! We are here to experience life at this time as a family of souls. Find something each day to laugh about. Laughter heals and helps to center us. Be of good cheer then, in the midst of the tension. It is one of the best ways to diffuse the anxiety that seems to be around us. Attracted to the Light February 12, 2008 It has been an interesting time at work. I have often spent time with people in prayer for many different needs while at work. It is such an honor to be called upon when people need to reach out, especially in a work environment. What has been different lately is that some people have needed to reach out for support as they begin a spiritual journey that is foreign to them. Most of the people who are attracted to the church are people who have been on a spiritual path for some time that has been, well, let's say a path that is more outside of the framework of traditional than inside. But our church group is wonderfully supportive of those in the midst who are relatively new at being scoffed at by their families or outrightly condemned for searching for God in a different way than the family or friends consider "OK". Others who have approached me in many different avenues, apart from church, are making tentative first steps on the path of seeking their own spiritual development. We forget how hard those first steps are...how many times we take them and find only ridicule from our families or friends. It has been so long since I walked a different path from my family that, in some ways, I think these gentle, sweet souls are reminding me of the courage and the fortitude it takes to move independently from societal norms. Almost like children secretly reading in bed at night by a pen light, we begin the search by asking, how to start? Our Creator, our Loving Creator has invited us to come to this awareness. Is it not that once we are awakened, we have to find the source of the light, of the quiet song that fills our hearts and our minds? Be open, my friends, to those who might be coming to share the light you emit. Be kind, honest, and open. As with any new venture, the path is rough at times and our firends, our sisters, and our brothers need our loving support and the lantern guiding the way! I Think I was Born a Theosophist! February 1, 2008 Rev. Joel and I enjoyed having Betty Bland on our radio show this week. She was such a delightful guest! As President of the American Theosophical Association, she leads a century-plus old organization of people who strive to embody the ancient truths that have been passed down through the millenia. When we compare their belief systems with those of World Fellowship, they are in harmony with one another. I have many books from the early part of the 1900's through about the 1950's that are original Theosophical books. I have been returning to my library to read these books from front to back as I have been learning more about Theosophy. One can be a Theosophist and still be whatever faith one wants to be. It is a philosophy of awareness. I have some original books written by H.P. Blavatsk and others of the time that are truly fascinating. Blavatsky's writing is so detailed and comprehensive on any given subject that I find it really hard to give any credence to some of the stories I have read about her being a "con" artist. She may have enjoyed the physical world and life in it, but I do believe that she had wonderful access to truth from her past lives and the experiences she had in this one. I asked Mrs. Bland if we are "doomed" to re-do all of this learning every single life. Her answer was lovely. "We don't forget what we've learned", she commented, "People have to accumstom themselves to language, culture, social rules etc. when they incarnate again but once the door of memory is opened, they will be off and running again."I don't know about you, but I would sure like to live with the wisdom I have developed at these later stages of my life than have to go through the lessons I had as I learned throughout earlier years. But, maybe that is part of the reason for all of this in the classroom known as Earth. We get to come back a little wiser each time and experience less and less trauma. At least, I hope so! Mrs. Bland was humble, wise, and kind-hearted. I can see why she has been selected to represent a spiritual organization such as the Theosophists around the world. She is the person I am still striving to be! It's Already a Crazy Year and it's Only January! January 27, 2008 I do not know where this year has gone and it is only January! It seems that as soon as I returned to work from the holidays we all hit the ground running. Well-laid out plans have been tossed out the window. Miracles have been happening in so many ways that I know I am blessed every day to be a part of the great times we live in. But, still, the days spin by and I am just amazed at everything that happens! I saw a film from UTube this week called, "Shift Happens." I sent it out to our congregation because I thought it was a wonderful example of how quickly the world REALLY is changing. Those of us who are spiritually attentive sometimes wonder if the "shift of consciousness" is all in our heads! I think that watching this film will dispel that concern. In fact, it helps demonstrate how the shift is happening, even without conscious awareness. Is the world moving faster? We have e-mails and i-pods, wikis and blogs, and all kinds of other technology that are leading us into the realm of an existence in a higher vibration. As our new children come into this realm, they will be capable of connecting with the technology in a whole new way. They will make the holodecks and transporters of tomorrow! Am I excited about life today? Absolutely....I just have to get my 50+ body to keep in alignment with my 20-something persona to try to keep up with it all! What are you going to do with Jesus? December 8, 2007 It is the holiday season and we are all so busy getting ready for teh big days. We are shopping and hurrying at home and work, preparing our homes and our lives for a few days of rest and time with our families. Of course, some people are concerned about the fact that we seem to forget the "true reason" for the season. What is that, in reality? The birth of the festivities in the winter of the year came from the ancients who were concerned that the light, the sun, would not return to its full warmth and that the world around them would linger too long in the death that seemed to wrap the world in winter time. So many world myths developed to explain the seasonal changes and from the myths, ceremonies developed to please the gods and goddesses so that they would return to the sun to its rightly duties. Many of these myths, such as the Sumerian myth about Tammuz and Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris, involved the death of a god who went to the underworld, only to return three days later. From ancient times, we have been told these myths and from ancient times, we have conducted ceremonies to ensure that our gods and goddesses would bless us with their reappearance in the Spring and all life would return to normal. This too is the origin of the Christmas story that really has nothing to do with the great things that Jesus taught or the great things he did. It was merely an attempt to utilize the mythology of the ancients, blended with Constantine's worship of the Sun God, and mixing the worship of the Winter Solstice to bring us the story of Jesus' birth. Mixed in we find the myths of the ancients, who identified the birth of great souls by weaving stories of miraculous births, precognitive dreams for the parents, great stars annoucing the birth, and a low station for the parents who had the baby in the midst of a poor surrounding. Clues for this are the variances in the birth story of Jesus. The stories were merely meant to identify the specialness of the soul's arrival. Even the term, "Son of God" was used to signify the greatness that was to be bestowed upon the one who was born. This practice goes back many millenia but we have lost it because it has been erased to us after Jesus' birth. Jesus was a great soul and he deserved the myth to have arisen around his birth. He was a son of God but you too, are a son or daughter of our Creator God or Goddess, if you prefer. The best gift of the season is that we do pause to remember the light that he came to teach about and live through example. The light that shines within each of us can be found through his words in the Holy Bible. I don't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater, so to speak, but I always want to remind each and every person that we are brothers and sisters of Jesus and that, as he said, we are here to repeat his acts and to do even more! We can get lost in our worship of Jesus and stop working on our own spiritual path. He gave us the instructions to do even greater works than he did.....If we always see him as the ultimate, how are we ever to accomplish the work we came to do? Is the World Really All Bad? November 27, 2008
I have been listening to some of the rhetoric from the fundamental preachers about the end of the world. I believe that the end of the world has been coming since, at least, Jesus' time when he began to speak of it. But, if we wanted to find evil in the world, I believe we could have found it in the known world at any given time in human history.
I agree, we have a lot of violence on the TV, in the movies, and the videos. But how is that different from Roman times when they had the games in the various Coliseums or in the time of the Greeks when nations fought nations?
We have much to be thankful for in our world. We have better medical care. We have a great variety and sources of food. We have homes to keep us from the elements. We have people who share our lives with us in love.
Yes...we can find many reasons to call these the end times but I believe that they are times of transition. Times when we are put into a position of making some serious changes. That can lead to good for all.
I am glad that I believe that our soul is eternal and no matter what we are doing with our life here, it is the right thing for us. We have a plan that we are fulfilling. It might take us many lifetimes to complete our soul's path but, we have eternity!
I think that there will be a lot of folks quite surprised when they find out that heaven is but a resting place from which they will be sent back to earth again to work on the greater plan for humanity.
Eternity will hold a very different meaning then!
What am I Supposed to Do? November 18, 2006 How often do we go through our lives wondering if we are missing some cosmic call to do something special? Are you going about your day to day existence following the path you have set yourself upon with a degree of satisfaction or are you constantly vexed with a feeling that you are not on the path you came to walk upon?
Sometimes we get off our path, especially when we are young and experimenting with a lot of different things but I do not believe that we are really "off" our path, even then. We have opportunities to learn and "the path" is something we are walking on our whole lives. Indeed, I believe we have an eternity to go through the process of walking our paths!
However, in this life there is a key that might help you connect with the special path you came to this earth to walk and that key is in your childhood. Where did your dreams take you when you played in the yard as a toddler? Who did you become? What did you love?
I believe that we have the wonderful seed of our soul that speaks to us in our childhood, reminding us to listen and remember our childhood playtimes. I believe that we cover the seed up for many years doing what we are "supposed" to do, following other people's dreams for us, and following what society expects. What if we came in to be an animal trainer in a wildlife park or for the circus? How would our family and friends treat us if we followed that dream at 16 years of age?
My mother used to say that she knew that she came here to be a mother; that's all she ever wanted to be. She loved the fact that my sisters and I had choices but she wanted to be a loving, wonderful mother. That is a great calling.....it is a soul's choice.
We must not make decisions for our children or our friends. Their lives and their soul's calling is their own. We are here to love, nurture, and support one another. That is our job in relationship to others in our world, even our children.
But what if he/she/they are really messing up? That may be their soul's journey and purpose and you, mom/dad/friend may be the recipient of the soul's willingness to mess up so that you may learn lessons you need.
To be truly loving and allow Spirit to move through one's life, we need to be open, tolerant, non-judgemental, and patient with others in our life and ourselves. It is a huge leap of faith to allow our children, our spouse, or our friend to go through hard times and know that God is there always to provide positive guidance and compassion. And to have the wisdom to know when we need to be the hands, arms, legs, and heart of God in this world.
Good luck as you explore your childhood dreams and move to capture the promise of your path in your heart. Be brave...ignore the outer world...follow the path of your dreams!
Doing What We Are Supposed to Do! November 14, 2007
I have been busy at work this week. Which job? Mostly my job at the college as Director of Marketing and Public Relations, but I have also been busy getting ready for dog shows this weekend. I am working on a final edit of one of my book manuscripts, getting ready for the 4th Anniversary of our World Fellowship Church in Cottonwood, AZ where I serve as co-pastor, and I just learned today that I have been selected to host a 1/2 hour show on pets for a local radio station! So, which is my job?
Well, every one of us has come to this planet with a gift. Sometimes we have many gifts and have the privilege to kind of lead split lives participating in a variety of tasks and touching a variety of people. Some people are here to do one thing, and to learn to do it well!
No matter how many things we do in our lives, we can check ourselves to see if we are doing what we were sent to do by touching base with our hearts to see if we are doing it with love. Do we have time in our daily grind to be kind to everyone in our lives? Do we have time to enjoy the tasks we have and time to do them as best as we can?
I often am asked the question, "How do you accomplish everything you do?" My response is that I don't take anything on that I don't feel passionate about. When you have passion, you have the excitement of Spirit flowing through you making all things easier. With this awareness I know that synchronicities will take place in my life and that coincidences and miracles are common-place because I sow my life with love.
Are you bored in your life? What are you doing to contribute in some small way to the greater good of all humankind? It might be in very small ways, such as placing newspapers in a recycle bin instead of the trash, or by stopping to speak to a crying child in the grocery store to ease his frazzled mother for a moment or two. Those random acts of kindness spread love like ripples in the water once a stone has been tossed in.
As we give more and more of ourselves, we will be filled to overflowing of that which we affirm by giving. This is the old law of tithing but it applies to time given in love, love freely given to another, or talents given to a love-based organization. Wherever you freely give of yourself, you will be blessed. It is coming from abundance that is rewarded by additional abundance, in whatever part of your life from which you give.
My life is filled to overflowing with goodness and I am a joyful person who sees goodness overflowing in life. I am open to giving and open to recieving. Both parts are important if we are to receive of the abundance we give.
May your week be filled with light and love, blessing you with joy in every day of your existence.
Helping People Out of Their Boxes November 7, 2007
Because I serve the public in many different ways I seem to have conversations with individuals, groups, and task forces about how to change peoples' behaviors from those that do not serve them well to something that could serve them better. This is in the areas of substance abuse, poverty, spouse abuse, or any other of societies' ills that plague so many people. How do people move out of mindsets that they may have been raised with, mindsets that cannot see anything different?
We are now being told by researchers that people are programmed by 6 years of age. Six years.....we spend the next 70 or 80 years proving our programming right. What if our parents are dealing with any of the above issues? What if that is all we saw and all we know? Is it any wonder that we have a tough time breaking out of the framework we have from our background?
I know that one can find all kinds of statistical data about "broken" homes being the cause of our society's drug problems, crime rates, or abuse. We can point to the cause of people being in prison related to this or that. What if that person grew up in an environment that programmed them to fail? What if the messages received both consciously and subconsciously were limiting to their ability to think beyond the world they perceive?
In order to raise social consciousness we need to look at the basic foundation of what people believe about themselves and their world compared to the success they have achieved as human beings in our society. I am not talking about being wealthy but I am talking about the ability to support one's self and their family, work a job, own a car, and enjoy life free of drugs and alcohol.
Where does that start considering the programming might be completed by age 6? How do we reach people to give them hope and a new start?
It all comes down to providing a template for success. Success breeds success in one's life and teaching people the right tools, a small step at a time, gives them the ability to improve their lives in ways that they can believe in. Why do so many lottery winners lose their money in a short time? They have not prepared for wealth; they have not learned how to handle prosperity yet.
This is a lesson we all have. Most of us won't win a lottery but do we not learn this by earning small amounts as young people and then, earning more and more as we grow older? If we saw financial success as young people, we can emulate that success in our own lives and live a life of success, whatever that looks like to us.
Spirit is abundant! You are owners of great beaches, great and beautiful parks, and lovely museums. As a resident and citizen of the United States, you own all of these things and so much more. You are a rich citizen of a rich country. Everything in your community is part of the manifestation of a rich and abundant God, your Father/Mother Creator, who has created all of this just for you, a Child of God.
Working to help others see the light and embrace the goodness that life has to offer something to which I am committed. I wish for you that you can see beyond any scripts that your computer inherited from your early life that you might want to change now. Life is eternal and today is the day to begin a new attitude!
We Have Such Short Memories! November 2, 2008
The little news I catch in snippets on music channels on the radio or from shorts on the television seem to indicate that we are still in the midst of this war and still have the same discussions going on that we have for years. Why can we not just bring our soldiers home and let the people of Iraq clean up their own country? We have created the mess, we have continued to be the instruments for those who would bring fear and pain into the lives of the Iraquis. Why don't we learn from our mistakes, cut bait and come home?
The young men and women who are fighting this war in the Mid-East are too young to remember the battle cries for the Vietnam War. They cannot hear the distant lies and embellishments that intentionally led us into the conflict in Asia. Our young soldiers back then, classmates of mine in high school, heard the call of patriotism as they were shipped to shores far away from their loved ones. As they returned they were disillusioned and alienated by Americans who had turned sour on the war. They came back without victory and bore heavy crosses.
Today, our young people have been sent into this conflict without the benefit of suitable armor, weapons, or vehicles. They are coming home without legs and arms...their minds fractured into so many pieces. Where is the help? Where is the reason?
Once again we have been taken in by fancy Washington spin that questioned our patriotism if we did not rally behind retaliation. Before we even knew for sure who the enemy was (after 9-11), we were told in the moments of the void and the hatred of the country was targeted to distant shores, shores where real people don't live and where bombs could fall without our guilt. A case was built against one tyrant and evil-doer, then another, and another. It is so easy to stir up the mob spirit with blood on people's minds.
Are you convinced about who the real tyrants are? Are you as free as you were 6 years ago? Do you sleep securely at night or do you worry about what color the threat is today? Do you know that tyrants count on people being led through fear to do their bidding?
Will the election make a difference? Will a democrat or republican really matter? What is really playing out here?
If one believes, as I do, that there is ALWAYS a Divine Plan in place, then one cannot pay attention to the day-to-day skirmishes, speeches, and actions and KNOW that things are as they should be. Can we pull back and look at this time as nothing but a speck on the line of eternity of the soul? Can one know that even those who have died have done so according to their soul's plan?
Well, if this is true, then what is the Divine Plan? I believe that we come to greater LOVE through adversity. Our hearts are called to love and nothing brings compassion more quickly than tragedy. Is this drama being played out to bring us to greater love and compassion? Perhaps. Will it teach us to be more accepting and tolerant? If it brings us to our knees, perhaps.
I believe that, as spiritual beings, we are called to move ourselves from the day to day-to-day drama and share love and support in our families, our communities, and with our world. We make a difference in those around us and that loving, that support spreads to others around us and throughout our communities, our country, and our world.
When we place faith in our country's leaders to "get us out of this mess" we place the faith in other humans, humans who are flawed. Our Creator has placed within us the keys to peace, contentment, compassion, and understanding. We are all one family of souls who have come to live upon this earth. We have founded different cultures and different spiritual paths but they all teach the same ideals and revel in the glory of our Creator.
Living one day at a time with thankfulness in our hearts will help us move through these challenging times when so many messages want to fill us with fear and dread. It is a wonderful time to be alive. We are blessed in so many ways. Let the Spirit of Love move through you and show you how you can bring a message of peace today! Looking for the Illusion
October 29, 2007 Many of the great world religions talk about this life as "Maya" or the "Great Illusion." So, how is life and this world an illusion?
Some may think that, in Christian terms, the remarks reflect back on the concept that what we experience here is not what is really important. That is considered an "ascendent" view of the worldly life; what lies beyond is what will really be real and wonderful.
Others believe that what counts is the living we do here because nobody can say for sure what lies beyond. This "descending" view brings the value to this earthly realm. When this belief is embraced one thinks that, while we are alive, we should party!
So, is there a middle ground? What does the concept of illusion really mean? I have been grappling with this in my mind for quite a while and just when I think I have my arms around it, poof! the understanding is gone! I believe that Buddha and others have understood this concept so thoroughly that it did not matter if they were living in a spiritual realm (as Spirit) or living in the earthly realm (with a body) because both were the same.
We get hung up, I think, by the idea that what we see, touch, feel, and experience are based on what we perceive as physical laws in what we think is a physical world. The concept of an illusion would seem to mean that we are not physical and this world is not the solid world we believe. Some think that the whole of the universe is merely a giant hologram reflected from the mind of God or from the collective consciousness and beliefs of the family of man.
If we have set the rules and we have limited ourselves to five senses when, in fact, we are a whole of vibratory levels simply sharing the physical world at this moment in time, then we can awaken to the illusion and see it for what it is: limiting to the glory of our beings as Children of the Creator. In the theories of quantum physics, reality is many different possibilities that exist at any given time and it is our focus, our decision to choose a direction that brings any one of those given futures into reality.
This can open our minds to even greater considerations of the holographic model. What if, in an instant, we process lifetimes of information through our unconscious, soul memory, and using this information as well as memories and lessons from this lifetime to make our moment to moment decisions, we will contninue to be caught in the web of seeing life, the world, humanity, and the Creator in the same way we have for thousands of years.
What if we decide that what we see is NOT want we want? What if we can teach ourselves, day-to-day, how to think differently, expect differently, love differently, and remain in the present moment? We can then come to the place where what we saw, was the illusion because we thought we were at the mercy of life and the world.
In fact, the edges of truth for our modern-day world reveals that we can choose and in choosing moment to moment, we manifest a life that is more true and more enjoyable than in our past.
Life is an illusion because it is changeable. We merely have to understand that our future has many paths and it will be our focused attention that will bring the future to us that we want and that will fill our soul's desire for our life.
Increasing Compassion October 27, 2007
In spite of the world's peoples continuing in the day to day wars and struggles, I find that each day I live I am called to increasing compassion in my personal life. I sense that is true for other people too but it is not a subject that would be picked up by the news. It's probably not a story that would sell. Still, small stories of compassion have been sneaking out of California through conversations and images relayed over cell phones.
Yesterday a woman with whom I work shared a story about a single mom in San Diego who was surprised by a fire that lit her garage on flame so quickly that she had to scoop up her baby and leave everything behind as they fled their home. She realized that she had forgotten her shoes and while shopping for baby food to feed her little one, she shared her plight and lack of funds with people in the grocery store line. One of the women in the line looked down at her own feet, took off her shoes and gave them to the shoe-less woman. A singular act of compassion? No....that is only one of many I have heard from people who are relating that people are opening their homes and their hearts to victims of the fire, their families, and their pets.
I believe that sometimes these tragedies take place to remind ourselves that we are part of the human family and to get us to stop and open the love in our hearts for our brothers and our sisters. When Katrina and then the Tsunami occurred a couple of years ago, people not only opened their pocket books, many went on personal journeys to help those in need. Some didn't even know what they could do, they just knew that they had to go.
The Creator moves in mysterious ways and one of those is the love that motivates us as Children of God to reach out to help others in need. We don't stop to ask about their race or their religion. We respond out of a sense of compassion, feeling their pain and wanting to do something to alleviate at least some of it.
While driving to work yesterday I saw a beautiful young deer buck that had been hit by a car in a very unlikely place close to town. Traffic slowed and several men in pickup trucks stopped to check on the animal. I know that the best thing was probably to shoot the poor deer because he seemed to be pretty badly injured . Several men were on their phones calling for assistance for the animal.
This is a town of hunters whom I sometimes judge harshly, not seing the need to hunt game in this day and age, but it was probably the hunter type of men who were stopping to see what they needed to do to help this animal in its miserable state. They were called to compassion.
I find myself spending more and more time scooping moths out of watery traps and then assisting them dry off, of making the way clear for ants to get their winter harvest in, and for watching spiders close to human spaces (non-poisonous spiders) as they weave their beautiful webs to do what they are supposed to do to survive. Every living thing has the right to live as they were put upon this earth. I believe that we are the caretakers. It is our duty to be compassionate.
We take on earthly experiences and responsibilities because each of us has a role to fulfill, lessons to learn, and the task of sharing more light and love in our lives than those before. We are evolving to bring the awareness of who we truly are as spiritual beings to the greater consciousness of this world. I believe that one day, the light of the world will tip the darkness of ego and all people will be filled with love and compassion for one another. Then, reaching out won't be the theme of a phone company, it will be a part of our day to day existence!
Being In Peace October 23, 2007
I am speaking on "being at peace" next week for my talk and I have been thinking about various ways of approaching the talk. For one, we are almost more "in peace" than "at peace." Peace is a noun, not a verb, and while both "in" and "at" are prepositions, in seems that in a state of peace, of flowing with the moment makes a lot more sense than "at peace" which feels like we should busy ourselves to do something about peace in our lives.
"In peace" brings forth the image of sitting in the middle of a river, quietly flowing along, not giving us any cause for worry or concern. "in peace" describes a state where our relationships are free of conflict, our exterior lives reflect a state of mind and being that are full of peace.
But what is this peace? To me it is a statement of faith. An affirmation that we are living each moment of every hour of every day of our life in the trusting security of being supported by a loving Creator who seeks to supply us with everythying we need to reach our hearts' desire in life.
Does that mean that we always experience a life that is free of conflict, stress, or unpleasant surprises. I would most readily say no! There are times when our world collides with others who do not have this understanding but, in the Buddhist way, we raise ourselves above these situations and call for a peaceful heart and mind. With the limited human vision and perspective we are not always capable of seeing the "big picture", the reason that sometimes we are pulled into unpleasant circumstances, but life may place us in the middle because of the peace we can bring to the situation.
I find so much of life humorous anymore. The things that seem so important to others seem laughable to me. Things like the cares and concerns of celebrities, for instance.
I love life so much and I am so thankful to be an active participant in it. The joy I receive from my job, my church, my husband, my children and grandchildren, and my dog showing friends and activities....all of these fill my life with fulfillment and peace of heart.
There are so many things going on in the world that can bring us to a state of mind that is most un-peaceful. We are reminded that the best we can do is often remember to let go and let God. It is our life, our relationships, our talents and gifts that reflect God as us, in us, through us in this world. Remembering that, will help us, one day at a time, be "in peace."
Simple Rules of Life
October 18, 2007
Do you ever wonder why we don't have a booklet that is delivered with us when we are born? Maybe a little booklet attached to our ankle that spelled out the simple rules of life so that we can start life with more confidence and self-reliance than we have as we struggle through life on our own?
Some people figure out the rules of life as they mature. I call these people who learn by enlightenment because these rare people can learn from other people's mistakes rather than having to commit each and every error that the rest of us seem doomed to make.
Then there are those who learn from experience. That is most of us! What does experience do for us? Well, initially it might give us fits of insecurity and lack of confidence in our abilities. If we eventually do learn from experience, it is a lesson we will not have to repeat in our lifetime.
One of my sons and I were talking once and I was trying to explain this theory to him. I stated that it is like a person who is walking on the street and falls into a big hole in his way. Now, he might fall into that same hole 3 times or 30 times or even 300 times before even noticing the hole. Most people eventually see the hole. Even at that, once the hole is seen, the person may try to walk around it, not gauge the size properly and still, slip into the hole. Perhaps, after 500 times, he sees the hole ahead and finally, walks around the hole. That is experience.
I am learning to watch for the holes much better now that I am in my 50's than I did in my 20's or even 30's. But, once in a while, I still see a hole and walk right into it!
Another rule I have come to understand is that we never fail. The perfect creative power of the universe provides us with everything we need to be successsful. So, even if I fail in something, if I manifested it in the first place, I have just to learn from what I am calling a failure. God provided everything I needed to complete the idea or goal or project I chose. We are always successsful, even when it does not look like success. Then it is time for learning!
Another simple rule of life I have learned is to take one day at a time. We can only live in the moment. If the moment is good, we want it to last forever. If the moment is full of strife, we want it to pass quickly. Still, we only have the present moment.
What does that mean for the worrier? It means that if we invest time, moment to moment, concentrating on problems in our job, our money, or our relationships we will only energize the direction of the creative power of the universe and manifest an even greater mess in our lives.
To move past the troubles in life, concentrate on the present moment. Find good in the present moment. We all have developed the habit of living in the past and living in the future; few of us does a good job of living right in the present moment. But if you do, you will energize the creative power of the universe to manifest a greater good experience in your life.
Life can seem so complicated but if we try to do what is right because it is right, without justifications and rationalizations. If we are thoughtful of others and the journeys they are on. And we are good to ourselves, living in the present moment to express greater joy and experience even greater good in our lives, we will have begun to incorporate some simple rules of life.
A Mother's Letter to Her Sons
October 14, 2007
My Dearest Sons,
I drove home from Phoenix today thinking about both of you and where you are in your lives. It is so hard to think that, at your age, your father and I were struggling to hold on to our marriage. I remember thinking back in my mind at times, about where my parents were at given points in my life's timelines. My dad was 26 years old when he married my mom who was 20. I was born when she was 21. By the time she was 24, she had her second child, I was just starting our family.
I was thinking that I often told you that no matter how good a job I tried to do raising you guys, that, as adults, you would surely seek counseling. And during that process, you will surely be able to blame me for some kind of emotional or psychological disorder you may have. It was meant to be a joke but here you are as adults and I am sure that counseling is still something you have or will seek to help you deal with things in your life that may not make sense or cycles you get in to that just seem to go away.
You know, I wish I had a manual to give you for living your lives. I wish I had one too. I knew that there were many things that I wanted to do for you and to give you, that my parents had not given me and my brothers and sisters. Some had to do with the tools my parents had compared to the tools I had. Some just had to do with values I believed to be important that I wanted to impart to you.
You know how much I stressed the value of fidelity in a relationship as you were growing up. How destructive infidelity can be to a relationship, a person… a marriage. So many times we would talk after a movie or a TV show. I know that you were tired of hearing me talk about it but I will say it yet again.
If we aren't happy in our marriage or our relationship, the worst thing we can do is "try" something else. The excitement of a new person will always make it seem wonderful but the damage the hurt can do to your partner can be unforgivable. It is much better to let a partner go than to put them through your need to "try" out other partners.
Spontaneity was a value I tried to instill. Taking time for an unexpected meal out, a weekend trip, or a picnic at the local park. These are gifts we give ourselves and the people in our world. Spontaneity is the gift that says, "let's party for no reason at all!" It is a gift that puts you and your friends and family out in front of work and other duties.
Passion. Passion about all of your life and activities. If passion is not in your life….are you on the right track? We are built with an internal engine for enthusiasm which fires our passion and makes our dreams come true. I am not talking about sexual passion because that is the chemistry that brings us together as a couple but it is not the base upon which we build our lives.
Passion is the love we have for our work, our hobbies, our avocations, all that makes life worth living. It is this passion that fires us up to energetically be involved with everything that life has to offer. People always want to know how I accomplish everything I accomplish in my life. I answer, "I am a passionate person! I don't do anything that I am not passionate about. When I come from passion I have energy, I have time, and I have success attracting to myself what I need to accomplish all I have set before me."
It is funny to think that I had you in my life for a relatively short time. A time in which I, as a parent, had the opportunity to share with you and teach you. Let me say right now that I know that I was not perfect. I believe that I did a lot of right things but, I know I was not perfect.
I had long term relationships and I had male friends. I think that you saw that break-ups were hard and painful. I know you saw that even marriages can be painful at times…even when we choose to stay in them. But I hope you saw that I don't believe that "trying on" relationships was wrong. We have to get into them to make the determination if they are potentially right or wrong for us.
The point is, that I hope you don't think that I had things really together when you were kids—so much so that you give me more credit than I deserve. In my late 20's we were still renting places to live and had one car. Dad and I had lots of problems…problems that weren't solved by divorcing but a whole new set of challenges came into my life.
I loved you guys though and wanted to do the best I could to never have you worry or be cold or hungry. I knew that we did not have much money after expenses most of the time but I wanted you to feel love and have a solid sense of security. It was never easy and I never felt that I was doing right by you---I was gone a lot and you were with people who did not do the same job I would but the money was good and I was trying to provide things that boys needed and wanted in their lives.
I had a lot of doubts at times. I faked it a lot. Faked it in front of you and to myself as well as the world. Maybe I stayed active in a lot of things to keep feeling like I was not faking it….who knows? I just don't want you guys to think that I never had doubts or fears. I didn't have a handbook.
So…here you are almost thirty and I know you both have concerns and doubts on your minds. But, I don't think that I could be prouder of any two young men than I am of you. I am proud because you are good-hearted. I am proud because you are trying to find your way in this very complicated world. I am proud because I see a light in each of you that you really want to bring into the world through your friendships, work relationships, and family ties. I am proud of each of you.
I always am very aware that each of you has a different journey. I know that even though you came into the same family as brothers, that each of you is to take different lessons from your father and I. I know that each of you has a different set of genes and different perspectives from which you operate your lives. I know that even though we all love one another, that we may not, to this day, understand one another and that is OK!
I remember asking my mother if I would ever have more than one box of cereal in my cupboard (because we were so poor that was all we could afford) and she laughed. I always remembered my parents' home being full of food. I remember many of your younger years filled with fish sticks, peanut butter, and Top Ramen. But it really is a metaphor because in spite of everything I wanted to do differently as a parent, I still saw my parents as so much more together than I was. It wasn't until much later that I realized the same truth about them that I am trying to share here. They weren't as perfect as I thought.
When my father was laying in the hospital a couple of months before he died, I had a conversation with him about my life and asked him if he was proud of me. I was in tears as he said, "Of course I am proud of you. Look at your two sons that you are raising. They are turning out great. Look at everything you are doing with your life. Of course, Susan, I am proud of you."
So, I don't want to wait until my deathbed for you to know that I am really proud of you! I don't care what you accomplish in your life. I hope for you to be happy at whatever you pursue…find passion in it. Be with people who support your spirit….find passion in your relationships. Give yourself fully to pursuits that make you smile, in work and play….find passion in it. And whatever else comes to you in life, evaluate it by the amount of passion that wells up from your soul and then, go for it.
I hope that my time for influencing or teaching you is not over. I still have life left to live and I know that I will continue to want to share the lessons I learn with you. In all you do, know that your mother's love is always with you.
All my love,
Mom
Why Do People Find it Hard to Believe in a God? October 13, 2007
We are living in a miraculous age! We travel across continents in hours. We speak over phones that reach into the heavens to transmit our voices. We write on computers that convey our messages to millions all over the world. These are indeed miraculous times! But what does all this great technology do to our spiritual nature?
Well, for one thing, it desensitizes us to the natural and supernatural world. We have lost our ability to really feel the natural rhythm and flow that is present in all aspects of nature because we have become so concretized in these bodies and the techno-world in which we live that we have lost our abilities to perceive the gentle voices that the trees, the clouds, the stars, and Mother Earth have to share with us.
Another factor is that we are far too busy to hear the rhythm and the songs. With the evolution of video games, movies, and television shows that focus our attention on killing, wars, aliens, street gangs, and other "bad guys", it is hardly any wonder that we are involved in crisis all over the world.
Even though people think of entertainment as just that, make believe, the truth is our subconscious mind does not know any difference. When our entertainment is murderous aggression, we will see that reflected in our world. And the sad thing is, like the ancient Roman citizens who took great pleaasure in the Coliseum games flowing with red blood for days on end, we too have lost a sense of what is appropriate for us to see. It is not appropriate to use violence and aggression as entertainment because our subconscious, not knowing the difference, manifests these situations in our lives as individuals, as communities, as countries, as the world.
The evolution of the scientific method, of Newtonian theory, has not done a whit of good for the spiriutal nature of humans. It has led people to rely on only what they see and can prove. What of Spirit and spiritual things? Is it harder for people today to honestly see Spirit in action in the world when so much of belief in Spirit is an act of faith? If we need to touch and to see Spirit to have the ability to believe, it is no wonder that so many people have a hard time making the leap to true faith.
What is happening today as more people have a sense that they don't believe in their faith as they once did but that they are still spiritual beings? We are all spiriutal beings living in physical bodies. Our Creator is Spirit--Mother and Father Spirit---Creating and Nurturing us as Children of God. We are loved. We are supported perfectly and wholly in everything that we do.
As humans it serves us well to quietly listen to the sounds of nature. To make time to sit and look at the stars or the clouds. It will pay big dividends if you take time to read or feed your brain with positive input. Spirit is knocking on our doors. We are being invited to acknowledge who we are as Children of God and act as if that is our true inheritence. That is not possible through the screen of violent "entertainment". Memory of our true nature is possible when we connect with what can be seen as beautiful creations of our God wherein we will find the beauty of who we truly are!
Journey of the Spirit Ones October 12, 2007
I am currently working on a book entitled, "Journey of the Spirit Ones." It is a new Genesis for our time, an explanation of creation and intelligent design that brings both ideologies together. Really, what are they arguing about? Scientists don't necessarily believe that there was no Creator involved. It's as if there are no shades of gray allowed, only the black and white.
To a large extent, that is much of the basis of the book. We came into this world of contrasts to learn about shades of gray. We are the Spirit Ones who were a band of spiritual beings, drawn to this world to explore the physicalness of it. As we moved through the experiences of being wind, rain, rocks, and animals, we finally made a decision, as a group of spiritual beings, to join with an evolving primate. This joining thrust evolution forward, forming humankind once and for all.
In the beginning, the Spirit Ones could move back and forth from experiencing life in the physical world and the spiritual one. However, they eventually became so addicted to the sensations, the moods, the experiences as humans that they became locked into the expectations of returning to the physical world with each lifetime. Eventually, they forgot who they were.
Without giving away the whole text, the story moves through the evolutionary history of humankind and an explanation of many "mysteries" of the physical world. We forget that we are spiritual beings having a physical existence. We think about our "soul" as something might exist forever but many people believe that it moves into a heavenly existence. What if we are a forever being and that we have chosen to live in this world? What if we come back to continue enjoying our addiction to the drama of an earthly existence?
We worry about our world, wars, illness, poverty, and all sorts of horrible things because we see the world in a finite view. In black and white. We REALLY don't believe in a forever existence; we are either here or we are not. But what if we returned to our spirit forms and moved on to a new dimension? What if we re-unite with our Creator and move in consciousness to a new plane of existence?
Life does not require explanations or scientific theories. Life is unfolding exactly as it should. As long as we see things in black and white, in contrasts to one another, we will always be living in the midst of hostilities. Maybe shades of gray can be the new hot orange!
Just Turn it Off! October 8, 2007
People are wrapped up in the day to day concerns that emerge from the vast amounts of "news" they receive from print, television, radio, magazines, and web.We are so busy living our lives through the eyes of journalists that we don't have enough time to handle our own lives in the best ways possible.
I know people who can quote the percentages given as "facts" by the media each week and know exactly how many people have died in this natural disaster or that terrorist attack. What does the media gain by keeping us worked up with all of this information? Did you know that many times we don't get the benefit of a fully investigated story or of the information that might come out after the story, that would have let us know the errors that occurred in the original piece?
Television, radio, and print stories help sell products. Maybe not directly but they do help sell products. The whole advertising field dovetails its activities into subliminal psychology that moves us one direction or another.
Bill Maher discussed the issue of pills recently. The pharmaceutical companies seem to take great pleasure in "educating" us about "new" diseases or ailments for which we need medications. The news journalists help the stories that sell drugs by telling us how many people are afflicted with these horrible conditions; and then, tell us how many people have died from the cures!
Are we really worse off than we were 50 years ago? 100 years ago? My belief is no! We have lots of great inventions that have helped to make our lives easier. We have lots of people who are kind and courageous leading our communities in supportive and wise ways.
I would encourage everyone to turn off their news channels on all media. I love movies that are positive and life-affirming. Develop a collection of those to watch at home. Listen to books on tape/CD or music of your choice. Don't let the world tell you what you should be thinking, buying, and doing. We are not sheep to be herded by the networks or commercialism.
Our young people are very conscientious about all of life today. You are great at begin much more savvy about "labels" and companies that make you as if you have to fit into a mold. You are all about doing what's right and thinking for yourselves. We need your intelligence and thoughtfulness.
Be critical in your thinking. Realize that numbers and percentages that sound like facts are framed to have you think a certain way. That includes world affairs. What can we do to change the world? We can change it one person at a time by doing little things that help our family, our friends, and our community members. If we focused on the good that is in our life and shared that good with other people, we would see a shift that could move throughout our country and throughout our world.
Animals do have emotions! October 4, 2007
I have been listening to a great book on CD called, "Animals in Translation." The writer is an animal behaviorist who does amazing work with feedlots and slaughter facilities. She is also autistic.
Her book has a lot of information about the emotions of animals, much different from the old concept of animal drives. She identifies a variety of emotion including: love, jealousy, rage, and play. For those who know and love animals as I have all my life, we are not surprised.
My Beagles love our time at the end of the day, when I return home from work and they each get their private time in my lap. They relax into my touch and I relax with the love I receive from them. The author writes that this is a mutual exchange that raised oxytocin in both species, bringing us to a state of relaxed, loving joy. No wonder people and dogs have such a wonderful camaraderie! It's good for our health.
It is also easy to watch the pack dynamics as nine Beagles run in their acre yard chasing one another. Some eventually take time by themselves to smell the smells while others enjoy the company of their favorite friend. Two Beagles, Jane and Scout, are almost inseparable although one really has to know the two to understand what they are doing.
Jane likes the role of prey. She runs through bushes, over hills, and through various pieces of lawn furniture to be the "bunny." She encourages the rest of the group to chase her. When all have had their fill, only Scout continues to play with her, barking and lunging to encourage her reactions.
My old kids, Hobbs and Molly, who have two litters together, like to play flirt when they can move out by themselves. Molly will sniff Hobbs underparts and playful lunge at him. Hobbs, seven years old, will stand a little straighter, lift his ears a little higher, and then, jump at her too. If they are really frisky, she will play mount him and then jump around, expecting him to return the favor.
Dogs have social relationships that many people do not recognize because they don't sit and watch their dogs for long periods of time. Part of the great pleasure I get from my kennel is the time I get to watch their individual interactions.
Socialization in the pack is crucial to good behavior and we have used the pack's laws to help bring naughty puppies into line. One bitch, Rosy, is 10 months old now. She came to us from her owner's home because she was being destructive and snapping. She was about 4 months old at the time. Coming to live with her relatives in the pack environment brought her into a much more pleasant behavior pattern. She realized that she was not the boss and that, in truth, she fell somewhere toward the bottom. That made training her for the show ring much, much easier.
If anyone is curious about why animals behave the way they do, I heartily recommend, "Animals in Translation!"
We Continue to Manifest in Goldfish Bowls
October 4, 2007
I remember that I had a meditation that lasted several days one week, the image and the messages continued to expand in an ongoing fashion. What was really interesting was the way that our world's manifest; each of us creating our world in a space like a goldfish bowl.
If one can imagine our worlds then, bumping up against one another, seeing the other's world from our own perspective but perhaps, not at all acurately because it was not what the other person intended. As we bump and bounce off one another, we occassionally crash into another's world so totally that we crack their bowl, the manifestations in their world (rock their world, baby!) and then, work with them to manifest a goldfish bowl world as a couple.
I kind of think that is probably a good analogy for the world in that each country's consciousness has created its own goldfish bowl in which the citizens are fairly comfortable in their culture. However, when one country believes it needs a larger bowl, it seeks to move into other territories to expand its influence, creating its own new, larger bowl.
All of this is so funny and so challenging to understand! We are so out of touch with the rest of the world, living in our urban or suburban cultures, hardly ever seeing nature or life as the Earth intends it. We are content to see the world through what we perceive is necessary for our safety, security, and happiness; looking through our own goldfish bowl!
The Kingdom October 1, 2007
Victor and I saw "The Kingdom" yesterday. It is an intense but interesting movie.
I really liked the comparisons of lifestyles between the Saudi Moslems and the Americans. Both love their families and have familiar habits that are common to us, as humans. We need to have more of those messages come out. We tend to believe that "they" are so different so that we can be justified in not trusting "them", in hating "them" even. But as we grow to see one another as brothers and sisters in Spirit, we find the sameness which makes hate so much more difficult.
The ending of the movie left all speechless. In the ending, we see how truly separate some of us are, and yet, how alike too.
Let's Be Honest--Let's Get Real September 30, 2007
After church today we were coming home and I just kept thinking about Rev. Amy's talk. Why does it seem like the truth, as we spiritual leaders seem to understand it, is so hard to live? Amy shared that she will be speaking from her own life experiences, something I certainly do too, but why can't we live this way too? Why do people try so hard to hide their frailties, their mistakes, and their missteps?
I think, in part, it is due to the fact that we all believe that everyone else has it so much more together! The truth is that we are all children acting like grown-ups in an unreal world. As we grow older, we "mature", we look around and become increasingly underwhelmed with business leaders, community leaders, and world leaders. Nobody has the wisdom, the insight, or the honesty to truly bring the world to state of peace and harmony. Yet, we continually act as if that is really a possibility.
What can we do? I believe it starts, as so many other things do, with us....We must learn to be open, to share our failures as openly as we share our successes. If we can bravely enter that state with one another, we will be able to provide the kind of light on the path that can truly be helpful to others as they pass by this event or that in their lives. Reaching out, not from a place of ego, but from a place of love and understanding.
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