Courage: Thriving In The Paradox: Creating A New World
I have now finished reading "The Feminine Face Of God" by Sherry Ruth
Anderson and Patricia Hopkins. What a colossal statement about the strength of women!
What a colossal statement about the spiritual imperative to make time for
solitude! What a
colossal statement about the spiritual imperative to create a relationship
with our own
inner beings! The authors made the point that the women they interviewed are
creating a new world defining the sacred and spirituality in their own terms
beyond the patriarchal terms that are so confining to women. The central human
paradox I see so clearly is: How does anyone maintain self-integrity and
establish meaningful relationship too? I have asked this question all my life. The
women poignantly discussed selfishness as currently defined by our culture.
When the women claimed a need for solitude and taking care of themselves instead
of being at the beck and call of everyone else they were defined as selfish,
even by other women!!! Many of the women flat out said if it has to be a
choice between being solitary and being in an unhealthy relationship they choose
being solitary! I wholeheartedly honor that choice. I’ve made it many times
myself. It’s painful and it’s freeing and life-sustaining. This story reminds me
of the quote, “When the millionth women’s circle is created we will have
changed the world!” I wonder where we are in that process! I intend to bring us to
the millionth circle and beyond! What about you? The paradox I’m living is:
Being kind means everything to me, and it infuriates me when anyone expects me
to sabotage my own well-being simply for their convenience! I wonder, “Do you
not realize your impact on others? Do you not see me at all? Where is your
sense of self-awareness and integrity?” I’m asking these questions in all
sincerity because for me they form the very heart of healthy relationship with self
and others! It takes great courage to live from these questions and risk being
labeled selfish when you know in your heart of hearts what you’re doing is
being responsible and “response-able.” I am responsible for my own life. No one
can or will define for me how I am to live my life. My intensity is the Fire
of embodied Wisdom, my I AM statement in the world. I
believe it is what will heal our world! It is imperative that we all find our
own voice!!!!
I didn’t know I would be addressing these questions when I began this
newsletter. I have stumbled right into a central value for my life. I am happy to
help anyone anytime when I can. Some people’s idea of “help me” is, “Stop
living your own life and take mine up. Yours doesn’t matter!” I have had that said
to me implicitly and explicitly more than once. That mindset infuriates me
beyond words! It is the epitome of the person saying they’re not willing to do
their own work. They’re not willing to take responsibility for their own
lives. They don’t recognize how precious they are! Self-recognition only comes
from within! I cannot give that to them. I can compliment them until I’m blue in
the face and it falls on deaf ears. Only we can heal our own deafness and
blindness. Healing is an inside job! That is irrefutably true! My intensity
comes from realizing that healing takes effort. Healing isn’t a given! I’ve done
my work and I continue to do my work. My work will never be done because I
keep growing and changing. We all share that very same heritage. We are
enormously powerful! Self-empowerment is not given from the outside! It is a process
we awaken to as we connect with our Inner Spirit that is always present as
Life Eternal. I am passionately devoted to this gift and this process. I
recognize who and what I AM! I believe we are all here to awaken to that precious
gift and process in us. Saying all this brings me full circle to another
realization again. Self-hatred is a form of violence. Violence enrages me. Violence
means we never learned the step by step process of caring for ourselves and
each other. It doesn’t matter to me why that didn’t happen.
What does matter to me is how can I bring Infinite Love into every situation?
There’s
only one way I know. I must be Infinite Love in every situation! Is it
possible? Yes, it is! Do I do it every moment? No, I don’t. I’m working on it.
Being Infinite Love in every
moment means practicing the Presence within! It means forgiving myself and
others for the illusion of separateness. Does that take courage and awareness?
Yes, it does. Am I willing to do it? Yes, I am!!!! Courage means “with heart”.
To me it also means with soul-connectedness! We must care about ourselves and
our lives. I remember clearly as a teenager my very best friend complimenting
me and at the time I thought, “You must be crazy. If you really knew me you
wouldn’t say that.” I wonder if we all go through that stage on the way to the
decision toward self-love! As a young adult I began the conscious caring
process. I remember like it was yesterday the day in 1971 when I said, “I don’t
know what’s out there but anything is better than this.” I changed my attitude
about myself that day! I dramatically changed my wardrobe. I wondered if
anyone would notice. It took six days for someone to say something and then soon
thereafter it became the playful office joke, “I wonder what new outfit she’s
going to show up in today?” It was fun. I knew they cared about me. It was fun
being noticed in a playful supportive way. Three months later I moved to
California to “find my dream.” This is important because it’s more than a
personal story. It’s a universal story. It is an example of the kind of comfort and
power we open ourselves to when we consciously decide, “I’m worthy. I want to
love who I am. I want to enjoy my life. I want to be all I AM.” It has been
said so often, “We are the Light of the world.” We are mirrors for others. As
we shine our Light others take notice. They decide, “It’s safe for me to come
out and play and shine my Light too!” This is how we change and light the
world. We create a whole new world. Are you
in? Here are four words that define “in” for me: Power, Authority, Impact,
Responsibility. These words embody some of the cornerstone teachings of Diana’s
Grove Mystery School. I began their program in 1997. I completed my Rites of
Passage year in 2001. To this day Diana’s Grove, www.dianasgrove.com, is a
huge centerpiece of my spiritual development. Diana’s Grove specializes in
personal empowerment, leadership training, and spiritual community development. For
me, Power, Authority, Impact, Responsibility truly are names for God. These
words mean living in conscious awareness of the Spirit of Life and Love within
each one of us. These words embody enormous passion, energy, time, commitment,
awareness, and will. I am one life among many. It matters in what
consciousness I do what I do! It matters in what consciousness you do what you do! I
love
the paradox our minister, Rev. Patricia Bass, shared with us recently,
Impossible means I’m possible!!!! Yes!!! I love the passion and faith embodied in
this vibrantly enlightened
view. All things are possible!!! It reminds me of my beloved motto: Rise up
into
healing!!! No time like now!!! I accept!!! I enjoy the challenge and the
opportunity. I am
spiritually fed by the journey. I invite you into the journey with me! May we
all light the world with Love and Joy!!!!!!! It is sooooooo very precious
that we are here now!!!!!!
Namaste!!! Peace to you!!!!!
To Return to
the Website, Minimize or close this Window.