Forgive

"You don't forgive without loving. And I don't mean sentimentally. I don't mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, 'I forgive, I'm finished with it.'" – Maya Angelou

This powerful and courageous choice to forgive has been lifetime work for me. I am aware that I forgive fairly easily. I think I mean it. I think I am "finished with it" but I still am visited by memories and sadness. This must be the love that Maya Angelou speaks about.

I am aware that forgiveness is a gift I give myself. I am aware forgiveness is essential to my healing process. I still need to work on giving up my story on how I have been hurt. I need to let go and let God. For me letting go and letting God means moving to empathy and compassion. I can reflect on the person I perceived hurt me. I can spiritually and emotionally focus on empathy and compassion. When it is difficult to move to empathy and compassion, I can always choose to be kind.

Dear God, grant me the serenity to choose to be kind.

Everything we think, everything we feel, and everything we do, makes a difference to someone.

"The moment we cease to hold each other, the sea engulfs us, 
and the light goes out." – James Baldwin

We are designed to connect. We are made to hold each other. When we hold each other, when we connect, the love multiplies. We need each other. Interdependence is our only hope moving forward. We must work together to find creative solutions to the problems of today.

"The breath of one is the breath of all, and the breath of all, 
is the breath of God." – Melanie Bacon

I am reminded of the African principle of "Ubuntu".  It means "I am because you are." We are all bonded together in a shared humanity.

Everything we think, everything we feel, and everything we do, makes a difference to someone.

What are we learning each day and with each experience?

Each experience in my life has given me skills and knowledge for what was yet to appear.

I discovered passion and commitment by choosing to do what I loved and follow that "still, small voice."  I found courage and wisdom in facing pain, fear, and loss.  When I stumbled and fell, I got back up. I kept trying, and learning, and growing.  Every decision I made created the person I am now. 

Life has been constant change. There is always something new to learn and hopefully enjoy. As I rise, again and again, I learn perseverance and grace.  I am filled with gratitude for every day of my life.  Every day and every experience has the potential to be profound.

The purpose of life is to love

The purpose of life is to love. When we love, we ripple out aspects of original creation. When we love, our life is meaningful.

I am grateful to know and experience that love and life are intertwined. Love is not something we do. Love is something we are. Our love is a way of life.  It is an orientation, a motivation, an intention that brings its own reward.

Connection is the natural state of life

Connection is the natural state of life.

We all belong. We are all included.

Even when we feel excluded, we are still part of a great, loving universe.

We are all part of the love, that universe, that one song.

We are all driven to connect, to bond, to be together.

Everything is relationship.

You are here in this relationship because you are needed, you are indispensable.

You are here because life needed your unique self.

You are a part of the intimate, unconditionally loving, Divine, universe.

Interdependence

I love interdependence. We thrive when we collaborate and build community. We are all craving connection and relationship. Interdependence helps us feel less stressed and more effective. There is a deep satisfaction that comes from building that trust and caring. 

Very few of us seek theoretical knowledge. Many of us love to hear stories. We love to hear the stories of ancestors, the elderly, and children. We love to tell our story. We need to be heard. We lean in when we hear personal stories. Stories help us feel like family.

We need to be transparent and vulnerable. The more we share our story, the more we become self-aware and whole. The more we listen to other stories, the more our worldview expands and we learn we are more similar than we are different.

"You alone can do it, but you cannot do it alone." - O. Hobart Mowrer

Journey of Transformation

I have found my life to be a journey of transformation from little nature boy, to young athlete, to social justice advocate, to addictions counselor, to educator and public speaker.  Woven throughout this spiritual journey has been the study, experience, and commitment to love and truth.

I am a veteran of spiritual experience and practice. The word veteran originates in the Indo European 'wet', which means "to inspire or spiritually engage." I will confess with great humility that when I speak, I seek to inspire and what interests me most is spiritual engagement. 

The work we all do on this journey of spiritual transformation is essential. It is impossible to do alone. We thrive in community.

As my spiritual journey has become more and more conscious, I am acutely aware that my prayer time has become more intimate, receptive, and silent. I listen for "the still, small voice." I breathe and wait to hear God's voice. 

What I have heard the past 20+ years has been; love, speak your truth, serve, make your life and your love, a resource for others. I have found that as I share my truth and vulnerability, I give others the permission to do the same. Our spiritual transformation is to grow from our individual egos to being fully human and finally to finding our way back home to God.

Doing ordinary things...

We must focus on the importance of doing ordinary things with the perception that our actions are essential and of great value.

We can all be examples of love and unity

We need to change our hearts. Love is unity, understanding, empathy, and compassion.

What can I do today for the health and safety of the homeless?

What can I do today to help those who will not wear a mask in this pandemic?

What can I do today to stop racism and sexism?

What can I do today to make sure all children have enough to eat?

What can I do today to stop greed and injustice?

I cannot solve all the problems of humanity. But every choice I make contributes to who and how the problems of humanity are resolved.

The world will change as our hearts and minds change.

We can all be examples of love and unity.

Treat all life as sacred

As caring human beings, it is our responsibility to support and care for the earth, our neighborhood, our home, and everyone in the shared life. This is the bottom line. Either we continue to care for the earth and each other or we will devolve to a place and time where there is no one left to care for us and no earth left to nurture and support us.

This is not some power game where the loudest, most abusive, fear inducing, and hate promoting demagogue wins and takes all the cash. This is real life. This is the deep commitment of saving the earth, and as the indigenous people have taught for thousands of years, when we save the earth, we save our souls.

This is a time of transformation. Wake up! There is only a little time left.

This is not a dress rehearsal. This is the only life we get. This life, our life, and everyone else's life, is sacred. Please, please, please, treat all life and the earth as sacred and we will survive this catastrophe that we have created.

If you cannot treat all life as sacred than at least - "Do no harm."

Be the Light

"You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine that all may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14, 16

We need each other's light. Now is the time to choose to be loving and kind. 

Now is the time to be wise and forgiving.  Now is the time to take action.

Be part of the problem solving not part of the problem.

Be a voice that lifts us up not puts us down.

Be part of the future dream, do not despair.

Be a light on to the darkness.

Be someone's hope, be someone's joy, be someone's love.

Be the light.

Our thoughts have power

 "The thought is ever father to the act" - Shakespeare

In these times of challenge, crisis, and anxiety, it is essential that we reclaim the power of our thoughts. There is in each of us and in each of our thoughts, great power. We have the ability to find and create stability. Our creative and constructive thinking can change the world. It always has and it can again.

We must bring our honesty to intervene with dishonesty

We must bring our integrity to counteract corruption.

We must bring our kindness, compassion, and empathy to all forms of hatred and exclusion.

The universe responds to our thoughts.

Servant Leadership

Make a gift of your life. Be clear with your intentions to work and serve. It is wise to see your work as a service and contribution to the world. In this context your service becomes a gift. Your gift may be keeping a clean and loving home. Your gift may be tending a garden that provides vegetables and bounty to your family and neighbors. Your gift may be teaching or counseling. Your gift may be in the world of science or engineering.

Whatever your gift, give it with love, caring for life, and service to the greater good. Our life can be a joy to all who come in contact with our loving service.

When we put our attention and energy into serving and uplifting others, we are uplifted in the process.

We are all ripples of God's love.

 We are all ripples of God's love.

"I am the vine, you are the branches." - John 15:5

When we think with respect and understanding, we think like God.

When we act with compassion, we act like God.

When we see equality, we see with the eyes of God.

When we share joy, we feel God's joy.

When we reach out to help another, we reach with the hands of God.

When we speak with love, we speak with the voice of God.

"We are all pencils in the hand of God." - St. Mother Teresa

Please Vote

 "Forget the hours of suffering, but not what they have taught you." - Holocaust survivor 

I feel our nation is suffering. The coronavirus has painfully impacted hundreds of thousands of our fellow humans. The Black Lives Matter movement was given rebirth when we saw George Floyd murdered on our various screens. Because of our technology, he was not murdered once. In our eyes and hearts he was murdered repeatedly. Racism, slavery, and inhumanity has murdered black women and men for 600 years.

We committed genocide against the native people of this land. There are very few indigenous people left to share their beautiful cultures. Latinx parents and their children continue to be imprisoned at our borders. We tear families apart with an ignorance that is inconceivable. 

Those of us on the path of peace and unity are not to blame for the past, but we are responsible for the future. There are moments when I am afraid to speak my truth. Resilience is part of my character. In every way possible, I will create a safe place for dialogue. Every moment we are together is an opportunity to speak our truth and share our character. I want to create a safe emotional space so we can honor all of the courageous souls who have given their lives for the radical dream of democracy. I will do all that I can so that generations who died will not have died in vain. I will not let the dream of peace and unity die in me.

PLEASE VOTE!