Remembrance

Today’s Daily Word acknowledges Memorial Day, a U.S. holiday. But, interestingly, it goes beyond remembering the men and women who gave their lives in our nation’s service. Here it is in its entirety:

Monday, May 31, 2010
Remember
I lovingly remember others.

Remembering those who have given their lives in service, I reflect upon their sacrifice. I learn from the lessons they taught and from their accomplishments. I also remember the people who have made a meaningful contribution in my life. Because of them I have learned to live more fully.

Just as I build upon the acts and achievements of those who have gone before me, others may build upon my life's example. As I remember others today, others may remember me in the future.

Today I take a few moments to appreciate those who taught me by example, to honor those who showed me the way. Their love and their willingness have changed my life for the better, and I am grateful.

When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God. - Philemon 1:4

It’s interesting that during this morning’s quiet time I listened to a meditative, subliminal CD about forgiveness and peace of mind. Several people from the past came into my consciousness. They were folks who I’d been close to for many years but am no longer in touch with. While we’ve chosen to not be in one another’s lives these days, I remember them with love for making my life richer. They helped me become who I am today. I have much gratitude for them - their love, their patience, their wisdom.

There are so many others I remember and for whom I am grateful: School teachers, relatives, employers, co-workers, those who came before me in the 12 Step program, other spiritual mentors, and of course, friends and my beloved life partner and husband, Roger Wyer. All have blessed me with their presence in my life - even if sometimes I hadn’t a clue!

Thank You, Spirit, for all those I’ve met on this journey called Life. Bless them, bless them, bless them.

Spiritual Contracts

I have a friend who talks a lot about spiritual contracts.

My understanding is that a spiritual contract is the agreement between two souls to get together in a future lifetime to learn and grow together. It may be for business, love, familial, etc. experiences. And, my understanding is that once the contract has been fulfilled, each party is free to move on.

I think this concept is an interesting one and a most plausible explanation for the reason why some of the people who once were such a prominent part of my life are no longer in it at all.

Take for instance my friend, Gloria. We met in college and she became like a sister to me, the one I never had. We partied, ‘man-hunted’, shared life together in many ways. She married my favorite brother, and was a primary relationship in my life for most of 33 years. Then almost overnight she was gone.

One might say our relationship couldn’t survive her divorce after 25 years of marriage to my brother. Or that she was so overwhelmed from exhaustion and grief over the ten-year battle her ‘baby’ sister waged against cancer that she was a big part of. Or that she truly couldn’t forgive me for something she had imagined as a transgression of trust. Or... the stories could be endless, and I don’t suspect I’ll ever know what happened (although ‘the door is always open').

The idea that we had a spiritual contract that had been fulfilled makes a lot of sense to me. We had our time together, full of laughter, tears, confidences, etc. She was the very first person (in a platonic sense) aside from the few hugs I had received by some relatives, who embraced hugging as a natural phenomenon. She taught me its importance both emotionally and physically; she taught me about love.

I’m so grateful that Gloria was able to attend my wedding and help celebrate my finally finding The Man, the life partner I had so yearned for and that she was so well aware of since our college days. She was out of my life within my first year of marriage.

I can think of other folks who have come into my life, taught me some important lessons and vice versa I’m hoping, and then vanished. I’ve long since gotten over the pain of their departure and now the idea of spiritual contracts closes the door on questions of ‘why?’

Dear Spirit of the Most High-
Thank You for the people who agreed to meet me back here for another round of life learning and love. Bless them, bless them, bless them.

Gratitude

It’s far later than I wanted to be up this New Year’s Eve, tired as I am from a full day. Nonetheless, as I contemplate the ending of the year 2009 and the first decade of the millennium, what comes to mind is the word gratitude. So, instead of reflecting on the old and projecting the new (I’ll leave that for tomorrow), I’m writing out a gratitude list.

As I sit here, in this moment at the end of an adventurous year, I am grateful for:

- God’s presence in my life
- Rog, my Life Partner, twin flame, husband
- Our lovely, character-filled home in our new home town of Sedona
- Good health
- Dear friends of old
- Budding relationships with spiritually like-minded folks
- Building community
- Wonderfully working partnership with first client in Sedona (totally a ‘God thing’)
- Moving forward in my spiritual path
- Singing in a choir
- The community, education, and family Unity of Sedona provides
- Increasing client projects

Gratitude for material objects runs a far second to relationships in my life, be they spiritual, personal, business, social, etc. All starts and comes from Source, and as one year closes and another moves in, I set the intention to remember this.

Following One's Heart

There are many ways that we can serve God. Some of us find that we do it best and are true to our heart (to God, to ourselves) by doing it on a solitary path. That is, we find that we simply cannot give our fullest to Spirit when involved in a committed relationship with a human being.

Others find immersing themselves in community the best way to go in order to serve God. They live with housemates, work with many colleagues, and, in general, are in the world and in many close relationships.

I recently learned that a man, who I have heard speak God’s Word numerous times and who has stirred my heart, has chosen to give up a committed human romantic love relationship. In fact, it was a marriage. It seems that he has been in multiple marriages, and all but one ended in divorce. This man finds that he can only serve God best when he is not also committed to a life partner. He’s tried it and it just doesn’t work. The human relationship divides him and distracts him from his true life’s work.

I get it. I admire this man for his courage, his integrity, his honesty, his commitment – to Spirit and his heart. His last marriage was short-lived once he confronted this nagging issue and made the decision to give his heart solely to the Great Mystery. He and his former wife love one another and are great friends. That’s just the way it is. This man helps many people as his ministry goes well beyond the walls of the physical church. He serves God best and his spirit heals and thrives as he gives of himself to the many instead of a special one.

Yesterday’s blog (What God Wants) spoke to the idea that maybe what God wants is for us to just be free of the things that come between us and God. For me, I needed to change my daily allocation of time. I made the commitment to spend more time with Spirit. How pale this seems in comparison to my aforementioned friend. Yet, what wonderful food for thought.

Spirit has given each of us something unique to share with this world. Besides knowing what it is, we need to discover the best way to go about sharing it, and then make the commitment to carry it out. I’m still working on all of this. But, kudos to those who have found their true calling, know how to administer it, and are committed to it, their heart, and God. Thanks for being such a great role model to the rest of us. God bless you all!

The Signal is Out

“When you begin to understand Law of Attraction, and you understand that which is like unto itself is drawn, then it is easier and easier to understand that you are offering a signal, and the entire Universe responds.” - Abraham (Excerpted from 06.20.98 Seattle, WA workshop)

The signal I am offering to the Universe today – and since Sunday – is the very passionate desire to relocate up north, to be in community, in nature, to nourish my soul in ways unique to the Verde Valley/Red Rock Country area of Arizona. And, this desire (and perhaps my stubbornness) makes me put out to the Universe that we will be in our new home by the end of August, having gotten there in ease and grace and in accordance with God’s Will.

I do not ask of God “how” this will occur. I know that when I finally asked for God’s help to leave Santa Fe, I received it in ways I’d have thought ridiculous or impossible if anyone had predicted the “how”. But I surrendered, committed to my part, and left the big “how” to Spirit. Within six months I had relocated to the Phoenix area, far less time than the three year plan I had originally sketched out.

With fiery passion in my heart, lessons learned from the past, my life partner Rog by my side, and God’s power and grace, I move forward to realizing my dreams. I am attracting that to which I am drawn and the Universe is responding with a big time “Now”!

I am so grateful.

Happy Birthday...

... to me!

Yes, it’s my birthday, number 54. Birthdays are like new years, a milestone of the calendar year to reflect upon my life.

Looking back over the last year, it’s obviously been a wild one of adventure, spiritual growth, shedding of the old and making way for the new. And, I had my beloved husband and life partner, Rog, beside me for the ride.

Once, when I was a young teenager and my mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I told her that she couldn’t give me what I wanted. That gift was my soul mate, the guy who would understand me, love me, be my bestest friend, and walk with me through all of Life’s offerings. I yearned in my soul for such a gift, which stayed with me throughout the years.

My mother could not give me that gift, but close to 4 decades later, God did. My twin flame (even more than a soul mate) and I were finally ready to meet in this lifetime, and Spirit arranged it just about five years ago.

Receiving Rog into my life then is a recurring birthday gift each year that I will cherish always.

Valentine's Day 2009

I’ve long looked at Valentine’s Day as a day to celebrate not just romantic partners but platonic friendships too. This viewpoint may have originated at a time when I wasn’t involved in a romantic relationship, as a way to feel a part of this holiday. – ya know, maybe receive some cards! But truly, I was on the mark with this notion despite what my level of consciousness might have been in those days.

Today I celebrate and am grateful for my dear friends. And these days, I have in my world my Life Partner, Twin Flame, and Husband (ooo-eee!) –yes, all in the same fella- in the form and spirit of Rog. What love and joy and healing he has brought into my soul, or perhaps awakened what was there in the first place. I love him and our life partnership dearly and am so very blessed and grateful that Spirit hooked us up together 4½ years ago.

Today’s a great day (every day is of course) to take the time to acknowledge outwardly and/or inwardly our love and gratitude to our fellow travelers - we are all part of the Divine One.

Here is an excerpt from today’s Daily Word to help get our thoughts together:

Having a special day that reminds us to love and be loved is wonderful.
Divine love is its own reward, for the more of this love we express, the more love we have to give. The more open we are to being loved, the more love we receive.
Being love in expression, we are patient and kind, considerate and thoughtful. We communicate how much we care for others and how thankful we are that they are a part of our lives--not just on a special day but every day.

The following is my adaptation of today’s Science of Mind Daily Guide:

“Won’t you be My Valentine?” I hear my Beloved ask.
“Will you let Me into your heart that I may fulfill your every desire?” God whispers in a still, small voice.
“Will you allow Me to inspire you, guide you, direct you, maintain, and sustain you?” God offers, as I catch my breath in awe of the scope of the offer.
“Will you allow Me to share My universe with you and to give you all that I have—all that you see and what remains in the unseen?” God beckons.
“May I love you through your mate, your children, your family, your friends, your co-workers, the strangers you meet, and even those who appear to be your enemies?” the Creator-of-All invites, as I slowly nod my acceptance of my Beloved’s generosity.
“Will you ‘Be Mine’ and keep your attention only on me when your world seems to fall apart?” the Divine One beseeches.
Yes, yes, yes my heart sings back.