“In the hero stories, the call to go on a journey takes the form of a loss, an error, a wound, an unexplainable longing, or a sense of a mission. When any of these happens to us, we are being summoned to make a transition. It will always mean leaving something behind,…The paradox here is that loss is a path to gain.”
― David Richo, How to Be an Adult: A Handbook on Psychological and Spiritual Integration
“Everything has seasons, and we have to be able to recognize when something’s time has passed and be able to move into the next season. Everything that is alive requires pruning as well, which is a great metaphor for endings.” —Henry Cloud
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/seasons
You may be familiar with these words from the beautiful poetry of the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. Or perhaps you are more familiar with the musical setting by Pete Seegar known as Turn, Turn, Turn or popular renditions by Judy Collins or The Byrds.
The Espirational.com theme for October is “Transitions.”
The world around us is in a constant state of change, often forcing us to change too. Scattered among the changes are the major life transitions we all face throughout life, from birth to death with some good ones like moving from childhood to adolescence and adolescence to adulthood, marriage (and sometimes divorce), aging, career changes and spiritual awakening scattered in between.
So how do we navigate this maze of transitions throughout our life? This is what we will explore during October here at Espirational.com
Have you noticed that the world seems to have gone a little overboard in terms of independence? I was shocked one day to sit in a restaurant and overhear a rather loud discussion among a group of older adults. I couldn’t believe these people were saying that everything they had accomplished in life they did on their own, no one ever helped them. Really? Where were their parents, teachers, employers, friends?
No one can survive totally on their own, without others. Life in this world is not always easy. We need each other.
Now I’m not talking about giving control of our minds or lives over to another person. I’m talking about interdependence. I like the definition from Wikipedia which defines interdependence as “mutual reliance between two or more groups.” The key word here is “mutual.” We’re not talking about one person or group controlling others. What we are talking about is people looking out for each other, caring and working together for the common good.
I believe an extreme belief in independence has been a contributing factor to the division and turmoil in much of the world today. We don’t have to agree with those around us to see that the world might be a better place if we could learn to work together. Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!
“Let go of your story so the universe can write a new one for you.” Marianne Williamson
This is a time when we are usually thinking of freedom and independence in political terms, but I want to go a little different direction here. Let’s talk for a minute about the freedom to create our own reality and thereby change the world.
I loved this quote the minute I saw it. Marianne Williamson is a wise woman.
We get so caught up in our personal history (our stories, if you will) that we forget that we sometimes keep ourselves chained to the past, unable to move forward. This is something I know a little about.
For many years people who I have to believe meant well encouraged, and sometimes required me to keep repeating my story, over and over. My story became my identity and I was led to believe that is would never change. I was irreparably damaged. There was no way out. My story was who I was and would always be.
I tried not to believe it, but it wasn’t always easy. It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey to break free and reclaim my life. Writing a new story has not always been easy, but it has been so worth it.
It is not easy to let go of a story, but one freedom we always have is to change our mind. Change your mind, change your life.
That doesn’t mean denying or ignoring what happened in the past. It means beginning to look at the present moment and then toward a brighter future. Don’t worry if you haven’t “resolved your issues” yet. Issues get resolved when we commit to life and start to really live.
If your story has you in bondage, let go. The universe so wants to write you a new one.
This month our Thoughts for Today will be thoughts on freedom from well-known and not so well-known people from different walks of life.
So, the espirational question for July is, “What is freedom or living free for you? Let’s start a conversation and see where it leads us.
Before we met Bob wrote a poem called I AM.
A beautiful limited edition print of this poem was created with artwork by Margaret Nixon and Calligraphy by Jane Van Milligan. It comes with the printed words with scripture reference on a separate page.
We are conducting a drawing to give a copy of this print to one of our readers. Please enter the rafflecopter drawing by clicking here. The drawing ends at 12: AM on June 30 and the winner will announced on Monday July 2. But first take a minute to read the words.
I AM
The one who was, and is, and is to come, I AM. Alpha, the beginning, the creator, I AM.
I speak, and the earth is formed, and the light is there; the waters are divided from the dry land, and the light from the darkness.
Energy, time, light, darkness, all of these , I AM.
The father of man, of creatures, of life, I AM>.
I speak and grass, and herbs, and trees do grow; and animals, and birds, and insects and serpents do present themselves; even man.
Creation, life imaged, grantor of gifts, I AM.
The word, the spirit, the fact of all things, I AM.
I speak and the angels are; and authority is given; and Satan is given freedom, or bound; also testing allowed.
Strength, hope, happiness, the everlasting, I AM.
I AM Love, but was unloved, alone.
I AM needed my friends, my sons, my servants to love, to me love.
I AM offering perfect peace, trust, tranquility, and love.
I AM not selfish, and allow you another one to love.
I AM perfect, when he is punished so shall you be with your love.
I AM your Lord, your God, Christ;
I AM perfect Agape Love.
The one who was, and is, and is to come, I AM. Omga, the conclusion, the justice, I AM.
I speak and my voice brings down tyrants, dictators, bad masters, demons and Satan, and those not rused in my son’s book of life.
Truth, understanding, logic, honesty, I AM. Fit, undergirding, and absolute fact, I AM.
I speak and the present heaven and earth disappear, and a new heaven and a new earth appear, and there to rule is my son.
Beauty, loveliness, true life conceptions, I AM. Abraham’s , Jacob’s, and Moses’ God I AM.
I speak and the universe reacts as I think, all creation reacts as I think; but you I have freed to react.
Either love, hope, happiness and peace I AM.
Or hatred, confusion, sadness, and fear, he is.
Please enter the rafflecopter drawing by clicking here. The drawing ends at 12: AM on June 30 and the winner will announced on Monday July 2.
God is in all and through all. In Him we live and move and have our being. This means we actually walk with God every minute of every day of our lives. Most of the time we are not even consciously aware of the presence that is never an absence.
But those times when we focus on the present moment and really tune in, those are special indeed. This often happens for me on my morning walks. Three days a week I have a walking buddy and we really clip it off chattering all the way. But on the other days I really slow it down and connect.
One cool fall morning I went down to the water hoping to sit on the dock, but someone was practicing Tai Chi so I sat down beside the water to meditate. Sitting on the ground is something we need to do from time to time to connect to the earth. I closed my eyes and did a grounding mediation. Then I just sat and listened to the water, and the cars driving on the main road, feeling the cool, gentle breeze.
Next I thanked our Mother earth for supporting us and sustaining us and apologized for the many times we do not do the same for her. Finally I focused on the wind blowing through my hair and thanked Spirit, the giver of life for the energy flowing through my body and my breath.
When I had finished I found myself drawn to the swings on the children’s playground and spent a little time flying through the air. Finally I continued on my walk. Toward the end I stopped to talk to my friend Marge who swept me away on her golf cart to show me the two persimmon trees on the grounds. We picked up persimmons and ate a few talking about my grandma’s persimmon pudding. I promised Marge if I could collect enough I would make some persimmon pudding and share it with her.
You see when we spend time in conscious awareness of our connection to God we also become more aware of our connection to the earth and to our fellow travelers through this life. How much easier and more peaceful our lives would be if we would only remember we walk with God all the time, we just need to stop and tune in.