When Others Are In Pain

We all have our painful times, whether physical pain or emotional pain.  We do our best to work through those times in order to return to a sense of well-being and harmony.  The natural state of being is health of mind and body and harmony in our worldly interactions.  Like a well-tuned instrument the melody of our lives sounds a true tone when we find ways to believe in our true state of Being.  Discord and inharmony in our life and affairs temporarily express when we lose our sense of centeredness in Spirit.  We are not always aware of the specifics of how we came to experience pain, but regaining our belief in our natural state will begin the process of healing.

Dealing with our own pain is one thing.  Dealing with the pain and suffering of friends and those we love is yet another.  We may feel helpless and impotent, not knowing how to be of assistance.  I have a friend going through chemotherapy right now.  It’s a tough haul for her.  What I feel I can do is to assure her of my caring and support the spark of healing life that I know is within her.  My daughter has dealt with several serious conditions over the years that have been painful and that sap her energy. Fortunately, she has been brought up to believe in her inner Spirit as a healing presence.  I know that has strengthened her in many ways as she deals with the conditions.

In our caring for others and wanting to assist them in their healing we need to “keep the high watch.”  For me this means seeing them as fully functioning, perfectly whole in mind and body and in harmony with the world around them and the people in it.  Too often we may feel caught up in sadness or fear about the conditions our friends and loved ones face because of the names we have attributed to those conditions. Naming a condition makes it appear even more powerful.

I remember years ago as a worker in Silent Unity, the 24-hour prayer department of Unity in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, when the Cancer Society started promotions highlighting the “seven danger signals of cancer.”  Once those promotions aired on TV, Silent Unity was flooded with prayer requests from people who feared they had one or more of those signs.  This is just one example of how fear can override our otherwise positive outlook on life.

We may never know the why we face suffering.  I do believe, however, that whatever conditions may come our way our indomitable spirit urges us forward, always toward life and wholeness.  Each step we take believing in that wholeness moves us closer to the full measure of its expression in mind, body and affairs.  This is how I choose to view my friends and loved ones always, not simply when they are in pain and suffering.  I support their faith in healing.  I encourage the innate healing urges within every cell of their bodies.  I believe, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” (Luke 9:22)

Champions

As I was watching the Olympics programming recently it seemed to me that I should write something about champions. I listened to the commentators tell of some of the challenges Olympic competitors have gone through in order to simply get to the Olympics, let alone contest for a medal placement. To the greater number of participants who will not achieve medal recognition, l commend them for their effort. I could not imagine myself racing downhill on icy slopes at 90 miles per hour! Great heavens! How can anyone have the courage to embrace such a feat? Many have struggled for years with broken bones and bodies through rigorous training just so they could realize the dream of being there!

We all know, they all know, that everyone cannot win a medal. We may have our favorites; the ones we follow and hope will win the honors. That is part of the sport. The competition would be much less satisfying without the audience. I was thrilled as Shaun White gained the gold for his half-pipe snowboard feats. I watched with some trepidation as Lindsay Vonn catapulted in the downhill after several of those who preceded her crashed violently, fortunately without serious injury. Even in figure skating there is the constant possibility of missing the triple axle and especially the quad, if it is attempted, and seriously injuring the body. In a half-split second the athlete’s life can hang in the balance. And yet they courageously continue to compete, to reach for the excellence that will be rewarded by a simple medal and the playing the nation’s national anthem.

It is important that we have the opportunity to view and to participate in challenging sports events. We are reminded, if we look, that great effort precedes success in sporting events. Individual excellence and team excellence comes at a high price of years of work, planning, devotion and courage to extend beyond the norm. Indeed, excellence implies something beyond the norm.

Today I received another of those emails that cries out to be shared. Even though I try to be judicious in what I send on to others, the one I received today accompanying my Olympics viewing, showed yet another form of excellence and courage. It demonstrates an extraordinary ability to overcome the severest of challenges. I invite you to view this video clip. Even if you have seen it before, it is well worth another view. 

http://www.maniacworld.com/are-you-going-to-finish-strong.html 

You tell me. Who are the champions and what makes them so? I believe that to the extent I am able to identify with the courage, perseverance and success of these outstanding athletes and apparently disadvantaged persons, I, too, can become a champion in my own life. I may not ski the slopes or do fantastic half-pipe maneuvers, or even skate in a steady line without falling. But if I can dream, if I can believe, if I will practice courageous thinking and living, I will surmount the challenges I face, whatever they may be. My challenges fade quickly as I realize what so many others have faced and overcome. We are all capable of bringing forth our champion characteristics and I honor and praise the champion within each and every one of us!

Who Is It . . . ?

I just completed five days at board of directors meetings here in Portland for the Vajra Flame Foundation.  Any time one has an opportunity to be of service to a non-profit organization there is a sense of fulfillment that can come to that person.  I certainly felt an energizing force envelope me and I know the other board members felt the same way.

What I want to share with you is a thought presented in one of our meditations by Kathlyn Kingdon, the channel for Djwhal Khul.  We were asked to consider these questions:

Who is it that

            Sees through my eyes?

            Hears through my ears?

            Reaches out with my hands?

            Loves through my heart?

In our interactions with others we have choices about how we experience and share those connections.  Perhaps too often we express ourselves out of whatever our current mood might be.  If we are feeling upbeat, then we share from our happiness.  If we are not feeling so good, we may pass on our unpleasantness to others.  One way to greatly improve our interactions with others is to ask ourselves the questions above before we begin the experience. 

When I look out at my world who is seeing through my eyes?  Is it a spiritually grounded, positively directed soul, one who looks for the highest and best that is possible?  Do I let my eyes see with a clear vision of potential?  Do my eyes see the vision of my dreams?

Who is hearing through my ears?  Regardless of the dissonance that may be present, can I break free from that and hold to the truth of order and harmony?  Who reaches out with my hands?  At times when called upon to be of assistance to others or complete a task that I may wish I did not have to do, can I remember that loving hands are healing hands?  Can I let everything I touch be blessed with love?  Can I let every handshake or touch upon a shoulder be an expression of care and support?

Who loves through my heart?  Sometimes it is difficult to feel love toward someone who has disappointed us or done something unpleasant to us.  At these times I will try to remember unconditional love.  This love freely embraces all persons and situations simply because love is what it is, a harmonizing, healing power that transforms people and situations when shared from the heart.

Seeing, hearing, touching and loving from the spiritual center of our being is a transforming activity.  No negative situation or person can fail to be touched by this soul energy.  Even if no apparent change is evident at first, the positive expression of love enfolds the situation with the seed of change.  As we continue to act from this center, change for the good will come about.  Give these questions a try and notice how it makes you feel.

The Expectation Merry Go Round

I have written quite a bit about expectations and how having them affects our lives and can leave us confused. The effect has both positive and negative implications. What came to mind recently was a broader understanding of why expectations can offer such a confusing course to follow.

Expectations are like intentions, goals, plans, dreams and faith. Who can argue that those are not good things? Much of the New Age, positive thinking pop psychology focuses on how important it is to create positive intentions in order to build a consciousness of expecting good to increase abundantly in our lives. I have been involved in this way of thinking all my life as a Unity student and minister. I have seen wonderful demonstrations of how the change to a positive consciousness of expectation—faith—brings about healing, harmony and prosperity. So, I know this works.

On the other hand, I also see how we often have expectations that involve what we want others to do. This is where a “positive” intention about another person is really an unconscious attempt to control the person. Simply because we believe our intention is positive, it is not our call on what someone else should do or how they should think or act. It really makes no difference how clearly we think someone else would benefit from our help. We should want the highest and best to come into their lives, but according to their own expectations and hopes.

When we are overly focused in what we hope others will do or how they might change we are creating a potential for disappointment, even heartbreak, when they choose another path. The relationship between parent and child is a place where the potential for disappointment is often subtle and not recognized until there is some form of rebellion. Our children ultimately must make their own decisions. It is a primary way of learning. It is so immediate, usually, that little if anything needs to be said to point out the miscalculation of their judgment. It is so difficult in many cases for a parent to stand by, but stand back, as their child begins making difficult decisions and dealing with the consequences. We can always let them know we are there for them at any time. This is something they will respect and count on if we have carefully laid a groundwork of trust by our example beyond words.

My conclusion about expectations, at this point anyway, remains one of working on myself rather than being concerned with expecting others to change. I can do something about the way I think, feel and act. I can develop a greater faith in the qualities and characteristics with which the Creator has endowed me. I can love others in my life and see them responding to the positive aspects of their own creativity. In so doing I can get off the merry-go-round having grasped the gold ring!

Greetings To 2010

Happy New Year!

May 2010 be the best year yet!