.
Perhaps we can recall a time in our childhood when we asked a friend, or one we did not yet know, to "hold our place" in a line.
Some of us recall this while in line for lunch as a young child in school, while we retrieved a notebook left behind ... or while we left someone alone while we sought a more familiar friend.
Some of us recall this while in line for concert tickets as a young adult while we fetched coffee to keep us awake and safe while camping out on an overnight line.
However, each of us will one day experience this as a moment when one of us will ask the other to hold on to us as we move on through a challenging time ... or as we die.
At some point, we will be asked to "just be there".
One of the greatest gifts we can give another human being is to act as their guardian ... their caregiver.
Whether this gift is related to a specific situation or is representative of an ongoing commitment, we each benefit from the association.
We are given a family to love and be loved by, and we meet friends and partners with whom to share the same.
In love, there is an absolute and eternal protection and projection of the spirit within us.
To protect someone is to walk with that person in challenging times and see them through safely to the other side of it.
In doing so, we grow with them, regardless of where their journey is calling them ... or us.
Those within our care derive confidence from our support and assistance, enabling them to persevere through almost any condition.
There are many reasons we feel inspired to serve as caregivers to those for whom we so do.
Sometimes just holding the place for somebody allows them to do what is necessary to grow or heal.
Sometimes, just holding that place for somebody can be very lonely and worrisome.
We may simply want to see that our friend or loved one is taken care of and equipped to prevail over difficult circumstances.
We may also sense that we are in possession of knowledge our loved ones are lacking yet need in their current stage of development.
Our offer to serve as a caregiver may also be both unsolicited and unrelated to any one situation.
Instead of helping someone we care about to cope with a specific challenge, we may find ourselves providing them with a more general form of emotional sustenance that prepares and strengthens them for challenges yet to come.
Perhaps even our own energy can absorb the ills from within those for whom we tend to, and even bring about healing, be it physical or spiritual.
Our ability to empathize with those under our guardianship is our greatest asset, because our comprehension of their needs allows us to determine how we can best serve them.
Even when this comprehension is limited, however, the loving intentions with which we enter into our role as guardians and caregivers ensure that our care and protection help others grow as individuals while living their lives with grace.
This is also true in the case of guardianship of our unknown friends ... strangers.
That is what is known as being graceful.
Of course, we understand that this comes from a Spiritual Grace, with which we are blessed.
Grace is always with us.
It flows like a river through our lives, artfully reminding us that there is magic and power beyond what our eyes can see.
At times we catch its subtle beauty, such as during chance meetings, near misses, and insights that seem to come from nowhere.
Other times we experience Grace in all its powerful surety, certainty, and security, such as when a job comes to an end.
Though we may forget that this is Grace at work too, it is indeed influencing our lives, helping us to move forward and take the next step.
Grace exists in all situations, and in every moment. Yet all too often we may overlook its presence.
Imagine how it might feel to live an entire day in absolute Grace, to fully appreciate that our day is unfolding in absolute perfection. Whereas usually we might miss the mystical spirituality in ordinary events and interactions.
Perhaps, on such a particular day, we would recognize each and every blessing that we are granted as miracles.
Perhaps we would begin with our first deep breaths in the morning, becoming aware that there is an abundant supply of air for us to breathe.
That is Grace.
Our lungs know just how to carry oxygen to our blood, and our blood knows where to carry it from there.
This too is Grace.
We might appreciate the pleasant warmth of Spring, the brilliant sunshine of Summer, the enriching colors of Autumn, or the dazzling display of snow and ice that Winter offers us, and appreciate that they greet us at every turn; never knowing if we will return there again.
We might notice the ease with which we do our job or laugh with a close friend.
These things are all Grace.
Even when we lay our heads down at the end of this day, and every day right through the final one, we rest rest in the stillness of night, and that is Grace.
With each opportunity we give ourselves, we empower ourselves to the energetic current of benevolence, which consists of the connection between one of us and another as we hold each other's places in Grace, that we may discover a deeper peace.
We might begin to wonder if struggle is really all that necessary after all.
That last statement is truly one of Grace.
By living just one day in Grace, we might open the door to many more.
So, I must ask you ....
Will you hold my place?
With love, light, and an outstretched palm of hand for you to lead me,
Rob
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Burdensome Feelings
Burdensome Feelings ...
Blaming Others.
During my Education for Ministry class this past Sunday, we discussed "letting go". More specifically, letting go of "blame".
Such a silly word.
If you say it a few times, it just begins to sound ridiculous.
Blaming sets up a situation in which it becomes difficult to move forward and puts resolution in the hands of others.
As we begin to truly understand that the world outside of us is a reflection of the world inside of us, we may feel confused about who is to blame for the problems in our lives.
If we had a difficult childhood, we may wonder how we can take responsibility for that, and in our current relationships, the same question arises.
We all know that blaming others is the opposite of taking responsibility, but we may not understand how to take responsibility for things that we don’t truly feel responsible for.
We may blame our parents, teachers, and elders for our low self-esteem, and we may blame our current partner for exacerbating it with their unconscious behavior.
Objectively, this seems to make sense. After all, it is not our fault if others were irresponsible or unkind, and we are not to blame for our partner’s bad behavior.
Perhaps the problem lies with the activity of blaming.
Whether we blame others or blame ourselves, there is something aggressive and unkind about it.
It sets up a situation in which it becomes difficult to move forward under the burdensome feelings of shame and guilt that arise. It also puts the resolution of our pain in the hands of someone other than us.
Ultimately, we cannot insist that someone else take responsibility for their actions; only they can make that choice when they are ready.
In the meantime, if we want to move forward with our lives instead of waiting around for something that may or may not happen, we begin to see the wisdom of taking the situation into our own hands.
We do this by forgiving others, even if they have not asked for our forgiveness, so that we can be free. We end our abusive relationships with those who may never admit to any wrongdoing, because we are willing to take responsibility for how we are treated.
In short, we love ourselves as we want to be loved and create the life we know we deserve. We leave the resolution of the wrongs committed against us in the hands of God, releasing ourselves to live a life free of blame, allow ourselves the gift of forgiveness.
With love, light, and forgiveness,
Rob
Blaming Others.
During my Education for Ministry class this past Sunday, we discussed "letting go". More specifically, letting go of "blame".
Such a silly word.
If you say it a few times, it just begins to sound ridiculous.
Blaming sets up a situation in which it becomes difficult to move forward and puts resolution in the hands of others.
As we begin to truly understand that the world outside of us is a reflection of the world inside of us, we may feel confused about who is to blame for the problems in our lives.
If we had a difficult childhood, we may wonder how we can take responsibility for that, and in our current relationships, the same question arises.
We all know that blaming others is the opposite of taking responsibility, but we may not understand how to take responsibility for things that we don’t truly feel responsible for.
We may blame our parents, teachers, and elders for our low self-esteem, and we may blame our current partner for exacerbating it with their unconscious behavior.
Objectively, this seems to make sense. After all, it is not our fault if others were irresponsible or unkind, and we are not to blame for our partner’s bad behavior.
Perhaps the problem lies with the activity of blaming.
Whether we blame others or blame ourselves, there is something aggressive and unkind about it.
It sets up a situation in which it becomes difficult to move forward under the burdensome feelings of shame and guilt that arise. It also puts the resolution of our pain in the hands of someone other than us.
Ultimately, we cannot insist that someone else take responsibility for their actions; only they can make that choice when they are ready.
In the meantime, if we want to move forward with our lives instead of waiting around for something that may or may not happen, we begin to see the wisdom of taking the situation into our own hands.
We do this by forgiving others, even if they have not asked for our forgiveness, so that we can be free. We end our abusive relationships with those who may never admit to any wrongdoing, because we are willing to take responsibility for how we are treated.
In short, we love ourselves as we want to be loved and create the life we know we deserve. We leave the resolution of the wrongs committed against us in the hands of God, releasing ourselves to live a life free of blame, allow ourselves the gift of forgiveness.
With love, light, and forgiveness,
Rob
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Shake Your Tail Feathers
"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt, and live like it's heaven on Earth." — Mark Twain
Most of us express our distinctiveness in many ways throughout our lives.
We proudly share our offbeat traits and preferences with the world. However, we take great pains to downplay those eccentricities that we ourselves deem odd. Instead of living lives colored by these quirky impulses, we seek out socially acceptable outlets for our peculiarities.
We may not realize that we are editing ourselves in this way because our individual societal awareness is unintentionally attuned to the attitudes of the people we encounter each day.
Over time, we have learned to suppress some of the most fun aspects of individuality.
To rediscover and embrace these buried traits, we need only ask ourselves what we would do if we knew for certain that no one would judge our choices.
Visualizing this can help us to better understand the idiosyncrasies that are an important part of who we are, but seldom manifest in our existence. Perhaps we secretly dream of replacing grown-up, conservative clothing and behavior in favor of a varying array of frivolity.
Our imagination takes us in unexpectedly simple directions. In our musings, we may see ourselves doing things which tend to the nature of our suppressed peculiarities. We may ask what is really stopping us from making them a part of our lives, and then resolve to incorporate at least one into our everyday existence.
We can become our own muse, our own Calliope.
Life as we know it is so short.
Making the most of years we are granted is a matter of being ourselves even though we know that we will inevitably encounter people who disapprove of our choices.
When we shake our tail feathers like no one is watching, we discover that there are many others who appreciate us because we are willing to let go of social inhibition.
By doing this, we help others to know it is okay to do the same.
No two people in the world are precisely alike, and each time we revel in this simple fact, we rededicate ourselves to the celebration of individuality.
Often, the societal nonacceptance of individuality prevents us of certain simple pleasures, and we put off what we would like to do for enjoyment in pursuit of more basic duties and responsibilities.
Procrastination is almost a universal human habit and one that infiltrates nearly every aspect of our lives.
Modern existence is so complex, and much of what we long to do is left by the wayside. We know what is important to our individuality and our happiness, but we tend to let the weight of worldly pressures lead us astray.
To get back on track, however, we need only take a moment to consider where our thoughts will be as we take our last breath on this earth.
More likely than not, at that instant, disagreements, bills, petty annoyances, and other frustrating elements of our lives will no longer seem as significant as they once did.
Remembrances of loved ones and the positive impact we had on the world would no doubt occupy our remaining thoughts. Whatever we imagine ourselves musing upon during our last breath will almost always be representative of what truly matters to us.
This simple exercise introduces us to a new way of thinking.
While our attention is drawn momentarily to the end of life, our contemplations serve to point out that we are masters of our own perspective and, consequently, our own existence.
We can choose to spend more of our time and energy on what gives our lives meaning. We can spend more time with loved ones and do more of what we enjoy. We can learn to allow our inner muse to tend to who we are.
Doing so may not always prove easy, and there will inevitably be times when circumstances interfere with our resolution, yet we do not have to regard this as an indication that our priorities are not in alignment with who we really are. Sometimes the only way we can see the beauty of life is to remind ourselves that it is finite.
Gandhi said, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow."
His words are a potent reminder that living life more fully is not about pushing ourselves harder or shouldering more burdens, but about experiencing all the wonderful richness life has to offer.
So, perhaps this Easter, we will each allow our inner spirit, our childhood, to re-emerge and live within us once again, bringing laughter and fun to the world around us.
After all, our life is a gift that was given for us to enjoy and share; and Life is Heaven on Earth.
With love & light,
Rob
Most of us express our distinctiveness in many ways throughout our lives.
We proudly share our offbeat traits and preferences with the world. However, we take great pains to downplay those eccentricities that we ourselves deem odd. Instead of living lives colored by these quirky impulses, we seek out socially acceptable outlets for our peculiarities.
We may not realize that we are editing ourselves in this way because our individual societal awareness is unintentionally attuned to the attitudes of the people we encounter each day.
Over time, we have learned to suppress some of the most fun aspects of individuality.
To rediscover and embrace these buried traits, we need only ask ourselves what we would do if we knew for certain that no one would judge our choices.
Visualizing this can help us to better understand the idiosyncrasies that are an important part of who we are, but seldom manifest in our existence. Perhaps we secretly dream of replacing grown-up, conservative clothing and behavior in favor of a varying array of frivolity.
Our imagination takes us in unexpectedly simple directions. In our musings, we may see ourselves doing things which tend to the nature of our suppressed peculiarities. We may ask what is really stopping us from making them a part of our lives, and then resolve to incorporate at least one into our everyday existence.
We can become our own muse, our own Calliope.
Life as we know it is so short.
Making the most of years we are granted is a matter of being ourselves even though we know that we will inevitably encounter people who disapprove of our choices.
When we shake our tail feathers like no one is watching, we discover that there are many others who appreciate us because we are willing to let go of social inhibition.
By doing this, we help others to know it is okay to do the same.
No two people in the world are precisely alike, and each time we revel in this simple fact, we rededicate ourselves to the celebration of individuality.
Often, the societal nonacceptance of individuality prevents us of certain simple pleasures, and we put off what we would like to do for enjoyment in pursuit of more basic duties and responsibilities.
Procrastination is almost a universal human habit and one that infiltrates nearly every aspect of our lives.
Modern existence is so complex, and much of what we long to do is left by the wayside. We know what is important to our individuality and our happiness, but we tend to let the weight of worldly pressures lead us astray.
To get back on track, however, we need only take a moment to consider where our thoughts will be as we take our last breath on this earth.
More likely than not, at that instant, disagreements, bills, petty annoyances, and other frustrating elements of our lives will no longer seem as significant as they once did.
Remembrances of loved ones and the positive impact we had on the world would no doubt occupy our remaining thoughts. Whatever we imagine ourselves musing upon during our last breath will almost always be representative of what truly matters to us.
This simple exercise introduces us to a new way of thinking.
While our attention is drawn momentarily to the end of life, our contemplations serve to point out that we are masters of our own perspective and, consequently, our own existence.
We can choose to spend more of our time and energy on what gives our lives meaning. We can spend more time with loved ones and do more of what we enjoy. We can learn to allow our inner muse to tend to who we are.
Doing so may not always prove easy, and there will inevitably be times when circumstances interfere with our resolution, yet we do not have to regard this as an indication that our priorities are not in alignment with who we really are. Sometimes the only way we can see the beauty of life is to remind ourselves that it is finite.
Gandhi said, "Live as if you were to die tomorrow."
His words are a potent reminder that living life more fully is not about pushing ourselves harder or shouldering more burdens, but about experiencing all the wonderful richness life has to offer.
So, perhaps this Easter, we will each allow our inner spirit, our childhood, to re-emerge and live within us once again, bringing laughter and fun to the world around us.
After all, our life is a gift that was given for us to enjoy and share; and Life is Heaven on Earth.
With love & light,
Rob
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sparkling Calm
The snowfall here in Mount Pocono, and most of the Northeast, has been outstanding recently.
This past week, we had a "Hurricane Blizzard". This might be a new term, but it defines a blizzard with the swirling effects of a hurricane.
I was forced to stay in Manhattan for two nights because of business. Otherwise, I would have taken a five day weekend and worked from home. However, I was home in time for the worst of our storm, with about 18 inches of snow already in the driveway. Perhaps I was home in time for the best of it.
We decided to keep the drapes open on our second floor bedroom terrace, and we left the exterior lights on so that we could enjoy the show that nature offered us.
We woke Friday morning to find a 5 foot snow drift on that terrace, and we worried that it might collapse from the weight.
The snow continues here, as I write, and we expect more snow midweek.
I spoke with a gentleman in the elevator as I headed home Thursday about the upcoming snow. I told him about my days as a child, when I would awake to find that my Mom allowed me to sleep in and there would be a piece of white cardboard on my dresser with the words;
"SNOW DAY - SCHOOL'S CLOSED"
He simply replied "What a great Mom".
We all have wonderful memories of snow, and we continue to look forward to what it offers us.
The first slight snow that kisses our wind-reddened cheeks each winter carries the same message that frosts have conveyed since time. This message is dualistic in character.
On one hand, winter’s growing chill compels us to rest and restore ourselves indoors, to hibernate. On the other hand, snow, the most wondrous attribute of the winter season, beckons us outside to play and to reflect.
My Mom commented this week of "what fun we had" at her condominium complex, as people of all ages and backgrounds came outside for their great dig-out. Everyone was happy and eager to help another retrieve their modes of transportation from beneath the snow.
Upon indulging this natural impulse, we emerge from our homes into the quiet created by a mantle of snow that blankets the ground, and find a scene painted in broad strokes of crystalline whiteness, embellished with bright highlights of silver and blue.
The stillness envelopes us as the magical quality of the surreal landscape awakens profound feelings of peace within our souls. Mother Nature’s perfect artistry is seldom more evident than in the magnificently balanced structure of the lovely and delicate multi-faceted flakes that cascade from the heavens.
From my local office near our home, where my Mom lives, I looked out upon the expansive lawn, and imagined the snow to be as frozen waves in the ocean.
To walk through falling snow is to immerse one’s self in life’s never-ending rhythms. We understand and accept that the snow beneath our feet, while tangible and powerful, is only one aspect of a larger cycle of world-altering weather events. The fluffy snowflake that floats to earth and joins its siblings brings the transient joy of leisurely days off and smiling snowmen, yet will one day experience a transformation in purpose.
Walking through a fallen snow is not easy. It is almost as though Nature forces us to stop with every few steps and take notice.
Without hesitation, the days grow longer, the weather grows warmer, and each beautiful flake melts and becomes one with trickling, singing streams, and swiftly running rivers.
Whereas, at the start of its existence, the snow serves to drape the world in beauty, it ends its season on earth by nourishing the land.
There is a Zen proverb which states that no snowflake ever falls in the wrong spot.
Whether we celebrate the snow by tossing snowballs, or by losing ourselves in the meditative serenity of the silently drifting flakes, we should pause and take a moment to contemplate how much like the snow each of us is.
We are born pure, but later take on the footprints of those we encounter, and what we endure.
Akin to each snowflake, we are unique, and yet we function as part of a larger wholeness, forever in the right spot at the right time. And, like the snow itself, our lives and the roles we play are impermanent, yet imminently valuable.
It is not until the Springtime of our lives when we are renewed from trampled snow to the fresh waters which run through the rivers and streams, replenishing the earth and our lives.
With these roles upon our minds, and so much to do all of the time, it can be difficult to find time to simply breathe, think, and explore our own inner landscapes. It is still possible, however, to feed our souls and to briefly separate ourselves from life’s frenetic pace by taking a Snow Day.
Personal Snow Days are best taken when we feel as though we are running on empty with no chance of respite in sight or when we begin to resent the life you we loved.
Our Snow Day can go a long way toward dispelling built up stress, provided we allow ourselves full permission to indulge in nurturing activities. It is not a day to worry about what we’re missing or what is still lingering on our to-do list. Rather, it is a day to give ourselves a break from our responsibilities so we can return to them fully alert.
A return to simple times, similar to those of our childhood, in which we can re energize ourselves.
Once we have our Snow Day, we need to to commit to ignoring our chores, not calling our place of business, and doing only the activities we enjoy, and being with those we love.
Relax, take a nap in the afternoon, play with children, meditate, work in an indoor garden, work on a journal, read a novel, write a note to a loved one, or shop for Spring.
Take a long walk in the fading afternoon sunshine and then cook a special dinner.
Let the Snow Day be as languid and as lazy as needed. If necessary, prepare for the Snow Day now, by getting anything fun and necessary ahead of time and placing them in a big box labeled "Snow Day". Clean up ahead and pay the bills the day before the temptation to clean or work is not there.
Once Snow Day is over, hold on to its essence.
Take some of its peacefulness and keep it close to heart.
Although we are a society that values overtime and hard work, we deserve a snow day every now and then.
With love & light,
Rob
This past week, we had a "Hurricane Blizzard". This might be a new term, but it defines a blizzard with the swirling effects of a hurricane.
I was forced to stay in Manhattan for two nights because of business. Otherwise, I would have taken a five day weekend and worked from home. However, I was home in time for the worst of our storm, with about 18 inches of snow already in the driveway. Perhaps I was home in time for the best of it.
We decided to keep the drapes open on our second floor bedroom terrace, and we left the exterior lights on so that we could enjoy the show that nature offered us.
We woke Friday morning to find a 5 foot snow drift on that terrace, and we worried that it might collapse from the weight.
The snow continues here, as I write, and we expect more snow midweek.
I spoke with a gentleman in the elevator as I headed home Thursday about the upcoming snow. I told him about my days as a child, when I would awake to find that my Mom allowed me to sleep in and there would be a piece of white cardboard on my dresser with the words;
"SNOW DAY - SCHOOL'S CLOSED"
He simply replied "What a great Mom".
We all have wonderful memories of snow, and we continue to look forward to what it offers us.
The first slight snow that kisses our wind-reddened cheeks each winter carries the same message that frosts have conveyed since time. This message is dualistic in character.
On one hand, winter’s growing chill compels us to rest and restore ourselves indoors, to hibernate. On the other hand, snow, the most wondrous attribute of the winter season, beckons us outside to play and to reflect.
My Mom commented this week of "what fun we had" at her condominium complex, as people of all ages and backgrounds came outside for their great dig-out. Everyone was happy and eager to help another retrieve their modes of transportation from beneath the snow.
Upon indulging this natural impulse, we emerge from our homes into the quiet created by a mantle of snow that blankets the ground, and find a scene painted in broad strokes of crystalline whiteness, embellished with bright highlights of silver and blue.
The stillness envelopes us as the magical quality of the surreal landscape awakens profound feelings of peace within our souls. Mother Nature’s perfect artistry is seldom more evident than in the magnificently balanced structure of the lovely and delicate multi-faceted flakes that cascade from the heavens.
From my local office near our home, where my Mom lives, I looked out upon the expansive lawn, and imagined the snow to be as frozen waves in the ocean.
To walk through falling snow is to immerse one’s self in life’s never-ending rhythms. We understand and accept that the snow beneath our feet, while tangible and powerful, is only one aspect of a larger cycle of world-altering weather events. The fluffy snowflake that floats to earth and joins its siblings brings the transient joy of leisurely days off and smiling snowmen, yet will one day experience a transformation in purpose.
Walking through a fallen snow is not easy. It is almost as though Nature forces us to stop with every few steps and take notice.
Without hesitation, the days grow longer, the weather grows warmer, and each beautiful flake melts and becomes one with trickling, singing streams, and swiftly running rivers.
Whereas, at the start of its existence, the snow serves to drape the world in beauty, it ends its season on earth by nourishing the land.
There is a Zen proverb which states that no snowflake ever falls in the wrong spot.
Whether we celebrate the snow by tossing snowballs, or by losing ourselves in the meditative serenity of the silently drifting flakes, we should pause and take a moment to contemplate how much like the snow each of us is.
We are born pure, but later take on the footprints of those we encounter, and what we endure.
Akin to each snowflake, we are unique, and yet we function as part of a larger wholeness, forever in the right spot at the right time. And, like the snow itself, our lives and the roles we play are impermanent, yet imminently valuable.
It is not until the Springtime of our lives when we are renewed from trampled snow to the fresh waters which run through the rivers and streams, replenishing the earth and our lives.
With these roles upon our minds, and so much to do all of the time, it can be difficult to find time to simply breathe, think, and explore our own inner landscapes. It is still possible, however, to feed our souls and to briefly separate ourselves from life’s frenetic pace by taking a Snow Day.
Personal Snow Days are best taken when we feel as though we are running on empty with no chance of respite in sight or when we begin to resent the life you we loved.
Our Snow Day can go a long way toward dispelling built up stress, provided we allow ourselves full permission to indulge in nurturing activities. It is not a day to worry about what we’re missing or what is still lingering on our to-do list. Rather, it is a day to give ourselves a break from our responsibilities so we can return to them fully alert.
A return to simple times, similar to those of our childhood, in which we can re energize ourselves.
Once we have our Snow Day, we need to to commit to ignoring our chores, not calling our place of business, and doing only the activities we enjoy, and being with those we love.
Relax, take a nap in the afternoon, play with children, meditate, work in an indoor garden, work on a journal, read a novel, write a note to a loved one, or shop for Spring.
Take a long walk in the fading afternoon sunshine and then cook a special dinner.
Let the Snow Day be as languid and as lazy as needed. If necessary, prepare for the Snow Day now, by getting anything fun and necessary ahead of time and placing them in a big box labeled "Snow Day". Clean up ahead and pay the bills the day before the temptation to clean or work is not there.
Once Snow Day is over, hold on to its essence.
Take some of its peacefulness and keep it close to heart.
Although we are a society that values overtime and hard work, we deserve a snow day every now and then.
With love & light,
Rob
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Love Changes Everything
We are living in a time of great change.
Many thinkers and seers agree that humanity and the planet Earth are evolving at a quickened pace, and that this evolution will be severe and seemingly chaotic at times.
It is natural for people to react with fear, because these changes will doubtless bring some level of difficulty and loss to many of us. However, it is essential that we all remember that our souls are here at this time and are a part of this process.
Every movement in the universe is a movement toward love.
This is true even in situations that appear on the surface to be the opposite of loving.
We are capable and ready to rise to the challenges in which we find ourselves.
It is often helpful to reflect upon our own lives and make any changes necessary to fully support humanity and the planet into the state of love.
When we open our hearts in love instead of closing them in fear, we serve the divine process.
We are all powerful spirits who take form at this time in order to serve our fellow humans, our planet, and the universe.
As we find ways we can serve, our fear dissipates.
We may serve by remaining calm and loving with our children and our families, even as situations seem dark.
We may serve by sending money to people who need financial assistance.
We may serve by going out into the world and actively helping to rebuild lives.
Regardless of what actions we choose to take, the essential element will be the internal gesture of choosing to remain in love.
This is all that is needed.
At times, it may seem difficult to remain in love.
It is then that we may call upon our unseen helpers; the teachers and guides who are always with us.
All we need to do is ask and then trust that we are being helped.
The guidance we receive is love itself, showing us the way.
Throughout recorded history, love has burned in the hearts of composers, writers, painters, and playwrights, and smoldered in those of parents, children, and friends. Love, primal, passionate, and pure, has been dissected, revered, praised, and derided. It has been called complex, ethereal, and mysterious.
We long for a definition but fear that the feeling called love would be less exhilarating were it defined.
Much of the mystery is rooted in the incomprehensibility of love's purpose.
Self-sacrifice, procreation, caring, and romance can all exist separate from love.
It is possible to have intense feelings for others but not define those feelings as love. And yet love remains a powerful and universal force that uplifts, inspires, and is strong enough to bring about great change.
Like the wind, which we cannot see yet know is all around us, love is often more easily perceived through its effects.
As we transcend the boundaries of ego in order to love and be loved, we put aside self-centeredness and experience unity with one another.
Compassion, peace, joy, excitement, and fulfillment are the inevitable results.
It is irrelevant whether the focus is a lover, a child, a relative, or a friend. The results are both familiar and novel, more so when love is returned in kind.
It has been said that "to describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."
Those who have tasted of it often equate love with jealousy, bitterness, resentment, lust, or aggressive attachment, but it is none of these things.
Love is both a feeling and an action, for as it brings us into the light, so do we strive for the happiness, safety, health, and fulfillment of those we love.
It is true that love can be fleeting and accepts few controls or conditions.
The strongest loves blaze into being and wither away in an instant or last lifetimes.
The one constant is the release of emotion.
Love is not learned but brought forth from within because the basic nature of the human animal is love.
It is only fear that causes the need to love and be loved to be buried.
When we accept our worthiness and reject indifference, it is then that we are able to become outlets of love.
So, it is with much love & light that I offer what I have to you this Saint Valentine's Day,
Rob
Many thinkers and seers agree that humanity and the planet Earth are evolving at a quickened pace, and that this evolution will be severe and seemingly chaotic at times.
It is natural for people to react with fear, because these changes will doubtless bring some level of difficulty and loss to many of us. However, it is essential that we all remember that our souls are here at this time and are a part of this process.
Every movement in the universe is a movement toward love.
This is true even in situations that appear on the surface to be the opposite of loving.
We are capable and ready to rise to the challenges in which we find ourselves.
It is often helpful to reflect upon our own lives and make any changes necessary to fully support humanity and the planet into the state of love.
When we open our hearts in love instead of closing them in fear, we serve the divine process.
We are all powerful spirits who take form at this time in order to serve our fellow humans, our planet, and the universe.
As we find ways we can serve, our fear dissipates.
We may serve by remaining calm and loving with our children and our families, even as situations seem dark.
We may serve by sending money to people who need financial assistance.
We may serve by going out into the world and actively helping to rebuild lives.
Regardless of what actions we choose to take, the essential element will be the internal gesture of choosing to remain in love.
This is all that is needed.
At times, it may seem difficult to remain in love.
It is then that we may call upon our unseen helpers; the teachers and guides who are always with us.
All we need to do is ask and then trust that we are being helped.
The guidance we receive is love itself, showing us the way.
Throughout recorded history, love has burned in the hearts of composers, writers, painters, and playwrights, and smoldered in those of parents, children, and friends. Love, primal, passionate, and pure, has been dissected, revered, praised, and derided. It has been called complex, ethereal, and mysterious.
We long for a definition but fear that the feeling called love would be less exhilarating were it defined.
Much of the mystery is rooted in the incomprehensibility of love's purpose.
Self-sacrifice, procreation, caring, and romance can all exist separate from love.
It is possible to have intense feelings for others but not define those feelings as love. And yet love remains a powerful and universal force that uplifts, inspires, and is strong enough to bring about great change.
Like the wind, which we cannot see yet know is all around us, love is often more easily perceived through its effects.
As we transcend the boundaries of ego in order to love and be loved, we put aside self-centeredness and experience unity with one another.
Compassion, peace, joy, excitement, and fulfillment are the inevitable results.
It is irrelevant whether the focus is a lover, a child, a relative, or a friend. The results are both familiar and novel, more so when love is returned in kind.
It has been said that "to describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."
Those who have tasted of it often equate love with jealousy, bitterness, resentment, lust, or aggressive attachment, but it is none of these things.
Love is both a feeling and an action, for as it brings us into the light, so do we strive for the happiness, safety, health, and fulfillment of those we love.
It is true that love can be fleeting and accepts few controls or conditions.
The strongest loves blaze into being and wither away in an instant or last lifetimes.
The one constant is the release of emotion.
Love is not learned but brought forth from within because the basic nature of the human animal is love.
It is only fear that causes the need to love and be loved to be buried.
When we accept our worthiness and reject indifference, it is then that we are able to become outlets of love.
So, it is with much love & light that I offer what I have to you this Saint Valentine's Day,
Rob
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
As Good As Our Word
Promises.
Ever since human beings could communicate with one another, we have been making promises.
Some are kept, some are not.
Those who keep their promises are regarded as people of integrity, while those who don’t keep their promises are regarded as people who at best can’t be taken seriously and at worst can’t be trusted.
I am in Mexico City now on business. I decided to take this trip because I was here one year ago to offer promises to some clients, and I need to clarify why these promises have not been kept.
My personal integrity brought me back here for that.
The other day I was served my afternoon glass of wine by a gentleman who shares the same name with me. We enjoyed a very good conversation, on which he commented he would like to continue. I had to leave for a meeting, but I casually stated that I would be back at 3:00 the following day.
The following day, I walked in at 3:00 and sat in a chair at the far corner of the lounge. Roberto came over and welcomed me with the words "you kept your promise!".
I never thought it mattered if I returned.
Sometimes we forget how powerful our words are, and we use them haphazardly or unconsciously, creating expectations that are never fulfilled, leaving disappointment and distrust in our wake.
On a deeper level, there are promises we may have made to ourselves that we don’t remember because they have slipped into our unconscious.
A betrayal of trust, in a personal relationship or in business, may be followed by a promise to ourselves never to trust again.
Without realizing it, we may be fulfilling that promise and wondering why our life looks so grim. Sometimes we do make promises that we simply can not keep, and often they are the promises made with the best intentions, and this is the time of year that we break many or our promises that were made in the form of New Year resolutions.
Upon realizing that we have made a promise that we can no longer be holden to, we can pray to be released from that bond.
By doing so, we clear ourselves of unrealistic connections and patterns, returning ourselves to a clean slate.
Forgiveness.
We can then resolve to remember that our word is sacred and to be very conscious of any promises we make to others, or to ourselves.
We may ask that love, light, and healing be sent to any one who may have suffered from our inability to be true to our word, including ourselves, thereby releasing them from the weight of anger and disappointment.
We can ask for the wisdom to do our best, and from this point forward to be true to our word, promising only what we truly intend to deliver.
The resulting clear conscience and liberated energy will illustrate this one simple truth:
We are only as good as our word.
With love & light,
Rob
Ever since human beings could communicate with one another, we have been making promises.
Some are kept, some are not.
Those who keep their promises are regarded as people of integrity, while those who don’t keep their promises are regarded as people who at best can’t be taken seriously and at worst can’t be trusted.
I am in Mexico City now on business. I decided to take this trip because I was here one year ago to offer promises to some clients, and I need to clarify why these promises have not been kept.
My personal integrity brought me back here for that.
The other day I was served my afternoon glass of wine by a gentleman who shares the same name with me. We enjoyed a very good conversation, on which he commented he would like to continue. I had to leave for a meeting, but I casually stated that I would be back at 3:00 the following day.
The following day, I walked in at 3:00 and sat in a chair at the far corner of the lounge. Roberto came over and welcomed me with the words "you kept your promise!".
I never thought it mattered if I returned.
Sometimes we forget how powerful our words are, and we use them haphazardly or unconsciously, creating expectations that are never fulfilled, leaving disappointment and distrust in our wake.
On a deeper level, there are promises we may have made to ourselves that we don’t remember because they have slipped into our unconscious.
A betrayal of trust, in a personal relationship or in business, may be followed by a promise to ourselves never to trust again.
Without realizing it, we may be fulfilling that promise and wondering why our life looks so grim. Sometimes we do make promises that we simply can not keep, and often they are the promises made with the best intentions, and this is the time of year that we break many or our promises that were made in the form of New Year resolutions.
Upon realizing that we have made a promise that we can no longer be holden to, we can pray to be released from that bond.
By doing so, we clear ourselves of unrealistic connections and patterns, returning ourselves to a clean slate.
Forgiveness.
We can then resolve to remember that our word is sacred and to be very conscious of any promises we make to others, or to ourselves.
We may ask that love, light, and healing be sent to any one who may have suffered from our inability to be true to our word, including ourselves, thereby releasing them from the weight of anger and disappointment.
We can ask for the wisdom to do our best, and from this point forward to be true to our word, promising only what we truly intend to deliver.
The resulting clear conscience and liberated energy will illustrate this one simple truth:
We are only as good as our word.
With love & light,
Rob
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Choosing Not To Look Away
Choosing Not To Look Away
Homeless people are a fact of life.
They live in large cities, such as Manhattan in New York, and in small towns such as my little Mount Pocono in Pennsylvania.
It has been said that most of us are two paychecks away from homeless.
I took dinner with a very special friend of mine last week.
I enjoy my time with him. He is very special, and I believe that he knows that.
He is intelligent, caring, and no doubt guided in his eternal quest for peace, justice, and what I would call, balance.
He reminded me of a tremendous concern that we are called to tend to.
Homelessness.
I did not ask if I might share what he wrote, but I know that he will not mind.
He recently posted some very dramatic commentary on an online "FaceBook" of a difficult evening he had, an Epiphany if you will, in which he encountered a homeless person while in transit and saw the great need and impact.
It was quite clear that he was upset, and it remains in my heart that, even at our dinner, this still disturbed him.
Good for him. We should all be so disturbed.
So often, the homeless are unrecognizable to us, and we walk past them daily never remembering their precise looks.
Therefore, it is possible that God can come to us as one of these many homeless people who ask for a moment.
Of course I believe that God exists within everyone and every thing, and my friend & I studied that concept as well during our evening.
So, I thought about this for a while, and I reflected upon the many different ways that we perceive the "beggars" who ask for compassion.
It has been said that God's call to us to become evangelists is simply "one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread".
Aren't we all in the same place, and do we not see that in the hearts of such catastrophies as the Tsunami, Katrina, and the events in Haiti?
We often ask why God would allow these events to happen, but we never pause to realize the pain that God feels as we suffer, knowing that there is an eternal peace.
Many of us don’t know how to interpret these situations or what we can do to help.
We may vacillate between feeling guilty, as if we are personally responsible, and feeling angry, as if it is entirely on their own shoulders.
The situation is, of course, far more complex than either scenario. Still, not knowing how to respond, we may fall into the habit of not responding at all. We may look over the heads of the homeless and needing, not making eye contact, or down at the ground as we pass, falling into a habit of ignoring them.
Each time that we do this, we disconnect ourselves from a large portion of the human family, and it just doesn’t feel right.
Most of us know in our hearts that the homeless and the needing are not so very different from us ... nor are we far away from the situation in which they have landed.
They may be the victims of poor planning or an unavoidable crisis.
Some might be mentally compromised or challenged, some might be addicted to drugs or alcohol, and some might actuallty choose to be homeless for reasons we may never understand.
We might find that difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend.
Given the way that our lives grow, we could likely be in the same situation.
This does not mean that we are meant to "rescue" them, as they are on their own learning path, but it does remind us that we are called to treat them as equals, because that is what they are, and to assit them along their way, which is the same "way" or "path" that we are called upon.
Even if we are not able to offer food, shelter, or money, we can offer a blessing as we pass.
We can look them in the eye and acknowledge our shared human-kindness, even if we don’t know just how to help them.
That is simply what we are called to do as children of God.
This simple act of kindness and silent or spoken blessings can be so helpful to those living on the street.
If you want to help with information, you can learn about the services in your area and share the locations of food banks, shelters, and other resources. Perhaps your family would like to have a plan ahead of time, talking with your children about how as a family you would like to handle these situations.
Whatever you decide to do, you will feel much better when you make a conscious choice not to simply look away.
So I ask that you follow what my dear friend did, and bring that homeless person home with you --- in heart, in mind, and in spirit.
Thank you, Jeremy, for a precious lesson for us all.
Essentially, this is an act of unconditional love.
So, we know what unconditional means ... but how do we define love?
Love is often presented as the opposite of fear, or of hate, but true love is not opposite anything.
True love exists alone and is the one essence that can never be touched by evil.
True love is far more powerful than any negative emotions, as it is the environment in which all things arise.
True love truly conquers all.
Negative emotions are like sharks swimming within the ocean of love, but those ocean waters are essential to our being.
All things, beautiful and fearful, ugly and kind, powerful and small, come into existence, do their thing, and disappear within the context of this great ocean.
At the same time, they are made of the very love in which they swim and can never be separated.
It is when we accept these struggles within ourselves that we grow in love, and in human kindness.
We are made of this love and live our whole lives at one with it, whether we realize it or not.
It is only the illusion that we are separate from this great love that causes us to believe that choosing anything other than love makes sense or is even possible.
In the relative, dualistic world of positive and negative, darkness and light, male and female, we make choices and we learn from them.
This is exactly what we are called to do here on earth.
Underlying these relative choices, however, is the choice to be conscious of what we are, which is love, or to be unconscious of it.
When we choose to be conscious of it, we choose love.
We will still exist in the relative world of opposites and choices and cause and effect, and we will need to make our way here, but doing so with an awareness that we are all made of this love will enable us to be more playful, more joyful, more loving and wise, as we make our way.
Ultimately, the choices we make will shed light on the love that makes us all one, enabling those who have forgotten to return to the source.
This world makes it easy to forget this great love, which is part of why we are here. We are here to remember and, when we forget to remember again, to choose love.
So, when you see a person who is homeless, or less fortunate in the way of opportunity, love them. as you yourself ... as my friend Jeremy loves those he encounters.
Bring them home with you in your mind and embrace them, because they might just be --
no ... they are God.
Wishing all of us to come to be together in the way that God wants us to be,
and with truly unconditional love & uncompromised light,
Rob
Homeless people are a fact of life.
They live in large cities, such as Manhattan in New York, and in small towns such as my little Mount Pocono in Pennsylvania.
It has been said that most of us are two paychecks away from homeless.
I took dinner with a very special friend of mine last week.
I enjoy my time with him. He is very special, and I believe that he knows that.
He is intelligent, caring, and no doubt guided in his eternal quest for peace, justice, and what I would call, balance.
He reminded me of a tremendous concern that we are called to tend to.
Homelessness.
I did not ask if I might share what he wrote, but I know that he will not mind.
He recently posted some very dramatic commentary on an online "FaceBook" of a difficult evening he had, an Epiphany if you will, in which he encountered a homeless person while in transit and saw the great need and impact.
It was quite clear that he was upset, and it remains in my heart that, even at our dinner, this still disturbed him.
Good for him. We should all be so disturbed.
So often, the homeless are unrecognizable to us, and we walk past them daily never remembering their precise looks.
Therefore, it is possible that God can come to us as one of these many homeless people who ask for a moment.
Of course I believe that God exists within everyone and every thing, and my friend & I studied that concept as well during our evening.
So, I thought about this for a while, and I reflected upon the many different ways that we perceive the "beggars" who ask for compassion.
It has been said that God's call to us to become evangelists is simply "one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread".
Aren't we all in the same place, and do we not see that in the hearts of such catastrophies as the Tsunami, Katrina, and the events in Haiti?
We often ask why God would allow these events to happen, but we never pause to realize the pain that God feels as we suffer, knowing that there is an eternal peace.
Many of us don’t know how to interpret these situations or what we can do to help.
We may vacillate between feeling guilty, as if we are personally responsible, and feeling angry, as if it is entirely on their own shoulders.
The situation is, of course, far more complex than either scenario. Still, not knowing how to respond, we may fall into the habit of not responding at all. We may look over the heads of the homeless and needing, not making eye contact, or down at the ground as we pass, falling into a habit of ignoring them.
Each time that we do this, we disconnect ourselves from a large portion of the human family, and it just doesn’t feel right.
Most of us know in our hearts that the homeless and the needing are not so very different from us ... nor are we far away from the situation in which they have landed.
They may be the victims of poor planning or an unavoidable crisis.
Some might be mentally compromised or challenged, some might be addicted to drugs or alcohol, and some might actuallty choose to be homeless for reasons we may never understand.
We might find that difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend.
Given the way that our lives grow, we could likely be in the same situation.
This does not mean that we are meant to "rescue" them, as they are on their own learning path, but it does remind us that we are called to treat them as equals, because that is what they are, and to assit them along their way, which is the same "way" or "path" that we are called upon.
Even if we are not able to offer food, shelter, or money, we can offer a blessing as we pass.
We can look them in the eye and acknowledge our shared human-kindness, even if we don’t know just how to help them.
That is simply what we are called to do as children of God.
This simple act of kindness and silent or spoken blessings can be so helpful to those living on the street.
If you want to help with information, you can learn about the services in your area and share the locations of food banks, shelters, and other resources. Perhaps your family would like to have a plan ahead of time, talking with your children about how as a family you would like to handle these situations.
Whatever you decide to do, you will feel much better when you make a conscious choice not to simply look away.
So I ask that you follow what my dear friend did, and bring that homeless person home with you --- in heart, in mind, and in spirit.
Thank you, Jeremy, for a precious lesson for us all.
Essentially, this is an act of unconditional love.
So, we know what unconditional means ... but how do we define love?
Love is often presented as the opposite of fear, or of hate, but true love is not opposite anything.
True love exists alone and is the one essence that can never be touched by evil.
True love is far more powerful than any negative emotions, as it is the environment in which all things arise.
True love truly conquers all.
Negative emotions are like sharks swimming within the ocean of love, but those ocean waters are essential to our being.
All things, beautiful and fearful, ugly and kind, powerful and small, come into existence, do their thing, and disappear within the context of this great ocean.
At the same time, they are made of the very love in which they swim and can never be separated.
It is when we accept these struggles within ourselves that we grow in love, and in human kindness.
We are made of this love and live our whole lives at one with it, whether we realize it or not.
It is only the illusion that we are separate from this great love that causes us to believe that choosing anything other than love makes sense or is even possible.
In the relative, dualistic world of positive and negative, darkness and light, male and female, we make choices and we learn from them.
This is exactly what we are called to do here on earth.
Underlying these relative choices, however, is the choice to be conscious of what we are, which is love, or to be unconscious of it.
When we choose to be conscious of it, we choose love.
We will still exist in the relative world of opposites and choices and cause and effect, and we will need to make our way here, but doing so with an awareness that we are all made of this love will enable us to be more playful, more joyful, more loving and wise, as we make our way.
Ultimately, the choices we make will shed light on the love that makes us all one, enabling those who have forgotten to return to the source.
This world makes it easy to forget this great love, which is part of why we are here. We are here to remember and, when we forget to remember again, to choose love.
So, when you see a person who is homeless, or less fortunate in the way of opportunity, love them. as you yourself ... as my friend Jeremy loves those he encounters.
Bring them home with you in your mind and embrace them, because they might just be --
no ... they are God.
Wishing all of us to come to be together in the way that God wants us to be,
and with truly unconditional love & uncompromised light,
Rob
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