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Synchronicity
Synchronicity
I watched a show last night called "Touch" that seemed to be about a child figuring out how to mathematically solve what spiritual people call synchronicity. It intrigued me. His notebooks were filled with small numbers and calculations, which seemed to figure what would happen next in life. Though he was mute, he tried to get his father to help him stop the problems that were about to happen.
It reminded me of that book, "The Bible Code," which poses that each letter fo the Hebrew alphabet is a number that when processed as letters brings about certain predictions in the old Testament.
We are all intrigued by the network of events that happen around us that seem to weave us together like a afghan, even though as we live in the center of it, we feel like we are in chaos sometimes.
This is why meditation is so important, because the ancient process teaches the mind to live above the chaos and become the observer. The problem with most people and meditation is they say, "I can't shut my mind off."
No one said you had to. You have to learn to walk on the fragile bridge above your mind to observe God's miracles and also the synchronicities of life. This is where Peace is.
"Today is the day to begin to observe my life with a compassionate, watchful eye. I'll be aware of Spirit's breath calling me and the strong arms that hold me from the path that will cause me pain. Lead me into that kind of peace, Oh Lord. And I will Go!"
I watched a show last night called "Touch" that seemed to be about a child figuring out how to mathematically solve what spiritual people call synchronicity. It intrigued me. His notebooks were filled with small numbers and calculations, which seemed to figure what would happen next in life. Though he was mute, he tried to get his father to help him stop the problems that were about to happen.
It reminded me of that book, "The Bible Code," which poses that each letter fo the Hebrew alphabet is a number that when processed as letters brings about certain predictions in the old Testament.
We are all intrigued by the network of events that happen around us that seem to weave us together like a afghan, even though as we live in the center of it, we feel like we are in chaos sometimes.
This is why meditation is so important, because the ancient process teaches the mind to live above the chaos and become the observer. The problem with most people and meditation is they say, "I can't shut my mind off."
No one said you had to. You have to learn to walk on the fragile bridge above your mind to observe God's miracles and also the synchronicities of life. This is where Peace is.
"Today is the day to begin to observe my life with a compassionate, watchful eye. I'll be aware of Spirit's breath calling me and the strong arms that hold me from the path that will cause me pain. Lead me into that kind of peace, Oh Lord. And I will Go!"
The Intimidation Factor
The Intimidation Factor
A couple days ago a guy told me that I intimidated him. I was astounded, to say the least. I asked him why and what I had done to make him think that. He didn't answer.
So, being the spiritual sojourner I am, I asked a few friends what, if anything, I may be wearing or giving off that might look or seem intimidating.
To my surprise all their answers were positive attributes.
Now why would anybody be intimidated by positive attributes? My advice to the individual was: "Don't let anyone intimidate you. You are made in the image of God, by the hands of the divine. You are perfect just as you are. Be a bright light."
Marianne Williamson says, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
A couple days ago a guy told me that I intimidated him. I was astounded, to say the least. I asked him why and what I had done to make him think that. He didn't answer.
So, being the spiritual sojourner I am, I asked a few friends what, if anything, I may be wearing or giving off that might look or seem intimidating.
To my surprise all their answers were positive attributes.
Now why would anybody be intimidated by positive attributes? My advice to the individual was: "Don't let anyone intimidate you. You are made in the image of God, by the hands of the divine. You are perfect just as you are. Be a bright light."
Marianne Williamson says, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
The Magic Triangle
The Magic Triangle
Once there was a boy, a young child who went for a long walk in the woods. He tripped and fell over some twigs and landed face down in a rabbit hole. The sun was shining brightly into the hole, and he could see treasures within. But his arms were too short to reach anything within sight. The treasure that peeked his interest most was a silver triangle that glistened in the sunlight. He wanted it so badly that he ran all the way home and found his father's shovel, so that he could dig beneath the surface to fetch the glistening treasure.
He returned within seconds, it seemed, but he found no rabbit hole. He couldn't even find the place where he had fallen. Everything in the wooded forest seemed to blend together. Frustrated, he spent most of the afternoon looking, but still found nothing.
He went home empty-handed and dismayed. "Why didn't I just dig in the dirt with my hands while I had the chance?" he muttered to himself, "then I would have my treasure." But, alas, he went home without the magic triangle.
Though the boy was young, the journey and fall impacted him greatly. He went home and fashioned a triangle out of tin foil and placed it on his bureau to remind him to never miss an opportunity like that again. Every day when he would wake up, the first thing he would see was that triangle. This reminded him to grab all of life, every bit of it, the good, the bad, the treasures, and the ideas to reach for treasures--and make something of them; even though it may have meant digging with his bare hands.
This young boy turned out to be one of life's greatest men. Not only did he become a millionaire, but he was an inventor and a sage all because he turned a failure into a lesson.
There is more than one way of looking at everything that happens in your life. The lesson of the triangle is: Try to find three different perspectives to your problem. One from your point of view. One from an objective point of view. And one from God's point of view.
Once there was a boy, a young child who went for a long walk in the woods. He tripped and fell over some twigs and landed face down in a rabbit hole. The sun was shining brightly into the hole, and he could see treasures within. But his arms were too short to reach anything within sight. The treasure that peeked his interest most was a silver triangle that glistened in the sunlight. He wanted it so badly that he ran all the way home and found his father's shovel, so that he could dig beneath the surface to fetch the glistening treasure.
He returned within seconds, it seemed, but he found no rabbit hole. He couldn't even find the place where he had fallen. Everything in the wooded forest seemed to blend together. Frustrated, he spent most of the afternoon looking, but still found nothing.
He went home empty-handed and dismayed. "Why didn't I just dig in the dirt with my hands while I had the chance?" he muttered to himself, "then I would have my treasure." But, alas, he went home without the magic triangle.
Though the boy was young, the journey and fall impacted him greatly. He went home and fashioned a triangle out of tin foil and placed it on his bureau to remind him to never miss an opportunity like that again. Every day when he would wake up, the first thing he would see was that triangle. This reminded him to grab all of life, every bit of it, the good, the bad, the treasures, and the ideas to reach for treasures--and make something of them; even though it may have meant digging with his bare hands.
This young boy turned out to be one of life's greatest men. Not only did he become a millionaire, but he was an inventor and a sage all because he turned a failure into a lesson.
There is more than one way of looking at everything that happens in your life. The lesson of the triangle is: Try to find three different perspectives to your problem. One from your point of view. One from an objective point of view. And one from God's point of view.
My List
My List...
Have you ever made a list like this:
(This truly is my list, just in case some wonderful person out there is looking or someone has a friend in mind. lol)
I'm searching for a person with a compassionate heart. An eye for humor. An interest in self care, both body and mind. I'd like to be with a person who likes what he does for work and is not a workaholic. One who is free of mostof his demons from the past. One who is financially stable. Ready for a monogamous relationship. Who likes to have fun. Did I mention I need this to be a human, not a figment of my imagination, and not a dog, because I already have one? And most important, I need a person in my life who is on a spiritual path...
Okay... How many people have made lists like this before and waited and waited for that perfect person to come along? If I don't get a resounding YES in the universe, someone is lying.
The problem with these kinds of lists is they are one-sided. Your list should also include what you are willing to do to attract someone like this. Or are you all of the things that you want to attract, because you know, LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE!
So, if you are interested in attracting someone wonderful, become wonderful. If you are interested in attracting someone rich, learn to be responsible with your money. If you want someone who is responsible with your heart, take care of your own heart in a big way. Don't let someone tromp on it and expect the universe to give you Prince Charming soon after.
Make 2 lists, all the things you want in a human being (make the human thing clear to God. A friend of mine got a dog once because her list wasn't so specific. Sorry, Shirley.) Then make a list of things that you can do to be ready for that soul-person to appear in your life. If like attracts like, then you be ready for that wonderful person to appear.
And if you are already in a relationship, keep the change happening. Change in you, often results in change in the other person. As you grow, either the other person grows, or he/she shows complete resistance, and you see that the relationship needs to be released for you to be the best you can be. There is nothing wrong with that. There is no judgement when someone doesn't want to grow. Just move on. Your growth on this earth is the most important aspect of being human. Remember that.
Have you ever made a list like this:
(This truly is my list, just in case some wonderful person out there is looking or someone has a friend in mind. lol)
I'm searching for a person with a compassionate heart. An eye for humor. An interest in self care, both body and mind. I'd like to be with a person who likes what he does for work and is not a workaholic. One who is free of mostof his demons from the past. One who is financially stable. Ready for a monogamous relationship. Who likes to have fun. Did I mention I need this to be a human, not a figment of my imagination, and not a dog, because I already have one? And most important, I need a person in my life who is on a spiritual path...
Okay... How many people have made lists like this before and waited and waited for that perfect person to come along? If I don't get a resounding YES in the universe, someone is lying.
The problem with these kinds of lists is they are one-sided. Your list should also include what you are willing to do to attract someone like this. Or are you all of the things that you want to attract, because you know, LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE!
So, if you are interested in attracting someone wonderful, become wonderful. If you are interested in attracting someone rich, learn to be responsible with your money. If you want someone who is responsible with your heart, take care of your own heart in a big way. Don't let someone tromp on it and expect the universe to give you Prince Charming soon after.
Make 2 lists, all the things you want in a human being (make the human thing clear to God. A friend of mine got a dog once because her list wasn't so specific. Sorry, Shirley.) Then make a list of things that you can do to be ready for that soul-person to appear in your life. If like attracts like, then you be ready for that wonderful person to appear.
And if you are already in a relationship, keep the change happening. Change in you, often results in change in the other person. As you grow, either the other person grows, or he/she shows complete resistance, and you see that the relationship needs to be released for you to be the best you can be. There is nothing wrong with that. There is no judgement when someone doesn't want to grow. Just move on. Your growth on this earth is the most important aspect of being human. Remember that.
The Web of God's Love Reaches Deep
The Web of God's Love Reaches Far and Deep
22 years ago I was engaged to a woman in NYC. We went to a Pentecostal church in Greenwich Village. We were both singers and decided to become part of the music ministry. At that time, the music minister asked to take me to lunch to get to know me better. He asked me a bunch of personal questions, one of them was about God and homosexuality. I shared with him that though I was getting married, I believed that God loved everyone the same and that, in my mind, it wasn't a sin. That answer got us kicked out of that church, basically.
Almost 18 years later, a music minister in Nashville, where I live now, contacted me and wanted to have lunch. It was the same man from NYC. He wanted to apologize for his words 18 years before.
20 years ago a woman came into my vocal studio and opened her mouth to sing, but we ended up talking half her vocal lesson. She was a hoot and ended up being a good friend as well as a student. As life does, it took her into another path, and we lost touch for about 18 years. Facebook put her picture up on my "do you know this person" list. I clicked on it, and we've been meaning to have lunch for a month. Yesterday was her birthday. My mom and I and a friend went to a movie. We ended up at a movie theater we never go to and who did we bump into... You guessed it. What a birthday surprise.
My 2 best friends from college moved to NYC with me. One decided to move to DC, while the other stayed and ended up passing away with the HIV virus. As I tried desperately to get in touch with the other best friend, the wife of that friend kept intercepting the calls and finally told me not to call back. I was devastated. 25 years later, after his divorce, I found out that he never knew of those phone calls and we lost in touch because of his wife's fear of her friendship with me.
I tell you these stories because I spent many years wondering, sometimes crying, asking why... what happened?... what did I do to cause the negative happenings of my life? When all the while God had a plan. It wasn't my plan. It was a big plan that involved changing lives, changing hearts, and changing paths.
If you are in the midst of a situation in which you just simply can't understand why you are having to leave someone you love, or grieving a broken relationship, know this with me today that there is a plan--A GOD PLAN--that is so much deeper, bigger and wider than you can conceive.
And if you can let go of your desired end and leave your love in the hands of the Creator, and keep praying... your heart will heal. Who knows, some day you'll wake up to your dream having a happy ending.
22 years ago I was engaged to a woman in NYC. We went to a Pentecostal church in Greenwich Village. We were both singers and decided to become part of the music ministry. At that time, the music minister asked to take me to lunch to get to know me better. He asked me a bunch of personal questions, one of them was about God and homosexuality. I shared with him that though I was getting married, I believed that God loved everyone the same and that, in my mind, it wasn't a sin. That answer got us kicked out of that church, basically.
Almost 18 years later, a music minister in Nashville, where I live now, contacted me and wanted to have lunch. It was the same man from NYC. He wanted to apologize for his words 18 years before.
20 years ago a woman came into my vocal studio and opened her mouth to sing, but we ended up talking half her vocal lesson. She was a hoot and ended up being a good friend as well as a student. As life does, it took her into another path, and we lost touch for about 18 years. Facebook put her picture up on my "do you know this person" list. I clicked on it, and we've been meaning to have lunch for a month. Yesterday was her birthday. My mom and I and a friend went to a movie. We ended up at a movie theater we never go to and who did we bump into... You guessed it. What a birthday surprise.
My 2 best friends from college moved to NYC with me. One decided to move to DC, while the other stayed and ended up passing away with the HIV virus. As I tried desperately to get in touch with the other best friend, the wife of that friend kept intercepting the calls and finally told me not to call back. I was devastated. 25 years later, after his divorce, I found out that he never knew of those phone calls and we lost in touch because of his wife's fear of her friendship with me.
I tell you these stories because I spent many years wondering, sometimes crying, asking why... what happened?... what did I do to cause the negative happenings of my life? When all the while God had a plan. It wasn't my plan. It was a big plan that involved changing lives, changing hearts, and changing paths.
If you are in the midst of a situation in which you just simply can't understand why you are having to leave someone you love, or grieving a broken relationship, know this with me today that there is a plan--A GOD PLAN--that is so much deeper, bigger and wider than you can conceive.
And if you can let go of your desired end and leave your love in the hands of the Creator, and keep praying... your heart will heal. Who knows, some day you'll wake up to your dream having a happy ending.
Feelings, Nothing More than Feelings
Feelings... Nothing More than Feelings...
I used to have this Hispanic Vocal client when I lived in NYC who sang the song "Feelings." I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was like the "Idol" judges trying not to laugh while I was coaching him. But he was adorable, I have to admit, as he attempted to interpret an English song with a very Hispanic accent.
But this, as you probably figured out by now, is not my point. Feelings are so very temporal. They come and go like the wind. One day you're mad as hell at someone, and the next you love them like nothing happened. One day you think you will never change to the new Facebook, then after you do, you decide it is really kewl. I mean really. Do we ever truly have a feeling that sticks?
The answer is yes, of course. Some of our deeply rooted feelings are not ephemeral. They are tied to our core belief system. These feelings stay put, for the most part. It's the fleeting feelings that I want to talk about today. The ones that change.
When something comes in your life that causes you to have a strong fleeting feeling. And you know it is not based on a core belief. IF it is based on an action or an emotion, we have to treat it differently than we treat our core beliefs. I'm not saying throw away your emotion. I'm saying, realize that you will get over it and don't waste a friendship with words you can't take back.
Yesterday I imagined one of these friend's sons calling me and telling me that his father had cancer and was in the hospital. As angry as I am at him. My only internal response was to go to his side. That says to me that my feeling is fleeting. I'll get over the anger. So, I tell myself that whatever happens, don't say something that will dishonor the friendship, because someday I'll want to reclaim the love and caring we once had. Maybe I'm not ready today, but someday.
"God help me understand my feelings. Help me deal with them as you would, with compassion and understanding."
I used to have this Hispanic Vocal client when I lived in NYC who sang the song "Feelings." I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was like the "Idol" judges trying not to laugh while I was coaching him. But he was adorable, I have to admit, as he attempted to interpret an English song with a very Hispanic accent.
But this, as you probably figured out by now, is not my point. Feelings are so very temporal. They come and go like the wind. One day you're mad as hell at someone, and the next you love them like nothing happened. One day you think you will never change to the new Facebook, then after you do, you decide it is really kewl. I mean really. Do we ever truly have a feeling that sticks?
The answer is yes, of course. Some of our deeply rooted feelings are not ephemeral. They are tied to our core belief system. These feelings stay put, for the most part. It's the fleeting feelings that I want to talk about today. The ones that change.
When something comes in your life that causes you to have a strong fleeting feeling. And you know it is not based on a core belief. IF it is based on an action or an emotion, we have to treat it differently than we treat our core beliefs. I'm not saying throw away your emotion. I'm saying, realize that you will get over it and don't waste a friendship with words you can't take back.
Yesterday I imagined one of these friend's sons calling me and telling me that his father had cancer and was in the hospital. As angry as I am at him. My only internal response was to go to his side. That says to me that my feeling is fleeting. I'll get over the anger. So, I tell myself that whatever happens, don't say something that will dishonor the friendship, because someday I'll want to reclaim the love and caring we once had. Maybe I'm not ready today, but someday.
"God help me understand my feelings. Help me deal with them as you would, with compassion and understanding."
I Wish You Enough... HUH?
I Wish You Enough? HUH?
When someone prays a prayer that wishes me enough, I stop them mid-sentence and say, "Thank you for your concern, but I will continue this prayer privately."
If God says, "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find," why ask for enough, when you can ask for abundance and share the extra?
I used to pray that my bills would be covered. Every month, without fail, my bills would be covered, and there would be pennies left over. Now I pray for my bank account to flow with abundance so that I can help others, have all that I need, and more. Not to be selfish, but to let Spirit give to his child what God promised: to open the storehouse of heaven and pour out a blessing!
Don't settle for cracker crumbs, when God wishes for you to have caviar and cream cheese on gourmet toast points!
When someone prays a prayer that wishes me enough, I stop them mid-sentence and say, "Thank you for your concern, but I will continue this prayer privately."
If God says, "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find," why ask for enough, when you can ask for abundance and share the extra?
I used to pray that my bills would be covered. Every month, without fail, my bills would be covered, and there would be pennies left over. Now I pray for my bank account to flow with abundance so that I can help others, have all that I need, and more. Not to be selfish, but to let Spirit give to his child what God promised: to open the storehouse of heaven and pour out a blessing!
Don't settle for cracker crumbs, when God wishes for you to have caviar and cream cheese on gourmet toast points!
The Heart of a Human
The Heart of a Human
The Heart pumps. The Heart is sustained by oxygenated blood. It's rhythm is generally as regular as clockwork. Fear and Excitement make it beat harder. Rest and Peace make the heart beat slower. When we are born it begins to beat on its own. When we die, the heart stops. No one knows exactly why.
The heart is an intricate organ, that without it, nothing would work in our body. And as in life, I believe, it is an important metaphor.
Without spiritual heart: compassion, love, joy for living, desire for truth, verve to share our gifts, we truly have nothing. We might as well be dead. Our humanness would be worthless.
The heart of a human is more than the ticking of an innocuous time bomb that may or may not stop at any time. The heart beats to the proud rhythm of Spirit's love. This cadence is so inviting it draws the world in to dance with us--to create good with us--to live in harmony with us.
Heart energy is forgiveness and love in many spiritual practices. We are taught that when we don't forgive it doesn't effect the other person, it makes our own heart lose vital energy. Because our heart is made to love. It beats in the rhythm of Spirit smiling.
"Today I touch my heart and feel the golden embers of love burning in my soul. Its heat not only warms me, but brings compassion and great joy to all around me. I know I am made of love, because my heart beats to the rhythm of God!."
The Heart pumps. The Heart is sustained by oxygenated blood. It's rhythm is generally as regular as clockwork. Fear and Excitement make it beat harder. Rest and Peace make the heart beat slower. When we are born it begins to beat on its own. When we die, the heart stops. No one knows exactly why.
The heart is an intricate organ, that without it, nothing would work in our body. And as in life, I believe, it is an important metaphor.
Without spiritual heart: compassion, love, joy for living, desire for truth, verve to share our gifts, we truly have nothing. We might as well be dead. Our humanness would be worthless.
The heart of a human is more than the ticking of an innocuous time bomb that may or may not stop at any time. The heart beats to the proud rhythm of Spirit's love. This cadence is so inviting it draws the world in to dance with us--to create good with us--to live in harmony with us.
Heart energy is forgiveness and love in many spiritual practices. We are taught that when we don't forgive it doesn't effect the other person, it makes our own heart lose vital energy. Because our heart is made to love. It beats in the rhythm of Spirit smiling.
"Today I touch my heart and feel the golden embers of love burning in my soul. Its heat not only warms me, but brings compassion and great joy to all around me. I know I am made of love, because my heart beats to the rhythm of God!."
Where Is Love?
Where Is Love?
So many times we've heard, "you are looking for love in all the wrong places," yet what are the right places?
First of all, when you are made of the very particles that are love, how can you miss love? God made you in its image. God is love. So you, too, are made of love. Look in the mirror for love. You are the beginning and end of your day. You must treat yourself with kindness and compassion.
Secondly, like attracts like in the universe. It's law. So, if you recognize your goodness and foster it, you will also attract the very same thing that you are. If you are compassionate, you will attract compassionate beings. If you are generous, generosity will follow you to your home.
Third, Love is a peaceful state of mind. It doesn't lust for gold, other's belongings, other's bodies. Love is still and at rest and at peace with the universe. So, it is our indigenous duty to discover the peace that created us and exists all around us through the practice of meditation and quiet or prayer. This is how you bring the humanness that you are to the spiritual--daily, as an offering.
"I know that I don't understand my human self. I want to be a better person, a better friend, a better lover. Help me make those parts of my humanity that bend toward earth, lift and spread toward the sky--toward the light of Your Beingness. I know then, that I will bloom into the beauty that You intended!" Love you, my friends.
So many times we've heard, "you are looking for love in all the wrong places," yet what are the right places?
First of all, when you are made of the very particles that are love, how can you miss love? God made you in its image. God is love. So you, too, are made of love. Look in the mirror for love. You are the beginning and end of your day. You must treat yourself with kindness and compassion.
Secondly, like attracts like in the universe. It's law. So, if you recognize your goodness and foster it, you will also attract the very same thing that you are. If you are compassionate, you will attract compassionate beings. If you are generous, generosity will follow you to your home.
Third, Love is a peaceful state of mind. It doesn't lust for gold, other's belongings, other's bodies. Love is still and at rest and at peace with the universe. So, it is our indigenous duty to discover the peace that created us and exists all around us through the practice of meditation and quiet or prayer. This is how you bring the humanness that you are to the spiritual--daily, as an offering.
"I know that I don't understand my human self. I want to be a better person, a better friend, a better lover. Help me make those parts of my humanity that bend toward earth, lift and spread toward the sky--toward the light of Your Beingness. I know then, that I will bloom into the beauty that You intended!" Love you, my friends.
Friends
What Would We Do Without Friends?
I'm thinking---big, gaping hole in my life.
Friends are where lovers stop, family can't fill, and enemies won't tread. They are the warm cover when you are sick. They are the cream-filling in your doughnut. They are the whiskey in your coffee. They are the punchline to your joke. They are the sour-tasting medicine you don't want to take, but choke down because you know it's good for you. They are the walk in the woods on a warm summer day--quiet and free. They are God on this earth. Cherish them. Call an old friend today and let him/her know you care.
I'm thinking---big, gaping hole in my life.
Friends are where lovers stop, family can't fill, and enemies won't tread. They are the warm cover when you are sick. They are the cream-filling in your doughnut. They are the whiskey in your coffee. They are the punchline to your joke. They are the sour-tasting medicine you don't want to take, but choke down because you know it's good for you. They are the walk in the woods on a warm summer day--quiet and free. They are God on this earth. Cherish them. Call an old friend today and let him/her know you care.
