Celebrate Diversity

Sitting in our Spring Symphony Pops concert, my heart soared as I listened to the audience listen to Mariachi Vargas. They were having so much fun.

The entire program was in Spanish. I neither speak nor understand Spanish, but I could feel the energy in the room and the beat of the music. I actually recognized some of the music and moved with the beat. I was in awe experiencing a different culture from my own in my home town.

I also realized that most of the audience was Spanish speaking and were from my town. I was experiencing a vast majorities of my neighbors culture. It was almost a sold out crowd filled with people whom had never attended a symphony.

I wondered how many of my Spanish speaking neighbors went to events in English where they understood nothing. I wondered it they felt frustration and isolation. Even though, I felt some of this, I did feel connected because of the music and because I was celebrating our diversity.

I was filled with gratitude that my Spanish speaking neighbors and friends were being honored by our symphony embracing their culture. It was a beautiful experience. It brought me back to the Eid celebration we celebrated the first time in San Angelo during the 11 Days of Peace. My Muslim friends were honored because they were invited to celebrate their faith openly with the people of San Angelo.

I love witnessing all people coming together and celebrating our diversity. It makes for a much more exciting life.

Overcoming common resistance

We all are created with innate capabilities which move us toward our ultimate human potential of creativity. However, most people believe that there is something outside of themselves which limit their ability to achieve and to develop their full potential. This belief is the primary block of people attaining their creative birthright.

John H. McMurphy, PhD in his book Secrets from Great Minds, suggests five resistant beliefs which block us from enhancing our full human potential.

1. "I'm just not very creative or I can't seem to realize my true potential.
2. "There's not enough time to practice techniques to improve my creative potential."
3. "My job doesn't demand or allow for much creativity." or "My job doesn't present man opportunities to develop my full potential."
4. "I'm just too logical and analytical to be more creative."
5. "I'm afraid to develop my creativity because my life might change."(pg.ii-vii).

These rationalizing negative beliefs keep us from moving forward and becoming and creating a life of magnificence. It is a process of changing our perceptions and our way of thinking that breaks the self-imposed bonds that imprison us.

The processes are easy but difficult. However, the people who trudged the road before us have proven its value. People like da Vinci, Emerson, Edison, Jung, and Socrates lead the way in overcoming our resistance and moving into a life of great potential.

It will be exciting to see what they have to share.

The Magnificence of Flowers

Driving through the Texas hill country this time of year, one is astounded and awe struck by the beauty of the wildflowers. Bluebonnets blanket the meadows, hills and roadsides with splashes of brilliant yellow, red, pink, and purple. These flowers are freely given for us all to enjoy. They enfold us in their aroma and mesmerize us with their beauty. Flowers for me are the exclamation point of creation, the final touch.

Teilhard de Chardin suggests that "Consciousness is humanity's flower; it is our unique way of expressing the loving spiritual presence within us. It also is the God-given tool we must wield in the creative process."

Awakening to our consciousness and becoming aware of our oneness is the evolution of humanity toward Spirit. It is the unfolding of the rose, the pressing forward to full expression. It is the game we are here to play.

After seeing this years bountiful expression in wildflowers, I am excited about the unfolding of my life into full expression.

Why?

I just read Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli, a touching fiction about Nazi-occupied Warsaw. It is a story of an orphan who lives in the streets of Warsaw, stealing food for himself and other orphans just trying to survive.
The story unfolds with the cunning and baffling atrocities inflicted on the Jews during a horrific time in our history.

I realize this is a fictitious book; however, the happenings and the treatment of the Jews is factual. In reading books about the Holocaust of the Jews and Rwanda, I am shocked at what one human being can do to another. It is the slow seeping of separation, defiling and dehumanization into the souls of people.

When we allow ourselves to listen to and be around racism, dehumanization, derogatory comments about a group of people, we are setting ourselves up for the unthinkable. We become the monsters, we fear. We begin saying and doing the unthinkable. History repeats itself.

We have been listening to the media and to the extreme fundamentalist about the "Muslims" being evil, being vile, inhuman, "the enemy." All of these labels, separate us from them. They close our minds and our hearts to the preciousness and the oneness of our humanity. In so doing, we allow atrocities to befall onto innocent people.

Isn't this what happened to Jesus. One day he is the hero, the next the crowd turns on him and he becomes the hunted, the beaten, the crucified.

How many times do I fall into the trap of gossip, degrading another person, all the while rationalizing that "We're different, I'm not like them, They deserve what they get . . ." I am guilty of the of propagating the same behaviors and mindsets of those whom have participated in ethnic-cleansing.

With this awareness, I am called to be responsible and to help cleanse the world of such thinking and belief systems. I do this by using the Ho'oponopono Prayer for Healing as found in Zero Limits by Joe Vitale and Ihaleakela Hew Len, PhD.

Divine creator, father, mother, son, [daughter] as one . . . If I, my family, relatives, and ancestors have offended you, your family, relatives, and ancestors in thoughts, works, deeds and actions, from the beginning of our creations to the present, we ask your forgiveness. . . Let this cleanse, purify, release, cut all the negative memories, blocks, energies, and vibrations, and
transmute these unwanted energies to pure light . . . And it is done.

This prayer opens my heart to love through forgiveness all of humanity and allows me to experience the Oneness of us all.

Being Forgotten

In reading Have a little faith by Mitch Albom, Mitch asks his dying rabbi what most people fear most about death. The rabbi answers, "Well, for one thing, what happens next?" He goes on to say that the biggest fear is, "being forgotten."

The rabbi refers to this as the second death. "The unvisited nursing homes. The homeless found frozen in alleys. Who mourned their passing? Who marked their time on earth?" (pg. 127).

This little conversation got my attention, especially at this time in my life, as I visit my dad in a memory-care facility. I notice all of the elderly whom have been forgotten and remember the lady who recently went out to watch the night sky and to rock only to freeze to death. I watch my dad struggle with acceptance that he is old just like the people around him. It is difficult to watch and to absorb that the man who was my rock is withering.

In reading this little story, I am awakened to the preciousness of time and how fast it flies past. I realize the importance of inter-personal relationships which is what my dad tells me daily. Becky, "Life has meaning, and its lasting meaning is in interpersonal relationships. Nothing else matters." What a powerful message to heed.

We spend and waste so much time chasing things, positions, accolades, and playing with gadgets that we forget to nurture and foster relationships. As we age, it sometimes becomes too late and we end our lives alone.

Take time for dinner with friends and family, go to the park with your kids, grand kids, nieces or nephews, adopt an elder or a child who has no one, do something to reach out your hand to another human being. Make creating and building relationships you lifes work. In so doing, you and they will be remembered.

Honor yourself and others

Each time you invalidate anybody else,

you are invalidating who you are.

As you invalidate yourself you are not

allowing yourself to be who you are,

and you are disallowing your

own potential for expansion.

P'taah/The Gift thru Janie King

This is such a Truth for me. I find that each and every time I gossip, judge, or belittle another person, my self worth diminishes. The more I can see the truth about myself, the good, the bad, the ugly and the beauty and honor that, the more I can honor the good, the bad, the ugly and the beauty in others.

Change

In order to change anything, we must first be aware, acknowledge and own our defects of character within ourselves. These are the attributes which separate us from our fellows: anger, fears, beliefs, lust, jealously, resentment, etc. Once aware of these self-invalidations, we can chose to change our actions, beliefs and/or our perceptions. In so doing, we open ourselves to be transformed.

Meditation

Practicing meditation and contemplation over the past 22 years has transformed my life. It has taken me to beautiful and bountiful experiences within the depths of my soul.

I am fascinated at how far we humans will risk our lives and journey into space, to the highest peak of mountains, and to the depths of the ocean for the thrill of it. And yet, how few of us take the most awesome journey of all, into the depths of our soul. It is an ongoing journey where more and more is revealed, where the peace that surpasses understanding is found, where we experience Bliss and see the light of God.

St. Augustine in the Literal Meaning of Genesis states "When the attention of the mind is completely carried off and turned away from the bodily senses, then there is this state called ecstasy . . . there the brightness of the Lord is seen."

Take time in your day to still your mind and be still. Meditation is a practice. Sit and breathe deeply and allow your breath to massage your inner being. Become aware of the pulsating life-force within you. Allow that force to meditate you. Breathe.

Living an Inspired Life

We you connect with your inner spirit, the life-force within you, your life shifts and you will experience a life of inspiration. Living from within is as if you are being pulled forward into right action.

• Your thoughts seem to expand into greater territories.
• Your belief system shifts into a knowing that all things are possible.
• You begin to take action which before would have been foreboding.
• Unbelievable consequences begin happening, it is as if the universe is at your command and brings all that is required to you easily and effortlessly.
• You grow into your Own. You become and achieve things you would have never imagined.

How do you accomplish this state of being? I do it by

• prayer and mediation
• by releasing old habits, behaviors, beliefs, and resentments of my past,
• forgiving myself and others

I choose to say, "YES" to inspiration (God) daily.

He sleeps in a storm

There is a story in Mitch Albom's book, Have a little faith from the Rabbi's sermon in 1975. It goes something like this.
A man is applying for a job on a farm. He is a man of few words, but offers the farmer a reference letter which states, "He sleeps in a storm." The farmer desperate for help hires the hand. After several weeks a powerful storm comes through the valley.
The farmer awakens with a stir and calls out to his new hired hand. The man is sound asleep with no hopes of awakening.
The farmer runs out to check the barn, the fields, and the silo. He finds all of the animals, grain and hay have been properly taken care of and all was well.
The farmer realized what the letter meant. "He sleeps in a storm" (pg. 93).

This is a great message for us all to realize that if we do all that is required in a day, we will all sleep well.

It reminds me of the story of Jesus in the boat with the disciples when the storm came up. They were afraid and panicked. They could not figure out how Jesus could sleep during the storm. Could this parable be one which teaches us to keep our side of the street clean, to do what is required, to make amends instantly; so when a storm arises in our mind and in our life, we can sleep knowing all is well. We will experience a peace that surpasses understanding.

In my personal life, I know I sleep soundly when I have addressed issues and made amends when need be and when I have finished and completed the work of the day. It is also beneficial for me to connect with God daily in prayer and meditation.

Wisdom from a Rabbi

When a baby comes into the world, its hands are clenched, like a fist.
Why? Because a baby, not knowing any better, wants to grab everything, to say, "The whole world is mine."
"But when an old person dies, how does he do so? With his hands open. Why? Because he has learned the lesson, we can take nothing with us."
(Have A little Faith, Mitch Albom, pg. 101).

This has been my truth. I find the older I get the less I want as far as material things. The more stuff I have and am responsible for the less freedom I have to do the things I enjoy. Being content with who I am and what I have has been the key to my ultimate happiness.

This is a common message in faith traditions. In Buddhism, we find, "Contentment is the greatest wealth" (Dham 204). Hinduism states, "contentment is the root of happiness, and discontent the root of misery (Manu 4:12).

For me, focusing on the blessings in my life with a grateful heart brings about a sense of AWE and contentment. Happiness for me is being satisfied with what I have.

I encourage you to look around and become aware of the blessed abundance in your life. If you live in America, even if you are living in the slums, you are living better than 80% of the people on the planet.
Be grateful.

Great Easter Card

Picture a chocolate Easter Bunny saying, "By the time you read this, some grubby little kid probably has gnawed my ears off and is sinking his sharp, tiny teeth right into my face."

Open the card to a bunny with a bite out of its ear saying, "Oh the Humanity!"
Thought you might enjoy some "Dark" chocolate humor for Easter.

A good laugh is medicine for the soul, I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

Easter

Easter weekend has been a milestone moment in my life over the past years. It seems it stirs great emotion within my soul. I remember one Good Friday coming home after reading the passion, furious. I was so sick of hearing the Crucifixion story. I wrote in my journal:

Jesus, I am so tired of hearing your story! What about my story and all of the stories of the people down here. Do you think you are the only one who has suffered? Don't you think we have been crucified in our own way. We are beat up and nailed to a cross everyday as people judge us, talk behind our backs, bully us, beat us down. . . I was hysterically crying and in the depths of a very dark place in my life.

An amazing thing happened in my journal, I got a reply. It said, Becky, yes I know your pain and the pain of all people. You are all crucified on this journey of life. I am so sorry. My story is your story and your story is my story. No one person's pain is greater than the others. We are all One in suffering, but we are also all One in the joy of rebirthing or resurrection.

Once you becoming willing to forgive those whom have harmed you, you will know a new freedom. You will be born anew. But just as you have been crucified so too have you crucified others. You must own this fact and ask for forgiveness. Once you seek forgiveness and forgive others, thirst for the Father, to know God. You will experience the peace that surpasses understanding.

Becky, open yourself to my story and make it your own. You will awaken and come to know what I meant when I said, You are in the world but not of the world. I love you, I am sorry for your pain, I forgive you, and Thank you.

This message changed my life. I hope in sharing this personal entry from my journal, it helps you.
God Bless and Happy Easter.

Everybody's Fine

I just watched the film titled, Everybody's Fine with Robert DeNiro. The previews show this to be a humors and light film but oh, contrary. This film hit deep into my heart and soul to the point my heart physically aches.

It is a story of a family of children who spend their lives making up stories about their lives as to not upset their dad. The dad is clueless, he had kept his head in the sand because he did not really want to know. Don't we all do this to some extent?

Lies and secrets were the family dance. In the dance, they all pretended to be something else while dying within. The dance was done under the premise to not worry dad and to keep dad happy. It was a life of illusions, a life of seperateness, tension and unhappiness. Deception always breads pain and seperation.

It was only when the dad opened his eyes to see the truth, that the walls of deception came tumbling down. The truth was revealed and shockingly, it was all O.K. Dad lived through the breakthrough and the children survived. When this happened, it gave them all permission to be, an entire family was set free. They reunited as One.

In reality, even with all of the good and all of the bad, everybody is truly FINE. Even though it was a painful movie to watch, it had a gripping story and a compelling and very insightful and valuable message.

We rob ourselves of life and of relationships when we do not own our truth and live a life of lies. It is when we share our joys and our heartaches that deep relationships form and grow. And in the end, in the words of my dad, "The only true value in life is interpersonal relationships." We can only develop interpersonal relationships if we take the time to connect at our core and to see the all of the other person.

The truth will set us free. In truth, we find true happiness and connectedness with others. We find Oneness.

The Guest House - Rumi

This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~

(The Essential Rumi, versions by Coleman Barks)

This is a beautiful poem about embracing the all of ourselves. All of our lives, the laughter and the sorrow serve us to move forward into awareness.