Peace Paradigm
Thursday, 07 October 2004
Step 10: Stay in a state of gratitude.
But I finally passed that curriculum ~! There's rarely a night that passes when I don't go over all the things I have to be grateful for right before falling asleep -- even simple things, like having ten fingers at my control -- or two legs that ferry me about upon command -- or sleeping warm and dry with a full belly -- there are an awful LOT of people who cannot count these on their "gratitude list".
We can even be grateful for our failures -- they stand to teach us a lot more than our successes. To paraphrase Gandhi, who said "Divine guidance often comes when the horizon is the blackest", we often have the help we need arrive when the situation appears the bleakest. And I am NO pollyanna ~! I've just messed up enough, and survived to tell the tale (at: http://www.booklocker.com/books/1493.html) that my belief today is stronger than my doubt.
Wednesday, 06 October 2004
Step 9: Keep your thoughts and feelings in harmony with your actions.
KNOWING that you are in sync with the Creator's will is the highest state of purpose you can attain. Set your intention to do and be the best you can with the resources available and leave the rest to that power that truly is greater, wiser and more loving than any human being.
Tuesday, 05 October 2004
Step 8: Meditate to stay on purpose.
Regardless of the format, the discipline and peace to be gained from a few minutes of daily devotion to stilling the mind will bring great rewards and keep one on purpose.
Monday, 04 October 2004
Step 7: Act as if you're living the live you were intended to live, even if you feel confused about this thing called purpose.
I view my day with a sense of JOY and often wonder. Events that could well be viewed as obstacles, I know are perfect opportunities to test my resolve and move closer to my purpose -- and they are also major learning opportunities for me to grow spiritually and in wisdom and patience and trust in something larger than myself. It's become "good medicine" to view "hurdles" as friendly reminders to trust and know all really is well with my soul.
Sunday, 03 October 2004
There's "love" thy neighbor, and then there's LOVE your neighbor...
DVAR TORAH: based on Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
The Torah states, "And G-d created man in His own image; in the image of G-d He created him" (Genesis 1:27). Rabbi Akiva said, "The verse, 'Love your fellow man as yourself' (Leviticus 19:18) is a great principle of the Torah." Ben Azai responded, "The verse, 'When G-d created man He created him in His image' (Genesis 5:1) is an even greater principle."
Love of one's fellow man which is not motivated and nourished by the realization that man was created in G-d image, is doomed to failure. Without this realization, why should a person feel obligated to love his fellow man? Man in the universe is so minuscule, he can be considered of minor importance. What, after all, is man, but one of several billion inhabitants on a planet which is only a speck of matter in a vastness of space that extends for billions of light-years. The individual is lost in
an immensity beyond imagination. And man himself is merely a mass of bones, nerves, muscles, and blood that happens to function in an orderly fashion. Is he worthy of more consideration than an animal or insect?
When we realize that man alone is fashioned in the image of the Creator of heaven and earth, he is suddenly transformed from an inconsequential and insignificant being into one that is without parallel. Although seemingly infinitesimal, he is the pinnacle of creation.
This is what Ben Azai meant when he said that man's being created in the image of G-d is an even greater principle than "love your fellow man." Man was created in G-d image and must be respected accordingly.
Saturday, 02 October 2004
Step 6: Study and replicate the lives of people who have known -- and lived -- their positive purpose.
Almost without exception, the people who have truly done the most, especially to help others, have had the most to overcome. We can find inspiration all around us -- and we can BE an inspiration to all those around us -- in our simple, mundane, everyday lives, just by being the best (ie most loving) person we can be.
There is a serious shortage of POSITIVE role models, imho, in America -- supposedly the grandest country on Earth -- all too much of what the media provides us is negative (altho I enjoy CSI, for the medical sleuthing and crime-solving, I can't watch more than one a week and still prefer Hercule Peroit or Sherlock Holmes ~!). Political rhetoric, even when positive, is less than honest and counter-balanced with trashing the opposition.
Be kind and loving, or at least positive and you'll confuse your enemies and delight your friends ~!
Friday, 01 October 2004
Ooops... got my http://oldhippiechic.motime.com blog updated first thing this a.m., then got 'distracted' and never got back here til late afternoon ~! My 'bad'.
Step 5: Remember that the all-creating field of intention will work on your behalf. Albert Einstein is credited with saying that the most important decision we ever make is whether we believe we live in a friendly universe or a hostile one. Despite the evening nooze and current events, we benefit from choosing to believe that the Universe loves and supports us.
I was orphaned at age six -- so rearing myself, virtually alone, it's been a hard nut for me to crack to believe that ANYONE ever cared anything about me -- other than a piano teacher in my youth, whose mother had committed suicide. Mrs. Simpson was reared by an evil grandmother, worse than my "evil stepmother". Still, it has taken decades to overcome "abandonment" issues.
But the evidence all around us is that we live in a friendly Universe, recent hurricanes in Florida notwithstanding. The Universe supports LIFE. It flows freely and abundancely to all. Most, if not ALL the problems we face are created by our (false) belief that we're separate from the Creator and from each other, leading us to be in a (constant) state of conflict.
Thursday, 30 September 2004
Back to the Steps... for living one's purpose with intention, per Wayne Dyer, paraphrased somewhat: Step 4: Ignore what anyone else tells you about your purpose ~! After all, opinions are a lot like armpits -- we all have a coupla of 'em. Regardless of what anyone can say to you, the truth about your feeling purposeful is that ONLY you can know it, and if you don't feel it in that inner place where a burning desire resides, it isn't your purpose. Your skills in an area -- for example, I'm a published technical, non-fiction and advertising writer -- my expertise is proven -- but it no longer makes my heart sing. It may be my "best" talent, but writing for hire is sheer punishment after 3 decades -- blogging being an exception, and this is a labor of love. What makes my heart sing today is simply being nice to ALL others, being supportive of everyone I meet in the best way I can, and stringing beads ~! I truly enjoy creating BIG beautiful, necklaces -- that is my "spiritual" turn-on. And, if I ever live in a populated area again, I'll take training to become a certified Grief Recovery Counselor (via http://grief-recovery.org) and strive to help mend broken hearts, leaving broken minds to the shrinks. Your purpose is between you and your Source, and the closer you get to what that field of intention looks and acts like, the more you'll know that you're being purposefully guided. You might have zero measurable aptitudes and skills in a given area, yet feel inwardly drawn to doing it. Forget the aptitude-test results, forget the absence of skills or know-how, and most importantly, ignore the opinions of others and listen to your heart.
Wednesday, 29 September 2004
Even God likes a good laugh ...
There were 3 good arguments that Jesus could have been Black, not Caucasian.
1. He called everyone "brother".
2. He liked Gospel.
3. He couldn't get a fair trial.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish
1. He went into His Fathers business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his mother was sure he was God.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus could have been Italian
1. He talked with his hands.
2. He had wine with every meal.
3. He used olive oil.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus could have been a Californian
1. He never cut his hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus could have been Irish
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.
But the most compelling evidence of all -- 3 proofs that Jesus could have been a woman
1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.
3. And even when he was dead, he had to get up because there was more work to do.
Tuesday, 28 September 2004
Well, it worked ~! Other than for my snarky kid, the pow-wow weekend went swimingly -- literally and figuratively -- i found it easy to be nice to people who've treated me poorly, had a great time and danced so much i could barely WALK Monday morning ~! At least for the first three hours ~! So ready for part 3 of living life on purpose??? Here tiz:
Step 3: align your purpose with the field of intention. This is the most important thing you can do to fulfill your intentions. Being aligned with the universal field means having faith that the Creator knows why you're here, even if you don't. It means surrendering your "little" or human/limited mind to the big mind, and remembering that your purpose will be revealed in the same way that you were revealed. Purpose, too, is birthed from creativeness, kindness, love and receptivity to an endlessly abundant world. Keep this connection pure and you'll be guided in all your actions.
In tribal traditions, it was not uncommon for a person to have several names throughout a lifetime. One name was given at or shortly after birth, then around puberty, at vision quest, the young adult would fast and go off alone to 'seek their vision' and their name would be changed to reflect their 'purpose' as seen in their vision. This would be a name to remind them to 'stay on track' and life up to their purpose. Then, in later life, their name might change again, to reflect their accomplishments, e.g. success in battle, etc.
My "medicine" name, revealed after years of searching, and which I can no longer pronounce in Choctaw, is Brings-Together-Woman -- it's been my path and style to bring people 'together' -- to meet others whose friendship will benefit both, bringing information at the right time to the right person, etc. In putting Dyer's message into practice, he says to stay focused on lovingly asking, How may I use my innate talents and desire to serve? and the Universe will respond with the identical energy by asking you, How may I serve you?
