"Spiritually Speaking" by Rev. Carla Golden

Look For the Good

When my first husband told me he wanted a divorce, it was difficult to see the good in the situation. I was downright depressed and devastated. It seemed like the worst day of my life and it came less than one year after our wedding. But years later, in hindsight, I saw the divine order at work. In fact, I saw it as one of the greatest blessings in my life.

It can be hard to look for the good in all the challenges in our lives. When you're in the midst of the challenge, it can seem almost impossible. The important thing is to have faith and KNOW that even though we can't see a blessing in our situation, that some day we will. Usually that is what happens. It's like being in the eye of a storm and feeling peace that even though the winds and rain are all around you, that it will soon pass and the sun will be visible again. The truth is that the sun is always there, even though we can't always see it. Spirit is always there in every challenge too, but we don't always feel it. That is why faith is important.

I read an article about Marissa Jaret Winokur, the actress. When she was 27, Winokur was living in New York and starring in a Broadway show. She won a Tony Award for her performance as Tracy Turnblad in "Hairspray". Then a pap smear revealed that she had cervical cancer. She had a hysterectomy and it was during this time that her friend, Judah, became much more than just a friend.  Cancer strengthened and deepened their relationship.She and Judah are now married and have a son through surrogacy. She believes that her son, Zev, came to her as a result of her cancer. Marissa now says, "I thank God I had cancer."

I feel that my divorce from my first marriage was a blessing. I had not really been happy in the relationship, but because my parents had been divorced, I decided to stay the course and remain married. Thank goodness my first husband decided otherwise! He set me free to then marry my current husband who is my spiritual partner and soulmate.

I read an article the other day about how over 50% of people who have lost their jobs during this recession have either found that something good came as a result, or they believe that it will lead to something better. And time and time again, we all have seen this proven in our lives if we really think about it. As the old saying goes, "Every cloud has a silver lining." We just need to have faith that it's there, keep our eyes and our mind open, and look for the good.

Love is the New Religion: Join Us in the Conscious Army

There is a movement now--call it the Conscious Army. Rather than focusing on war, this army is focused on love. The goal of this army is to transform the energy of this planet and raise consciousness. Would you like to join our army? Or maybe you've already joined and didn't even know it. Use the link below and check out the short video, which will explain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89FNX7v3Zls&feature=player_embedded

Peace and Namaste!

 

The Perfect Mother

It's Mother's Day and mothers all across the country are being taken out to dinner and presented with cards, flowers, and other tokens of love and appreciation. Yesterday, at Wal-Mart, I was in line at the checkout behind a girl who looked to be about 13. She had a single rose, a bottle of perfume and a package of gum laid out in front of her. She took a wad of $1 bills from her pocket and counted them out. She had just enough to cover the gifts that she intended to give her mom.

I heard an interview the other day with mothers from different parts of the country and the common theme was that no mother thought she was perfect. They all felt that they had let down their children in one way or the other. None of them expressed that they were satisfied with their performance in their role as mother.

My mom wasn't perfect. She did a lot of things that I needed to forgive her for later. But from where I am right now in my consciousness, I believe that she was the perfect mother for me. Can you say that about your mom?

There are two things that I believe that help me embrace this idea. One is that we do not die. Our bodies die, but our souls live on. When you believe that nothing is truly fatal and that we will live on in some form or another, whatever happens to us in this current lifetime cannot endanger the eternal nature of our souls.

The second thing I believe is that our souls choose to be born into a certain situation and body for the purpose of learning lessons and experiencing life from a different perspective from the last lifetime (yes, I believe in reincarnation). In other words, we may actually choose our own mother and father. Maybe we've been with them in other lifetimes and perhaps we have even been their parent that time around.

Not only would we choose our mother to learn lessons in our relationship with her, but perhaps we agreed to provide her with an experience that her soul needed for its spiritual evolvement.

The book, The Little Soul and the Sun by Neale Donald Walsch is a wonderful illlustration of this idea. The "Little Soul" decides that it wants to learn about the concept of forgiveness and another soul agrees to show up in its life to do something that would require the Little Soul to forgive. It helps us to see the acts of others as more of a gift to us rather than something that we might see as needing to forgive. It also can help us see that perhaps we are not the victims in life, but maybe the orchestrators of situations in our lives for our highest good (remember, we are eternal, spiritual beings having a human experience).

As you consider your own mother, whether you saw her as the most wonderful mother in the world or a woman who you would have gladly traded in for a new model, think about what you learned in your relationship with that mother. What did you learn about yourself? What spiritual growth has come from your relationship with this other soul? Who are you as a person that you wouldn't have been without her presence in your life? Can you truly acknowledge that although this woman may not have been perfect, that maybe she was the perfect mother for you to evolve spiritually and awaken to the beauty and power of your true nature? It may be a big step for you, but it can be life changing. Try working with this idea and see what happens.

The White Stone Ceremony & The Burning Bowl

The first Sunday in January is often designated as "White Stone" Sunday at Unity churches. What is "White Stone" Sunday? It is the day when we set our intentions for the rest of the year. I'm not talking about resolutions, because in the White Stone ceremony, we don't make a list. Usually, we come up with one or two words which represent the changes we wish to make or what we want to see expressing in our experience.

Generally, the way it works is that each person is presented with a white tile upon entering the church and a pencil or pen. During the course of the service, a meditation is done that helps the person connect with their divine essence, Higher Self, Divine Mind--whatever we call God. We are invited to ask for guidance on what our word or words will be for the year that will represent our highest intention or it may be a name that we hear for this new spiritual identity. That name is then written upon the white tile. We keep the white tile as a reminder of our intention. 

The idea of the White Stone ceremony comes from Revelation 2:17: "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers (who overcomes) I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it."

In most Unity churches, White Stone Sunday follows a "Burning Bowl" service held at the end of the year. At this service, there is a symbolic releasing of what we wish to let go of before we move into the new year. It is written on a piece of paper and then dropped into a large bowl or container which contains fire. Participants let go of such things as feelings of anger, unforgiveness, unhealthy habits, relationships, etc.

You can create these rituals at home if you have not had the opportunity to participate at a church. I have found both rituals to be very powerful and have seen differences in my life, and the lives of others, as a result of taking part in these ceremonies.

Practicing the Presence

Brother Lawrence, the medieval mystic lay monk, coined the phrase, "The practice of the Presence of God." What did he mean by that? What exactly is the practice of the Presence of God?

Brother Lawrence was not infering that God was a mysterious presence that would come and go in our lives. What Brother Lawrence was practicing was the consistent awareness of the truth that God was always present in our lives.

God doesn't go away and leave us alone to face our challenges. We, like the Prodigal Son, are the ones that take leave through our lack of awareness. We can never actually leave the presence of God, because God is everywhere present. What we can do is to allow ourselves to feel alone and isolated from this presence.

Doesn't it give you comfort and a feeling of security to know that anywhere you go and anything you do, that God is there with you. In fact, God is in you as your eternal substance, life force and strength. When you begin to live in an awareness of that truth you will never feel alone.

Why not take a moment now and practice the Presence of God?

Celebrating an Inner Christmas

Every year, I watch as Christmas decorations go up earlier and earlier, to coax people into shopping. "Black Friday" is the day when many people push and shove their way into stores looking for bargains. The health of the economy is indicated by how much people spend on that one day.

Where is the true meaning in this holiday? Where is the love? Is love about buying the most expensive gift and spending the most money?

And what about the Christmas of our soul? The inner Christmas? When do we celebrate that? And how?

There are 12 days that are perfect for this sacred celebration of the soul, according to Lynn Jericho who produced a short movie called "The Inner Christmas". Starting on December 25 and ending on January 6, this is the time of celebrating and connecting with our purpose and sacredness.

What always strikes me, as I look at pictures of trees covered with snow, is that the trees are in a period of dormancy and rest. They are not in their growth mode at this time of year. They are not busy putting forth leaves, berries, flowers, or other manifestations. They pull into themselves and stand--most of them naked, with no leaves--and rest.

Perhaps we can learn from the trees to take time to have a period of rest, introspection and focus on what is going on within us. To breathe in and feel the warm breath of spirit, to feel our heart beating in our chest, and to know that there is something within us that is profound and awesome.

This time of inner Christmas can be the perfect opportunity to recognize how far we have come in our spiritual journey, our awakening to the truth of our being. To celebrate the growth of our soul and the wonder of how beautifully created we are.

Take a few moments and watch this beautiful movie created by Lynn Jericho. It may be the perfect time for you to pause and reflect on the holiday season,the meaning it has for you and the sacred gift that you have already been given.

Here is the link: http://www.theinner christmasmovie. com/   

Are you a "Workaholic"?

Back in the 1980's, I got my first job after completing my college degree. I was determined to prove myself. It was a job that I loved, so at first it didn't bother me working more hours. But after awhile, it took its toll. I had trouble sleeping and I was often anxious about whether I was good enough or smart enought, a problem that had its roots in my childhood. I was afraid of failure and thought that by working harder I could protect myself from that. At the time, I didn't realize the depths of my fear and the effect that it was having on me.

Workaholism, according to Gary Zukav in his book, The Heart of the Soul, is a "flight from emotions." It is an escape from feeling our emotions.

I know a woman who is constantly working on one project or another, always running, compulsive in her need to control situations and take charge. She shares with me how exhausted she is and even sends me her agenda for the day so that I can see how hard she works and how many things she needs to accomplish. She seems to thrive on chaos and drama.

On the other hand, this woman's marriage is in a sad state of affairs. It was perhaps a marriage that should not have occurred, but now that she is in it, she is hesitant to get out because of her two children and finances.

Gary Zukav would say that this woman's workaholism is an escape from pain and sadness. How many of us have used our work or another addiction to escape from our emotions? Whether it's alcohol and drugs, shopping, or gambling, it is all about escape.

Are you using any of these escapes in your life? The most important thing is to first acknowledge it, to be able to awaken from the self-induced trance that you have been in. Be willing to be an observer in your own life. Talk to your friends and family. Have they noticed this behavior? Be honest with yourself about your life and whether it is really working for you the way it is. And be willing to let the feelings and emotions come up from deep inside you where they have been suppressed. I recommend finding a good therapist or spiritual advisor.

I have heard the analogy of holding a beach ball under water. It takes a lot of energy to suppress that ball and it takes even more energy for you to suppress the emotions that lie within you. It is draining physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Once the emotions have been released and the pain has been acknowledged, action may then be necessary. Once the realization occurs that the workaholism is an escape, the person will need to deal with the situation that may be contributing to the pain.

God is the power and the presence within us that enables us to work through these issues, to strengthen us as we go through them and to see the good that is there for us. It's all about transformation.

Into the Deep: A Book About Facing Traumatic Events with Faith

On August 30, 2003, Robert Rogers and his wife and four children were driving from Wichita to their home near Kansas City, Missouri. They had attended a wedding in Wichita and now, with the children (all under the age of nine) wearing their pajamas and securely buckled into their seats, were making the three-hour trip home.

Robert's wife, Melissa, was driving in the rain, which had been unceasing for hours. About halfway to Kansas City, outside Emporia, Kansas they suddenly found themselves surrounded by water. Jacob Creek, which normally amounted to nothing more than a slow trickle had turned into a torrent. The family's van began to fill up with water in the darkness. The children awoke and began to cry as the cold water rose up around their legs. The car stalled and the windows would not open. There seemed to be no escape. Then a wall of water carried their van over an embankment and it became clear that something had to be done. Robert kicked out a window to provide a way out. Immediately he was sucked out into the raging waters and found himself drowning, breathing in water.

Robert survived but his wife and four children did not. He had to face the loss of his whole family and to return home to a house which was filled with memories. He had to go through the funeral--five white caskets lined up for burial.

As I read the book Into the Deep, written by Robert Rogers, my heart literally ached for this man and I found myself in tears more than once. I could not imagine going through such a traumatic time as this. To lose one family member or loved one is hardbreaking enough, but to lose your entire family is beyond comprehension.

Robert is an evangelical Christian. He asked God the questions that anyone would: "Why did this happen to us?" "Why didn't you save my family?" It was an enormous test of his faith. He prayed for strength and peace and help in getting through all that followed. Even though he didn't get the answers to his questions, he got the strength and peace for which he prayed. He grieved as any normal person would and should do, but in the worst of times, he knew that he was being supported by God.

Robert came to believe, like many of us, that there is not always an answer as to why something like this happens in our lives. But it is about how we deal with these crises that occur that is important.

Many people find these events to be turning points, defining moments, where they are forced to choose the direction in which they will go. Some lose their faith and turn away from God in anger and frustration. Others choose to surrender their burden to God and trust that power and presence to sustain them as they walk through the valley of the shadow. It is these individuals that generally come out on the other side, seeing and knowing that they have been supported and strengthened during their ordeal.

While Robert comes from the standpoint that we all are familiar with, that "God doesn't give us more than we can handle," I don't believe that God causes such events to occur. If there is any explanation that rings true for me, it is the idea that our souls make choices throughout various lifetimes that allow us to learn lessons and to evolve in spiritual awareness. The book, The Little Soul and the Sun by Neale Donald Walsch is a good example of that philosophy.

Whatever we choose to believe about the reason for these life-changing events, like Robert came to realize, it's how we choose to react that is of the utmost importance and which, ultimately, will make all the difference in our experience.

The Rivers of Lethe and Mnemosyne: Forgetting and Remembering

In my last post, I left you with a question: "Would you take a drug that would help you forget a traumatic event?"

My answer to that question is "no". The traumatic events in my life have been defining moments and have provided me with opportunities to stretch and grow. Yes, they were painful, but not one person makes it through life without some pain.

In the book The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran writes: "Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief."

The Greeks had a belief that souls on their way to Hades had to cross the River of Lethe (Lethe means forgetfulness) to prepare for the next incarnation. Drinking from this river would cause the souls to lose all memory of their past as well as their knowledge and wisdom.

Cults developed that taught members to ignore their great thirst when crossing the Lethe and to continue on to the River of Mnemosyne (meaning memory). By drinking from this river they would remember everything that had ever happened to them, and in doing so, they would again feel the pain and the sorrow, as well as the joy. But these souls would also retain the wisdom and the knowledge that they had gained as a result of these painful events.

To me, the other benefit of living through and remembering the difficult times of our lives, is the depth of compassion that comes as a result of our experience. Our hearts are like wells of compassion that fill to the point of over-flowing, and we can truly empathize with the experience of others.

No matter what traumatic experience you may have experienced in your life in the past, or that you may be going through at this very moment, know that you are deepening and expanding in wisdom and compassion. The stone or seed of the fruit of your understanding is preparing to burst forth into new awareness.

And lastly, remember that you are never alone as you face these times of trial and tribulation. The one presence and the one power, God, is with you--is within you--as your strength, comfort and peace.

Would you take a drug that would help you forget a traumatic event?

A woman in Texas was trying to escape a flash flood with her baby. Suddenly, her baby was torn from her arms and carried away in the swirling waters. This memory is now etched in her mind.

Not long ago, a drug was found that would destroy traumatic memories,  if taken within a short period of time after the event. If you had the opportunity to take a drug to help you forget a traumatic event in your life, would you take it? Why or why not? Your comments are invited.