There is a Tide

One of Diane Hennessy's Roses

Something exciting is happening! Roses are blooming! Beauty is everywhere. I can feel it! Can you? There are so many things it could be. Last week I wrote about spring fever. It could be spring fever but it feels more definite and concrete. It could be Easter which is around the corner and all of Christianity is focused on new beginnings. It could be the energy that came from our town hall meeting last week in which we discussed the pro's and con's of selling our building and buying something with cash!  I am feeling the opening to greater and greater possibilities.

In the play, Julius Caesar, Brutus is speaking with Cassius and utters these immortal words: 

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, / Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;/ Omitted, all the voyage of their life/ Is bound in shallows and in miseries. /On such a sea are we now afloat, /And we must take the current as it serves, /Or lose our ventures."

Spiritually, it is partially true. We are always surrounded by that tide. When we know we are in the flow of Divine Energy we know good things happen because we are corresponding to the divine nature.  We are reminded that when we trust that divine mind, good is at hand. We don't need to make anything happen. We need to be available and willing for it to happen. 

The second part of the quote which could be fiscally true, is spiritually false. It is incorrect because it elicits fear. When we experience fear, we cannot feel the truth of our faith. It is either fear or faith; it is never both fear and faith.

So as mindful spiritual beings, we do our work. We examine our own motivations, actions, thoughts and beliefs. We look to see if we are making decisions from a sense of our history and lack or from a place of possibility and empowerment.

Are you a possibility thinker? Are you bold and certain? Or are you hesitant and cautious? Are you too quick to react?

The second part of the quote says that if you don't act now, you will struggle forever. As students of the Science of Mind, we know that is no way to think. Creative Mind is forever providing new possibilities. If there were only one tide, what a mean-spirited God that would be. "Oops, you missed it! better luck next life!"

I believe in a loving creative power that had so much faith in each one of us, that it set us free to discover our divine nature for ourselves. Every moment that One is making all things new. There is a new venture. We are encouraged to take action.

So we come to a Center such as this one. We grow in awareness. We listen to that voice for God within and we take action.

Sometimes we can only see part-way to our goal. But keeping the faith, and doing our work, the path is certain to unfold in perfect order. 

Let's trust in the wisdom of divine mind in each one of us to guide us to the right and perfect answer regarding our building and in all other decisions.

Now Is the Time

As I was sitting contemplating how grateful I am, the first words of this poem by Rabindranath Tagore came to me.Tagore wrote it in 1900 before India's Independence. He originally wrote it in his native tongue. It was published in English in 1912.

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high 

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments 

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms from the depth of truth

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee

Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

I envision living free from fear, fully confident about my right to be here, knowing that I am making  a difference because I live in the wholeness and unity of the One Life.

When I remember who I am, my mind is free of fear.

When I remember to practice what I know, I am vitally alive.

And when I forget that we are all one, that Divine Life is within each one of us, I am tempted to live as if the effects in my life were causes. When I do that, I react. I do not consciously choose what I want.

As a minister of the Science of Mind, I want to minister to all beings -- not just one group or another.

Yet as a human being, I have opinions and concerns. Some of those opinions may upset some of my congregation. I have been blessed to live here in the United States since 1993. I prayed wholeheartedly for Peace for months after the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on 9-11 and for the first several years when we started fighting. I have kept my opinions to myself for the most part. (I did support marriage equality and some people didn't like it. They left our Center.)

Now I am concerned about our climate change. How shocked I was to find out that here in the United States, Climate Change is a political issue! In my heart it is a scientific fact and a global concern.

Although I applied for citizenship last May, I am not yet a citizen. As a non-citizen, I felt I should not speak out about my concerns, but when I saw that Climate Change disappeared from the Government Website, I was deeply troubled. 

For those of you who are students of metaphysics, you know that doing anything from a place of concern or anxiety, is going to produce exactly what you are anxious about. It will have the opposite effect from what you want. So what is the spiritual solution?

First, the master teacher Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled." So first become aware of the peace that passes understanding that is the nature of Divine Mind and It is everywhere. In that peaceful place of unity, envision what you do want. I see people caring for their environment and using resources wisely. I remember the idea of thinking globally and acting locally. 

So first I meditate and pray. First, I remember that the nature of life is unity and that I live in a perfect universe. I remember that Divine Intelligence is everywhere present, even when I can't see it.

Then I take the action that I can take. I begin locally with myself and my home environment. I unplug appliances. I turn off lights. I lower the temperature. I reduce the number of things I buy that are packaged. And I pray!

In the 70's and 80's, John Denver wrote music that spoke to my heart. He performed this one in Russia on his world tour. I think it is just as relevant today as it was when the album was released in 1983.

It's about time...and the time is now!

My Relationship with my Mother

I have many ideas vying for attention when it comes to my relationship with my mother. I will share some of my memories with you.

When I was two or three, mom was reading the story "Bambi" to my older sister, Kathryn, who would have been seven or eight. When it came to the part of Bambi's mother being shot by the hunter, mom was concerned that Kathryn would be upset. She wasn't, I was. Big tears were running down my cheeks. When asked why I was crying I said, I was crying for Bambi's mother. I was likely crying for fear that something bad would happen to my own mommy.

When I was school-aged, I was a very fussy eater. My mom was having a battle of wills with me over some horrid dish containing onions. It was lunch and she said I had to sit there until I ate it. I was very late for school.

What I remember after that, is that mom often tried to hide onions in my food, but I was very certain that they were evil and would not eat them. My sister wouldn't eat liver. My brothers didn't eat most vegetables. I remember Mom cooking six different meals for us! Was it love or did she just give up? 

Lela Clark holding brothers John and Gerald

Lela & Gordon Clark holding sister Kathryn

Clark Family 1954

When I was a teenager, the battle of the wills intensified about almost everything. Boys. Clothes. Life. Smoking.  She would yell at me and I would yell right back. I often said hateful words about how I didn't fit with this family, I hated her, etc. I am so sorry Mom for the way I treated you then.

When I was ready to go to university, she sewed four or five magnificent outfits for me. They were very stylish and I loved those clothes. At the same time, in her own closet, the newest garment was over ten years old! I appreciate you Mom.

Mom always took my side, even when I wasn't right. She assumed that the other person must be in the wrong. She was always very loyal to our family.

She was always very good with babies and sometimes good with little children. The battle of wills continued through many generations. When one of my nephews didn't want to wear shoes, and she thought he should wear shoes, there was a great deal of screaming and crying... and usually she won.

Over the years there are so many things that I have come to appreciate about Mom. She is a wonderful athlete as evidenced by all the trophies she won for curling and later for shuffleboard. 

Lela doing a back bend

Some of Lela's trophies

She had amazing flexibility. She could do many yoga poses such as the back bend and plow well into her seventies. 

This costume won first prize

Lela Clark, my mom, is also one of the most creative people I have ever met. She loved to design and make costumes whether it was for us as children for Halloween or whether it was for herself and her team-mates for a curling bonspeil. When I was a teacher, I would often borrow her latest costumes to wear at Halloween. No pattern, just an idea, and voila...there it was.

There are lots of painful memories I could write because that is how it is with mothers and daughters. But Sunday is Mothers' Day and I will stick to the happy memories.

I love you, Mom and I am grateful that you are my mother.

Seeing the Light in Others

"People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."  ~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

I agree with Dr. Kubler-Ross's statement in part. The truth is the light within us is always there; sometimes we forget that it is there. I just returned from our annual Lake Arrowhead retreat and am filled with awareness, not only of my own light, but also the light that resides in everyone else. I enjoyed the workshops done by Rev. Mike McMorrow from the Granada Hills Center for Spiritual Living. Rev. Mike had recently read Brenee Brown's work, which is all about vulnerability and authenticity. It was great to see him practice these principles and in his own words not become a "girlie man." It is great to be living in a both-and world rather than an either-or one. In a both-and world men and women can be powerful and tender, vulnerable and strong, resilient and pliable all at the same time. It was easy to see Rev. Mike's light; he let it shine. Doing do, he set the consciousness for the rest of the retreat.

During the weekend, each pastor was scheduled to give a brief welcome, teach a lesson and facilitate a class. Dr. Moira, who is in charge of the program, introduced us both Friday night and Saturday morning, in such a way as to bring out our real selves -- not a rehearsed, ego-driven self. This gave room to let the real light emerge.

My class was scheduled right after lunch on Sunday. We had been in meetings nonstop since Friday night. Sunday was a glorious sunny, summery day in Lake Arrowhead. I had prepared a workshop on Affirmative Prayer and was ready for whomever showed up. Honestly, I had doubts about having much attendance but had made enough copies of my worksheets for everyone who had registered. Much to my surprise, the room was filled. The workshop was great. Later a woman from Redondo Beach told me that I shouldn't have been surprised that people chose to come to my workshop; she said I was a legend and people wanted to hear me speak! Wow! A legend!

I have been teaching something since I was a kid. i love it and it tends to be easy for me. Often it is harder for us to see our own light than it is for us to see someone else's. Some people have a tendency to take their own skills for granted.

During the retreat, i noticed times of their great vulnerability and authenticity in most people! I also saw people playing small, even ones with a great big light!

Marianne Williamson reminded us of that tendency in A Return to Love:

“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.” ~ Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

If you are one of those people, now is the time to break the habit. Practice giving thanks for the good that is already yours, the skills you have and the talents with which you have been gifted.

Let your inner light shine so that the world can see your true beauty.

Let Your Light Shine!

Have you ever been afraid of your greatness? Of taking the next great step in your career, your creative expression, in love, or the place in your life where your heart is yearning to express? I have. I often marvel at the courage of myself and others when I really do get out of my own way and let my light shine. Let the Holy Spirit shine through me.  For years I had the quote below on my refrigerator so that everyday I would be reminded that maybe my fear wasn't of failure, but of success. I love the idea that I was born to make manifest the glory of God that is within me. To me this means that I glorify God by letting my light shine - by being Me! And, so does everyone else. 

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 and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

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.

-Marianne Williamson as quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 Inaugural Speech)

When you let your light shine, you change the world. You make it a better place for yourself and everyone else. So go ahead, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

A Halloween scare: Imagination in action

Here comes Halloween.  Booooo!

Halloween is a time for all young and old to step into that space of make believe.  A day that is completely acceptable to be scared.  Imagine my surprise when the fun was taken away, only to be replaced with fear. 

It all started on a fall day in October.  The day was turning into quite a warm day.  Being at the campsite was a requirement for my son in his current rank of cub scouts.  We were fortunate to pick the Halloween camp for his fulfillment.  This is the annual camp for his pack where a carefully constructed haunted house is created by the pack parents.  A walk through this haunted house allows one to see creepy clown kids, rats, bats and spiders hanging from fish wire, a man's head on a platter and a women with her hands, and feet cut off, and her intestines spilling all over the place.  My son and I were fortunate to walk through during the "no scare" time.  It was a first for him to walk through a haunted house. I was surprised of his determination to walk through.  It was a fun time and was not a time of fear, but that changed upon bedtime. 

While placing the tent up in the afternoon, we noticed the tent was showing its age with rips throughout the fabric where the support poles insert.  This was a tent my father had given to us to use on our first camping trip two years ago, and it seemed he had much use of it.  One of the support poles was actually broken, allowing the tent to become angular in shape instead of the curve it was intended to take.  It was sturdy enough for us to reside in for the night, and we were happy to be revisiting this dwelling for the second time in our camping history.  We also brought our inflatable queen mattress so my body would not ache the next morning. 

Once our Haunted house adventure, and trick or treating was complete, and smores were all eaten, it was time for bed.  Because we arrived at our destination in the late morning, all the spaces for setting up our tent were taken. We were directed down the hill a small distance away, but away from the rest of the pack's tents.  I really didn't think anything about being alone down there away from the pack.  I was completely fine. As the other's in our group continued with the chatting around the campfire, and the rest of the children were treated to a movie on an inflatable movie screen, my son and I decided we needed to sleep. 

Unfortunately, I noticed our mattress no longer held its air, which reminded me we had two air mattresses, and one had a leak.  I knew if I just refilled it with enough air to get me to sleep I would be fine. That is what I did, and it worked like I suspected.  THEN, at 12:56 in the morning, I heard a noise which startled me awake.  It had the sound of sniffing and I immediately thought of the wolf pups I heard howling right before going to bed.  My mind began racing of all the scenarios that could be evolving at that moment.  The tent was moving back and forth and I remembered how skittish wolves are around people.  I also remembered reading recently that the wolves are becoming more daring around humans.  I intellectualized that it couldn't be a wolf, and then I thought of mountain lions.  I remembered a handout we were given to read, regarding mountain lion safety, on another camp out we were supposed to attend 3-4 weeks prior. Since we ended up not going, I didn't read the handout, and now my mind was dreading the fact that I hadn't.  Once I came to terms that the tent wasn't being pushed by a creature of nature, and was actually the wind being stirred up, causing a swishing sound on the bottom of the tent against the dirt floor, I was relieved. However, the wind became slightly stronger and my mind began to race again, remembering that we had a broken tent and it may come toppling down if the wind continues in strength.  My mind was in full fear mode and I had to stop it. 

I remembered the journal given us from the Commitment Experiment at Center for Spiritual Living, Capistrano Valley. On that exact day the quote was: 

Stand Tall and be Proud- Sink Your Roots into the Earth-Be Content with your Natural Beauty- Drink Plenty of Water-Enjoy the View

Ilan Shamir-

Though I didn't remember the quote exactly at the time, I remember I journaled about nature.  I was bringing myself down to calm, however, with all this heart-pounding action the damage was done, I was wide awake, couldn't go back to sleep, and now needed the restroom.  Because I had remnants of the fear that was created, I couldn't move from my warm, safe sleeping bag.  I laid awake until I could no longer ignore the results of my fear. Two hours later, I mustered up the courage to leave the tent for the restroom.  When I returned I was able to reflate the bed and get 2 hours more of sleep. 

After getting home I read in the Commitment Experiment journal. The statement I was to finish was:

Today I intend to take advice from nature and....

I journaled: 

Be easy with my surrounding. Let nature be ok with me in it. Go with the flow. 

Interesting how Spirit works. My intention was for me and nature to be ok with each other, and my mind gave me many reasons not to be.  I, however, remembered my intention while I was in the midst of fear. This is what it means to build a Spiritual muscle. The ability to recollect and utilize the tools of the Spiritual trade. Once I re-read the intention I set, I was reminded of what it takes to embody that intention.  Of course, there is even more excitement to the story. What I have found is that my fear has actually provided quite a bit of humor to many of my friends, and will continue to provide humor for many years to come. An experience, a lesson in letting go and going with the flow.

          Happy Halloween          

Dreams or Fears? You choose!

What are you thinking? Does it support your dreams or your fears? That's what Bruce Fredenburg asked me a few weeks ago. 

In the moment he asked I didn't really know what I was thinking. It was just that same old self talk. But after he brought it to my attention, I discovered that much of my self talk supported my fears.

"What if they don't like it?" 

         "I can't believe I said that. What a stupid thing to say." 

                   "How could you miss that photo? What were you thinking?"

                            "Oh she is definitely a better photographer than me. I will never be that good."

That voice in my head just chattered on with commentary. 

Not once did I hear: 

"Wow, that was really awesome!" 

          "Beautiful photo! I can't wait to share that one!"

                     "I am such a great photographer."

Since Bruce said, "What are you thinking? Does it support your dreams or your fears?" I think about what I think about. When I catch myself feeling defeated or sad, I notice that inner commentary. And, by simply noticing, I can change it.

"Don't make yourself bad or wrong, just notice," Bruce encouraged me. And so I notice. With awareness, I can choose a thought that supports my dreams. So, now, I find myself changing my thoughts. I'm supporting my dreams more and more. 

I've come a long way in three short weeks since my coaching session with Bruce. His wisdom, insight and effective coaching has launched me on a path toward success and fulfillment. Could I have gotten here without his help? Maybe, but definitely not as quickly. 

You get to choose to support your fears or your dreams every moment, every day. Do you want to make better choices? Join Rev. BruceFredenburg for his workshop, Turbocharging the Law of Attraction, for easy-to-use, practical exercises to live the life of your dreams. It's this Saturday and you don't want to miss it!

Transforming Fear Beyond Limits in 6 Steps

What limits you in life?

Is it a fear of failure? Scarcity? Not being loved?  Not being worthy?

We all have fear of something holding us back from something greater.

Overcoming and transforming fear takes us beyond the limitations of fear and into the infinite possibilities of the Universe.

So how do we transform fear to faith?

I will share 6 steps Dr. Heather taught in our "Beyond Limits" class:

1.  Recognize the fear - Become aware of it.  If you don't recognize it, you can't deal with it.  When you recognize it, don't claim it for yourself.  For example, "My fear of failure" becomes "The fear of failure."

2.  Face the fear - Look it in the eye.  Understand where it is coming from.  Understand what it causes you to do...i.e. sabotage yourself, get in your own way, stop moving forward on an idea, etc.

3.  Give the fear a voice - Speak it aloud.  Energetically, that will release it from you.  

4.  Embrace and love the fear - Accept it as part of you, but do not allow it to "own" you.  Recognize it when it comes up and then....

5.    Make a spiritual choice - Choose something different.  When you've allowed fear to stop you in the past, recognize it and move through it.  Choose faith instead of fear.  Choose love instead of fear.

6.   Live in a new way - Live in the knowing that you may have a fear, but it's not you.  It's your shadow side keeping you in the status quo, but choose differently, and transform your fear into faith!

Learn tools and strategies to transform your life with Science of Mind Classes.  Click here to browse current and upcoming classes.  

From Fear to Fearlessness Pema Chödrön

Smile At Your Fear. 

Pema Chödrön describes a liberating way to relate to our fears: not as something to try to get rid of or cast out, but as something we became very intimate with. In so doing, she explains, we come to find that the journey of knowing fear is in fact the journey of courage. From this wisdom, we learn to embrace the fullness of our experience in life.

Print this out, write out your fears, crumble it up, throw them away, and so it is.