Are You Afraid of Defeat?

When I was in high school many decades ago, I memorized a poem by Robert Service, entitled, "Carry On" which I loved! The second verse is:

"And so in the strife of the battle of life,
It is easy to fight when you're winning;
It is easy to slave and starve and be brave
When the dawn of success is beginning,
But the man who can meet despair and defeat
With a cheer, there's the man of God's choosing;
The man who can fight to Heaven's own height,
Is the man who can fight when he's losing."

I probably don't need to explain that I have had a soft spot for the underdog. I was an idealistic kid. I have never been in many fights, and no physical ones,  so there really isn't a reason that I loved and remembered this poem, yet it appeals to my soul. 

It says to me, that there is good for me and I ought to have it. And I need to do my part in the finding and creation of it.

For me, the fight is mental not physical. It is the strength of mind and character needed to move steadily forward toward your highest dream regardless of setbacks. (They could be a set-up!). 

In The Alchemist, the boy was successful  in finding his treasure and having his love, but many times throughout his adventure, he could have been defeated by the circumstances he faced.The alchemist becomes  a mentor and friend and gives the boy this advice:

What you still need to know is this: before  a dream is realized the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we've learned as we've moved toward that dream. That's the point at which most people give up. It's the point at which as we say in the language of the desert, one 'dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon."

When the boy listened to his heart, that told him his strongest qualities were courage and enthusiasm. Learning from the protagonist in this story, we learn to carry on. 

The boy did not find the treasure at the pyramids, but he found an answer that led him to the treasure. Life is generous to those who pursue  their Personal Legend or Purpose.

The Boy at the Pyramids at Last

Listen to the Stirrings of Your Heart

Self Worth: Steeped in Awareness 

Have you ever loved something and left it? I am not referring to people but that might it applicable too!

I have been basking in the glow of love and gratitude from Wednesday night's Metaphysical Interpretation of the Beatles! How blessed we are to have such talent and consciousness at our Center! Rev. Karyn Allen, Rick Dale and Dave Friedman did an outstanding job in providing both the music and the interpretation. The room was buzzing with the sounds of a happy community for quite awhile after their performances.

Today I had a conversation about my musical background which reminded me of what an important part of my life music has been. My piano sits unplayed, month after month. At one time I could just sit and play for hours, it was a way of feeling my deep feelings, and an expression of my creativity. Then I made a decision, maybe consciously maybe subjectively, that my ability was not good enough. I compared myself to the wonderful musicians in our Center and I came up lacking. So I stopped playing. I stopped doing something in my own home which brings me pleasure because I judged it as inferior to others. This was quite crazy!

Can you relate? Have you ever stopped doing something you like to do because you thought you were not good enough? Over the years I have paid for music lessons with the intention not only of learning a new skill but also I improving that skill. I really have not been successful with music lessons since I was 17 years old. I wouldn't practice enough to improve my skill. When I was a kid singing and playing piano were favorite pastimes. My parents encouraged me to learn to play piano. I used to hide behind it in social settings when it would be more comfortable to play and sing than to socialize with an extended family that I didn't know that well.

What I remembered today was that when I volunteered 30 years ago to be the accompanist for the music in the new Center I was attending, I wasn't that good. But I volunteered because the poor guy who had been trying to accompany on an accordion was really terrible! I knew I could provide something better. Besides it only involved learning two songs, and one of them was the Peace Song and would be sung every week. Also the Center was in its infancy -- and at most there were only 15 people in attendance. I knew I could do that! Five years later I was playing every Sunday, had a choir that I rehearsed with. (Honestly it was probably one of the worst choirs in history, but we had fun!) But the Center had grown and so had my confidence and skill.




Why is this story relevant to my life and maybe yours today? Whatever is going on, I remember that if I start with small, and commit to daily practice I can improve anything. I am going to listen to the stirrings of my heart and let creative expression flow! All the desires of our hearts were placed there by the Creator.

Are you listening to your desires?