There is More Than Just this Body

Amazing Lola; Small in Stature, Big in Heart

Here at our Center the Animal Kinship Ministry offers a Releasing Ceremony for our loved ones. When you make the decision to allow your pet to move onto its next life, you do not have to do it alone. 

I had the privilege of being present for Kelly when she made the decision to allow her beautiful Lola, a long haired Chihuahua,  to move onto the next plane of existence. Lola was having heart issues.  She was 14 years old and had lived a full, privileged, loving life. We held her and we celebrated her life. I  spoke about Lola being a teacher because we learn how to nurture by being nurtured. Lola nurtured Kelly and taught her how to be a mom. Lola taught unconditional love and how to stay in the moment.  Lola taught Kelly the process of slowing down and the fact that everything is on its way to someplace else.

Kelly had a vet come to the house to administer the drugs.  You could feel the love in the room.  The whole process  was inspiring.  I  witnessed Kelly’s experience.  She now knows that there is more than just this body, more than just this life.  It was honoring, beautiful and s-o-o-o loving.

Written by Kathy Storey, RScP; Kathy serves on the Center's Board of Trustees as Secretary; she and her wife Tony Sparks lead our Animal Kinship ministry; sacred service is her passion.

Good to Give from the Heart

My Orchid 

“Goodbye,” said the fox. “Here is my secret. It’s quite simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes. . . . It’s the time that you spent on your rose that makes your rose so important. . . . People have forgotten this truth,” the fox said, “But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose. . . .”

The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery

For my entire adult life, I have not been able to grow any indoor plants. My good friends wince and shudder when someone gives me a house plant for no matter how vital and alive it was when it arrived to my care, within weeks if not days, it starts looking bedraggled and puny. If not rescued by someone with a green thumb, it has little chance of surviving.

A few months ago I was given a beautiful orchid plant with large white blooms. I nurtured it by giving it an ice cube every day. Gradually it lost all its blooms and I was about to give it a burial when I noticed the wee sprouts of new leaves. With hope, I continued my regimen of a daily ice cube and nothing seemed to happen. I almost gave up hope, but I talked to it encouragingly every day. Then it shot up a stem which looked like nothing but a stick. Still I kept talking to her and nurturing her. I reminded her of her beauty and perfection.  By the end of January she had five or six buds. I could see that the largest one was ready to pop but it did nothing until I was away in  Florida.

What I returned to see is the beautiful orchid with two full blossoms and more on the way. I am ecstatic with joy for the beauty and also for the joy of being in the role of nurturer. It felt good to give.

One of the most quoted expressions in our philosophy is "There is a power for Good in the Universe and you can use it." 

Preparing for a class on the Law of Circulation, I read "There is a power for Good in the Universe and It uses me!" 

How important it is to remember that our teaching is based on two equally important aspects of the Divine-- Love and Law. As Ernest Holmes writes in the textbook, "Love points the way, and Law makes the way possible."

When we quit trying to get something, and instead focus on what is ours to give, the good in our lives increases. It's as if we had been stepping on the hose of abundance and only dribbles of good have been our experience.

To step off the hose, you need to shift your perspective, to a perspective of unity, love and harmony. There is no one against you and there is nothing that stops you from experiencing greater good. Not even I have a "black" thumb. As the fox says to the Little Prince, "You become responsible for what you've tamed." I was responsible for my orchid and now the orchid returns my love by bringing me joy and beauty.