Compassion: A Force for Change

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. -Viktor Frankl-

The Consciousness of Kindness and Compassion can be a place where one's heart is pulled to change. Buddy Dumeyer is a retired Police Officer from the Louisville Metro Police Department.  He retired after 27 years of service, and became involved with the Coronor's office.  Buddy is the coordinator of the Indigent Burial Program. This is a program where burials are performed for those who's families are not able to financially afford the costs of burials, or for homeless individuals who's family members could not be located. Though this program provides for the cost of a burial, Buddy saw a need for change in regards to the actual burial ceremony.

Buddy felt a pull to honor the homeless people who were being buried, who sometimes had no family members or friends to attend their funerals. Several high schools in the area joined the program, and has several of their students attending, and being pall bearers at the services. Buddy has said this was his calling, and the students felt a change in the way they view and honor their current relationship from the work they have been involved in.  From hearing of this story, and the high school students who teamed up with Buddy, a young filmmaker, Edward Heavrin decided to make a documentary about the subject. The film is titled The Potter's Field.
https://www.facebook.com/ThePottersFieldFilm

Our charge is to look for the places where we can be of service. Kindness is active, and just a small act allows a change within ourselves. We have the capability to be a Force for Change.

Intention Without Action is Not Enough

ACTION!

Not action on the movie screen but action in our own lives... Action towards our own personal dreams!

Today's entry from the Joyous Living Journal is Action and it starts off by saying:

"Intention, without action, is not enough.  Decide, act, move in the world with confidence, knowing you are coming from and toward your intention.  Do not allow your fear, doubt, or uncertainty keep you from doing, acting, or moving in the direction of your dreams..."


After reading the entry for today, I was immediately reminded of a quote attributed to Goethe:

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

- GOETHE                                     

(I will add that upon further research there appears to be question as to who the original author of this quote really is, in the end the words are powerful regardless of who originally wrote them.)

I believe the "genius, power and magic" in the boldness of action is really Spirit.  Coming from your intention is the main ingredient, when you come from the place of your dreams you have the excitement and power of the feeling you get from seeing the dream as reality and that vibration is what propels our actions forward.  It is amazing the "coincidences" that will come into play when we come from and toward our intention.  The whole Universe conspires to support us the moment we decide and take action in the direction of our dreams!

Think about what it is that typically prevents you from taking action on your intentions... Fear of failure?  Not having the all the right resources at hand?  Not sure of all the steps required to get "there"?  Whatever it is, let it come to mind, with out any judgement, and let it go.  Release the "could have, might have, should have" thoughts with unconditional love.  

It's all good, you are in the right place at the right time, exactly where you are.  And exactly where you are is the PERFECT place to start heading in the direction of where you want to be!  See yourself there, feel what it would feel like to be there, and coming from that place, decide what is the best first step you can take right now, from where you are at, with what you have.  Continue taking those steps... That is how the journey unfolds! 

Affirmation: I act easily and boldly in alignment with my intentions.  I let my intention lead me, acting and doing without stress or worry.


Namaste.

Love Lifts Us Up!

Love lifts us up where we belong..... in clarity, peace, joy, creativity- in unity with Life. It happens in the present moment transforming any and every experiences unlike itself by the light of Love. 

 Together, this month, we have been lifting the vibration of our lives and the life of our planet with the practice of Living in Love. We have shone the light of love upon ourselves and each other with random acts of kindness, intentional prayer and contemplation. We have, together, brought our awareness to the power and the presence of Love in a greater way. 

We often remind ourselves:  look up! See the Good that is all around! By lifting our eyes and our hearts upward we are reminded to lift our consciousness up.  We lift our consciousness by being in service, seeing the good, practicing Random Acts of Kindness, and by being in the moment (just to name a few). When out hiking this week I reminded myself to look up from watching where I was walking to see the beauty and the magnificence that was all around me. In doing so I caught the most beautiful moment in nature as the sun was beginning to set and the Saddleback Mountains were glowing with the setting sun. It was breathtaking and awe-inspiring. My heart and my mind were lifted in the beauty of the moment. 

Love is up, down and all around us!

And then I was reminded Spirit is everywhere when my friend and our office administrator, Diane showed me a picture of what happened when she looked down this morning. The fallen flower petals just outside our office window look just like hearts! The truth is Love is everywhere. Up, down, to the left and to the right. It's everywhere we look because it lives within each of us. When we open ourselves to seeing it we find that it is already there.

For me, it was best said by three-year old Kate: 

"I am happy because I love you". 

Thank you Life for showing me Love truly is everywhere present 

making Itself known by means of all of us!

Visioning: What is Waiting to Express?

A quote from Dr. Michael Beckwith ~

"As far as a very basic description, you first center yourself through meditation or contemplative prayer in which you commune with the Ineffable, activating a field of unconditional love. Once your consciousness is open and receptive, you place questions before your higher Self: What is the highest vision for my life? What must I become in order to manifest this vision?  What qualities must I cultivate?  What qualities must I release?  What talents, gifts, skills and qualities do I already possess that will serve this vision?  Then follows a deep listening with an open heart, pushing away nothing that arises or judging it. This practice can be effectively applied in all aspects of one’s life. "Life Visioning Technology - Michael Beckwith

After reading Dr. Beckwith's definition of visioning and watching his two minute video,  I think you will agree with me that this is a very powerful spiritual practice.

On Wednesday, February 19, at 7 p.m.  September Warren,  who was trained in the visioning process by Dr. Michael Beckwith, we be leading us in a visioning for our Wednesday's Wisdom service at the Center.  I invite everyone to attend this creative and inspirational evening. 

There are so many wonderful spiritual practices that we already are familiar with and participate in on a daily basis (i.e.  prayer, meditation, silence, chanting, listening, and many more!)  So! I am very excited to experience this relatively new avenue to a higher consciousness.

Dr. Beckwith also says, "The cool part of it all is that none of us never know how far what’s birthed by the inspiration of the heart can reach out and impact the world in a positive, uplifting way, which is why I encourage people to go beyond self-consciousness and have the courage to deliver their gifts, talents, and skills in the world."

So let's create something wonderful and new together!

Sweet Blessings,

Reverend Judee Chapman