Differences

There are differences between all the persons of the world. Some differences are very minor, such as the difference in handedness and the direction of whorls of hair in identical twins. Some differences are greater, as the differences among race, gender, body type and size. We have, after long struggles, pretty much overcome our negative feelings with regard to such differences, but still, there are some who hold even these differences in low regard.
The most pointed disagreements, however, are based more upon the differences in beliefs, whether these are beliefs that a person holds about himself or whether these are beliefs having to do with the order of the Universe or God. These differences, especially where the above intersect with these beliefs, are enough to cause great discord, not only in our minds, but in the entire world.
We may have it in our minds that certain people deserve good things to happen to them based on the right appearance, the right behaviour, and the right beliefs. We may also understand that others don’t deserve those good things if they are different from us in any appreciable way. But I would say to you that there is no hierarchy of good. One person is not better than another. Different, yes, but not better. And it is time that we in the world came to understand that one person equals another equals another equals another. We are all people. And all people deserve good things.
We can’t expect things to just be handed to us, in spite of whether we deserve the same things as everyone else. There is a catch. We have to be willing to take on a certain amount of responsibility in order to claim our just deserts. Even those of us who are disabled in one way or another have certain obligations and requirements, hoops to jump through, if you will, before we can get our food, clothing, shelter, the necessities of life.
What is insidious is that some people believe themselves to be better than others for no more reason than that they are different. I would encourage these people to take a long look in the mirror and see if they, too, are different in some way, because at some point in their lives, someone may point to them and incriminate them as being undeserving.
If you are willing to take away the rights from someone else, think for a moment. Something as small as a car accident can take away the perfect you and replace it with someone who, according to your own standard, is undeserving. Think for a moment before you throw down a narrow look at someone who is handicapped or obese, or gay, or has a different faith, or has no faith at all, or any number of differences that are out there. As the beautiful Native American prayer states, “Great Spirit, grant that I may not judge my neighbor until I have walked a mile in his moccassins.”

Finding Your Courage

Sometimes we come to a point in our lives when we say, “enough is enough,” and we determine that it is time for a change. We may not know what that looks like, feels like, or sounds like, but we do know that our lives can be better than they are right now. The missing element, then, is courage: courage to imagine the new path, courage to take the first step, and courage to see where we would like to end up. If we are sincere in our desire for that change, we can muster the courage to stop making excuses and start to get on our feet.

The first step is the desire to make the change. We have to know what we’re changing for it to be effective. We have to identify what’s wrong, what the problem is, to see it clearly, to accept that we got ourselves into it, and to understand that we are the only ones who can get ourselves out of it. This is the biggest, and often the hardest, step. Even understanding and facing this problem requires courage.

The next step is to eliminate the power that the past has over us. Depending upon what we have done, where we have been and where we want to go, the change required may involve cutting ties to people who are a bad influence, eliminating substances that take away our dreams, changing jobs, residence, and basically everything that we thought we knew about the world. We may need the support of others who have walked the path of change before us to help us make good decisions and start our life anew. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. This is how we build courage.

Setting goals is the next step. Make one or two big goals, then list the steps that you have to take to fulfill those goals. Write them down on some nice paper. Add drawings or magazine pictures to turn this paper into an attractive reminder that will help motivate you as you envision your way to where you want to be. Look at it every day, close your eyes and then recall the image in your mind’s eye. When you clearly see yourself doing, being, living the goal, you become motivated and that motivation in itself will be rewarding.

Work. Work hard. Don’t take “no” for an answer. You are remodeling yourself from the inside out. You can do it. Find your courage. Don’t fight with other people because your life isn’t different. Fight with yourself and prove to yourself, first of all that you are worth the change, and secondly, that you have the courage to make the change.
May you be richly blessed!

Passing Time

We have recently come through the end of the Mayan Calendar. It speaks well to the Spiritual Growth of humankind; that Love is gaining a foothold as we go up the ladder to wellbeing and the balancing of Karma. Negative events are coming to a slow end, those who contribute to unrest and violent destruction on the planet are being isolated and their horrible deeds and threats are being sanctioned out of existence. Does this mean we can rest? Well, no, there is still much work to be done.

Some of you may know the story of The Mysticenter for Healing and Spirituality, which was presented to me in 2002, during meditation. The healing aspect was given to me to pray for others, to visualize them in wellness and contribute to the positive energy in the world. What has puzzled me for a long time, is how it was intended to manifest the grand design of the actual Center, a huge building which is to house healing modalities, an herb garden containing all healing herbs on the planet, various forms of physical therapy, music therapy, a cafeteria, dormitories, a solarium, a biosphere, spiritual study spaces, and many other things. The grounds are to be home to a filtration plant, a wind farm, a solar energy plant, cabins, orchards, and cottage industries.

When I first had the vision, I believed that the entire process was meant to rest on my shoulders. However, I have kept this to myself far too long. I have recently been shown that the facility is meant to be a rehabilitative facility for veterans and others who suffer disabilities or long term illness. This breaks my heart, as I feel that so many would benefit from this vision. The problem, unfortunately, is that I am not a wealthy person. I am not a business person. I am not a salesperson. But what I see could heal and restore life to those who have lost so much.

It is my wish that this vision be shared with as many people as possible, so that people who have the skills and funds which I lack will come to share in this vision and be motivated to help in any way that they can. Our veterans are coming home with so many needs. I ask that you help me to help them.

May you be richly blessed.