How I Hug God

 

My daughter, Jannah, and her friend

 

 

Sometime ago, I envisioned myself hugging a room full of people, one by one.  Then I felt the need to hug everyone I came in contact with, rather in a room or out in the public.  After I completed my meditation session, I thought, “People are not open to complete strangers hugging them.”  Just like that, I talked myself out of it through my thinking because I was afraid of rejection, even though I had that deep desire.  I decided to just go with the flow and be available to the possibility of people accepting hugs from me.

Today, I trace all of the people I have hugged and thought about how natural and genuine it felt after just meeting and talking with them for a short period of time.  During random conversations a few times with “strangers” in a public place, I said, “Can I just give you a hug?”  Before I can finish my question, we were hugging. I realize that there will come a time when I will hug people just to be hugging them.  I am open to it now.  It’s amazing how if we just give a little opening to our hearts, God will do the rest. 

After meditating today, I realize that when I hug you, I am hugging God.  God works with us by working through us.  Every day, we are hugged by someone; that’s God hugging us.  Every day, someone touches our hand or our back, and we feel her support and her love.  Every day, people show us that they recognize the beauty in us that’s in them by smiling with us; this is how we are hugged by Divine Presence.

The movement of love is forever flourishing.  I invite you to recognize it with me by practicing to "hug" someone daily, and don’t forget about the people you may not know well or don’t know at all; because when we hug each other, we are exchanging the love of God—that phenomenal energy that elevates us to the unlimited capabilities and infinite capacities that are housed within us all.  I read today in Mary Manin Morrissey’s book, Building Your Field of Dreams:

There’s an old story about a nine-year-old boy who was the Keeper of the Seal under King Louis IV.  The boy was reverted as having great mystical powers, and one day the king went to him in the hope of finding out something that mattered greatly to him. “I will give you an orange,” said the king, “if you can tell me where I can find God.”

The Keeper of the Seal gazed at him for a moment and then responded, “I will give you two oranges if you can tell me where God is not.”



Live in Confidence

September 24, 2012, I wrote in my journal:  "The confidence I thought I lacked was only my ego saying, 'No.' Saying no to confidence ensured me that I will not go beyond my comfort zone." 

 

As I think about so many of the friends and family members in my life, I wonder how can I truly show how much I love them--how much gratitude fills every inch of my body when I think of them.  Recently during prayer, I tapped into the Oneness--the communion with such a powerful and intertwining rope of love that all I wanted to do is share it with the world.  I then decided to see a light. This light filled my body, then the room, and then my house.  You see, this light was and is always shining; I just tapped into it by feeling the beauty I AM.  So, I thought, "If I can see the light where I AM, and I can see it as far as my heart, mind, and soul will take me, which is infinitely available, then I know I can see it in and around my friends and family."  I shared this light with every person and everything that came to my mind.  Then I realized, I am showing love--the love of Divine Presence--with all of my friends, associates, and family members without saying anything.

 

Isn't that remarkable?  We have the ability to just think and feel grace for ourselves and others, knowing that same grace is so ever present, forever.

 

Confidence is letting your light shine, and if you don't know how to do this, think about the things that would make you feel at peace, in love, and with joy, then see those same things for others.  This light, the same light you reflect, is returning to you.  That's the power of the Universe.  Don't be afraid to walk in confidence because it is how you and I have the ability, the courage, and the strength to walk in grace, in love, and in humility--the attributes of God that's always here, always moving, always presenting opportunities for us to deny self--the ego--in order to embrace the truth.  The truth is life is always GOOD, and you are life!  So, live in confidence.

 



My Last Cry

My last time crying was when I drove my car onto the driveway of my hair stylist's home. I could feel the tears swelling in my throat. I held back the tears—I thought—until I knocked on her door. The tears came so fast, I could hardly speak. So, when she opened the door, I put up my index finger, letting her know to give me a few minutes. Of course, she asked me if I was all right. I nodded, and she closed the door. Trying to stop crying was very hard to do, so I gave myself five seconds to let it all go, to just let the tears fall. Afterwards, I was able to control the tears better. I knocked on her door again, and this time, I smiled and laughed as a few more tears found their way down my cheeks. I sat in her chair, and we began to talk like we always do. Our conversations are both healing and revealing to us both.  During that visit, we talked and had a laughing moment where there was no space or time; it was just laughter. An hour later, I felt healed; I felt happy; I felt rejuvenated. It wasn't from the cry, but it was from the laughter!

Lighted Stepping Stones

 

 

 

It's one of those things that sometimes mentally drain me; I'm finding out that there are many jobs that I think I can do just to make ends meet, but my lessons are teaching me that if my stepping stone doesn't go with my ultimate journey—the journey that involves the plan that I feel and see in my dreams or visions—it will feel like a daunting task, a dark task.  A lesson always comes out of missing one of these stepping stones: I should stay true to my vision, my heart, and my soul.

How do I stay true to my vision? I practice seeing my vision every minute of each day, and I allow myself to feel the enthusiasm that comes with seeing my vision, regardless of how "bad" things may appear.  Staying in this awareness helps me to feel if my next move is one of a lighted stepping stone or one of a move that is driven by limited thinking caused by fear.  Before I accept a job, I know if the path is a lighted stepping stone or not, because I can immediately feel it.  My knowing comes from the desire to practice living in the ONENESS with Divine Presence.

So, from this point forward, I listen to Spirit’s Guidance and move in the direction of light, which I am carrying to brighten the path on my journey.  You see, when my light dims, it is a sign that I have gone off path.  When my light dims, I am no longer in tuned to the always present Guidance, but in tuned to fear.  I AM guidance.  I AM one with the light of Divine Presence, which is always lighting the stepping stone, my path and my journey.  As the great teacher, Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, often says, “I am the power I am looking for.” I take only the lighted stepping stones, which are brightened by me, the I AM.

You are great!

She teaches me...

Today, a quote came across my heart:  "Let's try teaching children how to think instead of what to think." 

This is my Jannah.  She is strong, loving, sincere, forgiving, and respects and appreciates life.  Jannah teaches me so much about letting go, listening, and living in the moment.  She began saying, "I love you with my BIG heart," when she was three-years-old.  I've learned and continue to learn from her how to love unconditionally.

Early on Wednesday, we ran a couple of errands.  Even though I think I'm present, I'm not.  I heard Jannah singing with a song on the radio; she is always singing, so, this is nothing new.  I turned off the car just when the song ended.  Casually, I said, "I don't like that song."  Imagine that?  I wasn't available to listen to it, but I told her that I didn't like the song.  It was final; nothing else needed to be said, according to my thoughts.

I began walking into the building. Jannah stopped walking, looked up at me with her eyes squinted from the brightness of the sunrays, and said, "Mom, the lyrics to the song are: Let me love you.  I will love you until you learn to love yourself."  I said, "Oh."  Enough said.

Just because the beat of the song didn't catch my attention, I had a diluted perception of the song.  I said the words out loud then Jannah interrupted me, and said, "Nemo sings it."  I said, "Nemo? Oh, you mean, Ne-Yo."  She said, "Yeah, you know who I'm talking about." 

I, unintentionally, tried to convince Jannah to not like that song when I wasn't even present to hear it.  She gave me the opportunity to listen through her, and I did.  I'm giving her the space to be her--teaching her how to think, and I love who she is. 

Release and Let Go...

When I get a surge of enthusiasm and gratitude, I must share it with you; it is what I do!

Release and let go of shame. It serves no purpose.

Release and let go of fear. It keeps you in distress, and it makes you doubt what you know to be true.

Release and let go of hurt. It keeps you in a victim mode. You are not a victim; you are a vibrant, beautiful, confident Divine Expression of Greatness-God!

Release and let go the lack of self-worthiness. It makes you compare yourself to everyone else; there is no one like you. You are uniquely and ecstatically worth more than you can comprehend.

Release and let go of wishing; you know everything there is to know because you are a genius. See yourself as a genius here to do something phenomenal, because you are.

Release and let go of suffering. It is not scripted in the fullness of life that you are to suffer. Your mind creates these conditions as a survival mechanism.

See love in everything and every person and know that your life and his or her life are for a reason. For yourself, ask what that reason is and listen within for the answer. You will be delighted to know that there is so much more in you and in life than focusing on things that were created by negative ideas and doubt of your own and negativity other than your own.

You are the creative change you are looking for, and you are the genius to get it done. You belong to something greater than yourself -- a continuously high-vibrational beating of life. Embrace it by releasing and letting go of all negative thought patterns and live in and for the moment without any interference. 

You are living your life to be you, come what may!

 

Me and Hummingbird - Our Bliss!

The last thought I had before I went to sleep was my plan to greet sunrise the following morning. My alarm clock filled my bedroom with music, and I jumped out of bed as if it were my last time seeing sunrise.  While sitting on my porch, I read a few pages of Marianne Williamson’s, “A Return to Love.”

Sometimes, before I meditate, I read, and it helps me to rid my mind of all the mind chatter.  I know exactly when it’s time to stop reading because the energy I feel almost lifts me out of my chair or off the floor.  The amazing connection I feel with everything is powerful!

With my reading light, I read some of the pages I had already highlighted with my marker until I felt awake.  The words jumped off of the page and began nourishing the seeds that had already been planted in my heart.  I read:  “Something amazing happens when we surrender and just love.  We melt into another world, a realm of power already within us.  The world loves us when we choose to love the world.”  Ding!  Ding!  This understanding elevated me, and it was time to stop reading and meditate.

In that place of sheer joy and unlimited space within all of us, I heard the sound of a bee; the sound became louder and louder.  I sat still and decided that I would remain in that space where my body felt as light as a feather.  I wasn’t afraid of being stung or anything; somehow, I knew I wouldn’t. Also, the communion with peace was far greater to me than possibly being stung by a bee. 

Then, sunrise kissed my eyelids.  The hues of orange and red filled my eyes, but there was something in front of me shading a part of the sunrise.  Automatically, I opened my eyes, and there she was, a hummingbird fanning her wings at me.  Her beak was almost touching my nose.  I wished that I could have remained in that space to keep her close.  She remained a few seconds in front of me, but as soon as I began evaluating what was happening, she disappeared into the sunrise that, now, began to blind me.
 
The feeling of gratitude filled every inch of my body.  I smiled and smiled, and guess what, she returned.  She fanned her wings up higher this time, hovering over me.  In our stillness, I said to her, “Thank you for visiting me.  We are One!”  I said in a singing voice, “I love you.”  A few seconds passed, and she darted off, again.  I knew it would be my last time seeing her, at least for that day.
 
Marianne Williamson says, “Love is a win-mode, a successful and attractive vibration.”  Hummingbird and I were attracted to each other on this day—in, through, and by love!

Thank you for visiting!

Really, How Can I Help You?

(Photo by Se'lah Greenaway)

Their sweet voices, their beautiful words, and their message of love resonated deep in my heart. kRi & hettie, the musical duo sensation, gifted me with musical selections of poetry and song.  I’ve played their CD for two days after I first purchased it; it soothed my soul.

Immediately after my first service at Unity Church North, I introduced myself to kRi & hettie, and then I made my way to the lower level of the church to purchase their CD.  I had to have it, and my heart filled with gratitude because I actually had the money to buy one!

I left the table after signing their guest registry, and a woman stopped me to ask how much I paid for the CD.  I responded, “Ten dollars.” She showed me a distorted facial expression.  I read it clearly; she didn’t have the money to buy it.  As I continued walking, I heard the sweet voice within say, “Buy it for her.”  But, I continued walking simply because of fear and doubt.  What will she think when I buy that CD for her?  She doesn’t know me from a can of paint, I thought.

I returned to the main level of the church because I forgot to turn in my guest card with all of my contact information on it.  I felt the Presence of Divine Source.  In response to feeling regret for not buying that CD for the woman, I said, “God, I desire to do what I feel.  I will always act upon what I feel because I know it is the guidance of Divine Source.”

Deep in thought and gratitude, I slowly walked down the steep hill to my car in back of the church when I saw a familiar woman in a blue and white flowery dress exiting from the lower-level door. She greeted me with a smile, and I said, “Are you the one that asked me about the price of the CD?”  She laughed out loud and said, “Yes, I am.”  I walked toward her, and said, “Come on.  Let’s go get that CD.  I’m going to buy it for you.”  She said, “Are you kidding me?”  I said, “Nope.”  I put my left arm around her shoulders as she held my right hand, and we walked back into the church.

Her name is Elizabeth.  She began telling Kri of kRi & hettie that I decided to buy her the CD.  She said, “She’s never seen me before!”  Kri handed Elizabeth the CD; she then told me to keep my money.  “It is a gift to you both,” she said.  All three of us stood amazed about the beauty of giving and the power of love. 

Finally, I reached my car.  I sat in it giving thanks for the opportunity to be of service.  I asked during meditation that morning, “How can I be of service?” I had been guided to Unity North Church that day. I’ve heard often that instead of trying to get something, focus on giving, and all of your needs will be met.  I’m a witness!

Really, how can I help you?