The Art of Perception

I once heard a story about a plane flight.  The plane hit a rough patch of turbulance and pretty soon everyone was holding onto their chairs and checking their seatbelts.  That is, except for a young boy near the front.  After a few minutes of 100 feet dips and climbs he started to shout out, "WEEEEEEEE...." The boy it seemed had no notion of fear in that moment, and decided that the rollercoaster ride was worth celebrating.

That has to be one of the most profound stories about perception I've ever heard.  That said were I to start shouting WEEEEEEE during the next flight of turbulance I'd better be very sure that I really mean it.  Trying to emulate that boy with anything less than complete instinctive joy would make Emerson turn in his grave.  And yet, I am resolved to inwardly know joy and gratitude toward all events, choices, and expressions with integrity (regardless of belief driven prejudice, or my 'likes').

I was reminded of the above story when earlier today I read a tweet that I'd like to paraphrase.  A great way to embrace a spiritual life is to practice the art of gasping.  It begs the question, when was the last time I gasped in wonder?  There's something about simple that always reminds me of the Divine. 

At the same time I have to say that Twitter is a lot of fun.  Capturing a thought in 140 characters or less really strikes me as a great constraint for simplicity.  Twitter is, in my humble opinion, a great tool for practicing the Presence.

Over the past few days I've found myself reading a great many Tweets, and in turn being inspired to share my own.  As I reflect upon this phase of my journey I am struck by how applicable perception is to the Twitter experience.  I've seen a multitude of expression from the virtuous to the wicked, across a spectrum that starts from inspiring introspection to extroverted judgment. Yet I cannot help but be reminded that my perception is instrumental to my experience.  Taking exception to the expression of others is a sure way to slip down that slippery slope, you know, where toward the bottom we become that which we detest; our inward criticism bursting forth to become words that fail to accept.  And yet with a practiced hand at the art of perception we will find criticism dispelled in the light of Truth.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this blog entry is actually motivated by a selfish desire on the part of my higher self to recall acceptance and mindfully practice the art of perception.  And in that vein I shall quote one of my own Tweets posted earlier today:

I cannot find any place where the created is separate from the Creator. A failure to live in spiritual acceptance then is to judge God.

Find me on Twitter as @KnowTheFlow

Getting Techaphysical

A friend of mine recently posted a comment on my blog about my living a noble purpose for technology.  As someone who is learning how to listen each day I paused and made an effort to dig beyond the surface. 

After some moments of reflection I'm deeply touched by what she is reflecting in me.  When I am moved (an emotional reaction) I like to enquire as to the feelings being expressed and the beliefs influencing how I feel.  As a part of some self-enquiry I then got to wondering what actions I might be taking that would support such a statement.  Why can I believe in what she sees in me?  And why would I be so touched by her words of love?

Yesterday, with less than 24 hours on Twitter and convinced that it is a great tool to practice the Presence, I invented a new word.  Techaphysics (or being techaphysical): the use of technology concerned with abstract thoughts related to Spiritual Truth.  Or put more simply: I see technology as a tool to enable the sharing of ideas around 'mindfuless, awareness, wisdom, and kindness'.

Around 5 years ago I took the first step on a path that I now view as the most significant journey of transformation in my experience thus far.  After discovering the Centre for Spiritual Living, Edmonton, and The Science of Mind, I started on a phase of my life journey that has been a complete re-invention of who I am and how I live my life.  In short, I started to learn how to think.

However, I'd been playing with technology for many years already (regular followers of my blog will have read posts about this part of my story, including how I met my wife on-line).  And then about 3 years ago an idea began to form.  What if I could combine my passions for spiritual living and technology?

In January 2009 I began this blog.  On February 9th, 2009, I began leading a daily meditation circle in Second Life. A short while later I created a Facebook page.  And as of yesterday I created a Twitter account called KnowTheFlow.

But what does it mean to get techaphysical?  In short, I've invented this word because I felt drawn to create a label that encapsulated the idea of living my highest self with loving-kindness through technology.  There is a spiritual principle that when I give joyfully, and without attachment to an outcome, I shall receive in kind (the Law of Circulation).  The same spiritual principle applies when you are giving to others through technology.  I don't tweet, blog, or share on Second Life with any expectations.  I simply share what is longing to be expressed, and I celebrate that the Divine extended the gift of being able to express myself through the written and spoken word.

When I have a thought that jumps into my mind I tweet about it (and I can forward my tweets onto Facebook).  When I have a string of thoughts, or a bigger idea, I blog about them.  And each day at 9.30pm PST I lead a meditation group.  I am truly humbled by those that gather each day to share this time with me, and the 130+ people that have been touched by this community in some way.  The daily meditation group in Second Life is another techaphysical joy.  The community that is forming there, the wonderful expressions of the Divine I have met and come to call friends, truly is a wonder.  Each day I get to hear wisdom, and to learn from, so many wonderful people.  Each day I marvel at how much wisdom and loving-kindness there is in the world.

My life's purpose is to inspire and support the transformation of consciousness.  When I first started visiting Second Life someone suggested that people went to this virtual 3D world to escape reality.  My reaction then (and it remains the same) was that if I am thinking in Second Life then surely I am escaping nothing, for wherever I go and wherever I think I perceive my reality.  Getting techaphysical is, simply put, one way of my living my purpose.  Every tweet I read is a gift to recognize the Presence, and every tweet I make a chance to practice the Presence.  Every evening I spend with the Community for Spiritual Living in Second Life is a chance to learn and bask in loving-awareness.  And every blog I post is a chance to reflect, contemplate, and celebrate. 

In short, my getting techaphysical has enabled me to effortlessly bring two passions together.  Now isn't that worth a new word?

Now on Twitter: @KnowTheFlow

I've been on Twitter professionally for a short while now.  After some thought I've created an account called @KnowTheFlow. 

I'll be using Twitter to share thoughts as they come throughout the day.  My thinking is that Twitter can actually be a tool to support mindfulness.  If you set the intention to be 'impeccable with your word' and post to Twitter as you think and speak in a spiritual way then you'll benefit through more opportunities to be aware.  Of course, such opportunities require awareness and practice.  But we all know that's a part of the art and heart of life; finding ways to be aware so that we can connect with the higher self is why we're here.  To see Unity inspite of the perceived duality that rages around us.

At any rate, if you're on Twitter I'd love to connect.  And if you're not, take a look and let me know what you think.

Reflections of a humbling experience

During meditation tonight I was asked a profound question.  A day after my hospital visit how did I feel?  What had I been reflecting upon?

The question was profound for me because the past 24 hours have been filled with much reflection and meditation.  As I look back upon last night I find myself even clearer about my life's purpose.  Everything I believe, my faith in Oneness and the creative process, and the purpose of experiencing challenges as we do, is all about our opportunity to awaken from being asleep, to live life from a place of love and acceptance.  It is like each experience really is a calling to shift from being a channel of self to a channel of Grace.

And yet, I realize that all I did was to reflect consciousness yesterday.  It was a little thing, to listen to Mary from a place of love and acceptance.  I use the word 'little' because I feel humbled in the exchange of her gift, her story, and her current experience.  I feel like I was a mirror and realize that these past few years have been about polishing the mirror that I am, ensuring that cracks are smoothed and chips cleaned up so that what I reflect to others might be clearer.  And as I consider this analogy I suddenly realize that I've been using the word 'reflection' as a tag for many of my blogs. 

Humbled to witness the gift in cancer

As a part of our Practitioner training we are asked to make a hospital visit.  When I mentioned in class that I did not know anyone in hospital another Practitioner Intern asked me if I'd like to visit her cousin.  It turns out that Mary (not her real name) had had cancer for over a year.  As I entered the elevator with my Practitioner friend she informed me that her cousin was on Morphine every 4 hours with an option for an injection every hour.  She then commented that that was the same dosage level that her mother had been on when she had died. 

When we entered the room it was clear that Mary was surrounded by family.  There were already 4 people there; it felt good to know that she was surrounded by love.  At that point I had a chance to spend a few moments in meditation.  I realized that I'd not had the opportunity to re-read the study materials on hospital visitations.  But a wonderful thing happened.  As I meditated I felt a sense of peace accompanied by my thought that I would know the right and perfect thing to say.

After the welcome and greetings I found a seat (a wheelchair as it happens) and listened.  I focused on seeing Mary as perfect, with all that she needed for perfect health within her.  As the conversation began I soon realized that healing had started happening before I had arrived. 

A year ago Mary had had a tumour in her bowel removed.  However, they had also treated her with radiation and chemo.  And then two months ago she had had another tumour as well as a part of her bowels removed.  Work had been done to stitch her insides back together again but such was the blackened damage from the chemical and radioactive treatment that things had started falling apart from the inside.  The prognosis is currently that the cancer has been completely removed but she'll need another month for her insides to heal.

But then an interesting thing started to happen.  I noticed that for someone on such a regimine of pain-killers that she appeared very lucid.  I commented on this and asked her how she was feeling.  She felt good, she said.  And turning to her partner I asked how he was doing.  He was doing well, but as you can imagine much of his non-working time was now living in her hospital room after he returned from work. 

Before long other signs of the real reasons for healing started to be revealed.  Mary had used to be, as she put it, a 'control freak'.  She was learning to let go.  I commended her and asked her how she was with all the friends and family surrounding her with love and supporting her.  She answered that she was also learning how to receive love for the first time in her life.  It was clear that she was learning how to accept. I asked her if that was the case and after a few rounds of conversation I asked her what she felt about the idea of 'surrender', the idea of completely releasing and letting go.  Her response showed that the shrinking of her world over the past year had brought wisdom and profound realization to her.

She then shared that she had started praying alot, a somewhat new practice.  She believed in the 'Creator' and spoke about an experience of praying with her husband for the first time ever.  The conversation flowed and topics such as meditation were discussed.  She had heard about the practice but was not quite sure how to 'do it'.  I suggested a simple way of focusing on her breathing, perhaps starting for a minute to keep her mind clear.  She nodded at that and for a while the conversation then shifted to the two cousins sharing stories about their family.  Mary's 4 children were now staying with her mum and dad, but it turned out they had been with her sister for a while before her sister had become overwhelmed.

She reminisced on this for a while and spoke about how at first she had struggled with her sister asking for her forgiveness after having become overwhelmed at being a surrogate parent to her four children.  Mary shared the story of her forgiving her sister.  At around this point I could sense my intution raising the Good bumps on my neck.  After further sharing of the work she had been doing she then shared her vision for the future.  She was clear that she was now done with cancer, and that when she was healed she would go out into the world to share her stories and help support the transformation of others.

With moist eyes I suddenly felt incredibly humbled.  Here was a woman recovering from cancer, a hole in her belly, only allowed ice to drink, living on an IV for food, and a bag to go to the toilet in, and yet in spite of all that she was talking about receiving love, forgiveness, acceptance, and using her story to inspire others.  I was deeply moved.

And then my Practitioner friend asked her if she wanted a treatment.  In a place of great knowing I shared a prayer.  Mary cried after I had finished and I was left with the feeling that a release had occurred.  I looked at her and my final words were to tell Mary that she had everything she needed within her for perfect health.

As I look back on this experience I'm left with the feeling that I am clearer on my own purpose.  Mary has, like me, experienced alcohol and drugs as lessons in her life.  I could relate to her background and am grateful for not having chosen cancer as a lesson.  And yet I have been deeply touched and humbled.  My meeting with Mary only confirmed my beliefs about cancer and healing, and how the Divine works in, as, and through all.  To have witnessed the gift of cancer through this individualized aspect of the Divine may well be one of the most inspiring experiences I will ever have.

One Sentence Demonstration

I have a wonderful story to share. A few days after we shifted into the role of 'Practitioner Intern' (you know, where we are actually able to take on clients for affirmative prayer) I was in conversation with someone in the parking lot outside of the Centre. We had been speaking and they had mentioned that they had been struggling with purpose and being clear. As I heard this I responded by offering to support them in Visioning and affirmative prayer. As they took my email down I told them that regardless of what happened I knew that Divine Power was within them and they had everything they need. They never did follow up with me and book a session. However, each time I remembered the conversation I knew that their choosing to not book a treatment with me was perfect.

Yesterday they approached me at the Centre and made a point of cornering me. They wanted me to know that what I had said in that moment about their being Perfect and having everything they needed within them right here and right now had worked wonders. They went on to say that they had not booked a treatment with me because the moment had been so profound that it had struck them that everything that had been needed as a treatment had been enough; the simple decision to know the Divine in them with conviction had reminded them of what they needed to know.

How sweet is that? They were ready to believe and to know for themselves and do the work from there.  The event reminded me of how powerful even the briefest of moments can be.

Intention and Meditation

How interesting life can be, particularly when we recognize the Divine whisper of Truth.

Earlier today I was in a mini-retreat with one my teachers, Rev. Patrick Cameron.  He said something that jumped into my awareness and clarified for me something that I do and know.  But he put words to it that made so much sense.  He said that when he treats now that he starts from a place of purpose.  He gets clear on why he is here, and everything else unfolds from there. 

That thought and moment stayed with me until it was time to log into Second Life.  As you may know each evening I go into Second Life and spend time in spiritual community, facilitating a meditation as a part of my spiritual practice.  Tonight's meditation that came to mind was to be silent, focusing on breath. 

But then, as I was settling in and getting myself into that 'space', an idea came to mind.  What if we meditated on the idea of purpose and intention?

To set the context I shared a few thoughts on values and intention.  A value is a personal principle, standard, or quality.  Values are some of the most powerful motivators we have.  Our values add a lot of fuel to the creative process, and are often quite central to the intention we set.  If we are unaware of our values our ability to get clear on our purpose, and to be motivated by it, will suffer.  On the contrary, learning about our values is something that provides a deep and holistic support to our experience.

The question then becomes, how to understand what our values are?  We all want something.  Everyone has desires and aspirations.  However, that 'want' can sometimes be unclear or unknown.  Or worse still, wants can be unacknowledged when we do not take the time to ask ourselves, what do I want to be?  What is my life's purpose? 

And through this comes the idea of intention.  But it is important to first ask oneself, what do I want to be?  Once you know what you want to be, then you can ask yourself what do you want to do?  In turn, it can become very interesting when our intentions conflict.  For example, what if you want to take a trip to an exotic location but are scared about getting sick from a tropical disease?  Such conflicting intention should be a prompt for us to examine our intentions, decide which one we want, and then focus on that.  In my previous example I expect most would set the tropical disease down as a belief that needs to be released and  focus on the desire to travel.

With a knowing of the limitless potention of the Divine and that thought creates, and believing that the Divine Power is within yourself, it's then time to know exactly what you want.  The final thought before starting the meditation was that if any were present did not know their purpose then they should pray, or hold a knowing, for clarity and focus on their purpose. To ask the Divine to let you know what your purpose is a great question I think. It's like asking, how can I serve, how can I help? Do you think the Divine is going to ignore such questions? I think not.  With this premise and context set we then meditated upon our life's purpose, our intention. 

As is always the case when the meditation is done I invite those gathered to share their experience if they feel comfortable.  The sharings from the circle were stunning.  I felt honoured to be a witness to such insights and realizations from those who had turned up this evening.

Of the many comments and questions a couple are with me still as I write this weblog.  Someone asked, does the Divine acknowledge unfulfilled intentions?  My response to that is that our thoughts, our intentions, are always imprinted upon the Divine and thus creating.  However, if there is a delay in a demonstration (our intention not showing up) then this simply means we are not ready; that a thought or belief needs to be neutralized and replaced with a new idea based on Spiritual Truth (a topic for another blog methinks).  Another spoke of the peace they felt as their awareness was drawn to a book of theirs that is currently being printed.  And as I heard her speak it was clear to me that her emotion of peace was like the Universe providing this signpost that was saying, "Yep, that's good work...keep it up."  Emotions are a wonderful indicator of when we are living life's purpose.  If you feel unhappy then perhaps it's time to work on your values and intention.  And if you feel great and at peace all the time the chances are that your choices are lining up behind who you are meant to be.

And to think, this all came from a single comment shared by someone earlier in the day.  This whole event was completely unplanned, but it felt wonderful to behold.  But then, my life's purpose is to inspire and support the transformation of consciousness.  Is it any surprise then that the Universe should inspire as it did today?

Feelings

I was reading a passage tonight that jumped out at me.  "Feelings get our attention.  They give us clues to the buried beliefs of past experience.  They are built-in guides to what needs to be released to make way for a greater expression of God.  They are a part of us that enables us to be self-healing entities."

There's something profoundly beautiful in this statement.  I have been working on understanding my emotional reactions, seeking to understand the difference between reaction and response.  A part of my internal work has been about contemplating the way in which my feelings express as emotion.  And yet, if the above is true (and it sounds like the truth to me) then the matter of import is not that I react but that I critically think about how I can heal through the experience of emotion.  I think I am seeing that emotions can help me understand what needs to be released by way of belief, value or attitude. 

In this moment, as I write these words, I have a sense that something is unlocking for me.  I've been drifting on a sea like driftwood for a while now on the topic of my emotions. How timely this is.  Tomorrow I spend a day in retreat as a part of the final day of class as a Practitioner Intern.  On June 12th we take our final exam.  September will see our oral panel and I am already receiving letters of demonstration as a Practitioner.  On one hand I feel like I am making breakthroughs so often now.  And yet on the other hand it feels like I am just beginning.  How beautiful the idea of emotions seem to me now.

My feelings better describe what God means to me than my words ever could.

Know the Flow as you go.

Living in Grace

The word Grace appears in many religions. Whilst the word Grace may be a finite idea, as a word I believe it is an idea that is seeking us. We may struggle for the meaning of Grace through the use and understanding of a single word. But ultimately, grace is a deeply personal ideal. Grace will at best be a poor vehicle to describe such a deep and potentially Infinite idea. And with that in mind I shall share a few thoughts on what living in Grace means to me.

Perhaps a definition to start with is that Grace is the Divine nature. When we are living in Grace we are aware of the Divine nature within us. We are each individualized aspects of the Divine. Our natural condition, the state that God would want us to live within is one of Grace. However, it is the tension of separation that pulls us away from this ideal.

You may have felt Grace in the past. It might have felt as a lightness, as if energy and electricity coursed through your entire body, as though your sight were filled with a white haze, or all that you saw was on fire. Or maybe you felt complete and blessed? Whatever the feeling that Grace has expressed itself within you it strikes me that the definition of grace remains a deeply personal experience, unique in subtle ways to us all.

Perhaps you have felt as though Grace were working in your life and that you were a witness to it, marvelling at the effortlessness with which things seemed to magically come together? Whatever the expression it is my belief that we are most likely to experience Grace when we surrender. When we can place our desires, our need to make others understand, our urge to control and grasp at power, we begin to clear the way for the Divine to work through us. In such moments it is almost as if we are getting out of the way. Perhaps the art of observing life, and being still within that which passes about us, is to become the witness. A witness can observe what is taking place.

The more we learn to surrender and allow ourselves to witness the world the more we can learn to release attachment to the urges of self to control and influence events and others. When we truly surrender we come to a place where we think first of how the Divine made all this come to pass. In such a state we start to recognize the effect and marvel at the cause.

As we come to behold the cause and recognize its Source we sense that everything is unfolding as it should be. Knowing that God is behind everything that occurs and unfolds is deep surrender. And with such awareness we enter a life of Grace. And when we are living in a state of Grace the Divine flows through us. A virtuous circle begins to operate through us and suddently effortlessness begins to be a core effect in our experience.

A teacher called Joel Goldsmith once wrote about the importance of being a transparency for God. In this place we do not give up our individual power or highest intentions. Rather we align our entire being consciously and mindfully to living from a place of the highest and best intention. Our sight of the Divine sits next to our awareness of the ego.

In such a state we can recognize the urges of the self and the unfolding of God, understanding that integrating both these urges is an idea central to our existance. If all was created by God, then the idea of the ego, of individual personality seeking to survive within the experience called this world, was also created by God.

Ernest Holmes, the author of the Science of Mind, once wrote the following. "How much can any man experience? As much as he can embody. These is nothing fatalistic about this. We are so constituted that we can continuously increase our embodiment. We grow in grace, as it were. We grow in power annd theoretically there should be no limit to that growth. But right today we can expect to demonstrate, or to have our prayers answered according to our belief and the embodiment of that belief."

And now that you have read these musings of what I believe Grace to be, ask yourself the question, What do you believe it means to grow in Grace? And then, mindful of your thoughts and feelings, consider how you are allowing Grace to manifest in your life?

Purpose

Have you ever asked yourself, "why am I here?" If you are asking yourself this question now then you are likely living without purpose. When we have a purpose, when we live purposefully, we know why we are here.

Did you ever see an animal wandering around aimlessly? Efficient is the hunt or the search for food, and yet always the purpose to eat is clear. Or to find safety, or reproduce.

A person who has come to know their purpose has often found it amidst the angst and strife of this world. I believe that a part of the reason for the 'Law of Experience' is to bring us to the edge of our limit, to stretch us until we are torn away from old ideas. But for all the tension I also believe the Universe will never give us more than we can handle, and there will always be support should we ask for it.

I have walked to the edge of an abyss in my time. I have known on a couple of occasions such loss that something deep within me was stirred. Amidst the transient things and the shadows a part of me always knew that there was something to soar for. And yet for many years beyond the temporary happiness and the fleeting joys it took a conscious realization of 'why I am here' to rouse me.

Of late my personal live vision, or purpose, is 'to inspire and support the transformation of consciousness'. This came from a number of 'visioning' exercises and much meditation. The clarity of this purpose has become like a beacon to me. When deep amongst the tears of my three year old daughter, the challenges of my business life, and the sorrow and suffering of others about me I have found my purpose to be like a solid foundation upon which I am building myself. More and more I now find that when I am thrown into confusion that my purpose rises like a beacon and makes my way clear.

In thinking about this purpose of mine I think that what provides the most strength is the constant and eternal nature of it. A focus of purpose on consciousness is not some trivial matter. It is my compass, and guides me as I set my ship to a course through storms and dangerous reefs.

When I think back to the years where I had no clear purpose I recall uncertainty, fear, and chaos. I am becoming to believe that the clarity of purpose lines up beautifully behind the idea that when I fix myself I contribute to the greater consciousness about me. Recently I was thinking about the idea of world peace, and concluded that we will only ever find world peace when each individual has found peace within themselves. When the Truth of peace and freedom is the purpose of every living soul then we shall know world peace.

Perhaps every living soul is not quite ready for such a Truth. But I would suggest that everyone, regardless of how aware they are, is ready to answer the question, why am I here? Indeed, the question 'What is my purpose?' may be the most profound question we can ask ourselves. And I also suspect that once you ask such questions of yourself from a place of integrity you will never be the same again. It is a question that urges an eternal demand.

Everyone has a mind capable of thought. Some minds are unconsciously caught up in a story of victim, wondering why is this happening to them. I suspect that many victims have not asked themselves about their purpose. Those wandering from path to path, shrine to shrine, church to church, gathering experience of creed and ritual face the danger of never knowing where to turn for comfort. And to such individuals I would suggest consider seeking your purpose. No one can tell you your purpose. This is an answer that you have within you, and no amount of searching will find it for you.  Meditate and ask yourself what is God, or Spirit's, highest vision for you.  What must you become for this vision to manifest, what must you release and embrace.  Become clear on what you must commit to this vision.  And if you've a vibrant imagination try to imagine what this vision looks, feels, and smells like.

For my part, I recall lying in the basement of a friend who had taken pity upon me and had put me up for a few months when I was broke and lost in the world. Towards the end of this stay I caught pneumonia. I will likely remember lying on that uncomfortable couch, in the cold air of a dark and damp basement for the rest of my days. In the shadows of my abyss something was stirred deep within me. My critical moment, the dissonance I needed, moved me to begin an awakening. And some 15 years later I am now coming to prize the value of my 'purpose' as much as I prize seeing the world through the eyes of compassion.

With a purpose life has become simpler. In setting a course with confidence I am able to guide myself without fear. Regardless of the conditions about me I am drawn inward upon a timeless foundation that transcends any condition.

Surrender

I have been working on this poem for over a week now.  Recently I've been contemplating the idea of surrender from the spiritual vantage.  After some wandering I've been left with the impression that surrender may be the most important choice we will ever make, assuming we ever make it.

Know the Flow as you go my friends!

Surrender

Would you labour under illusion,
that control is always good?
That it's dangerous to let it be,
as if God misunderstood.

Let's consider our control now, and
the workings of the world.
Did your force of determination,
make the budding leaf unfurl?

Did you wake up early this morning,
and cause the sun to shine?
Does the Universe need reminding,
to make the tide sway on time?

We do not need to remember,
how to make children grow.
Or instruct the wind on blowing,
Or make birds sing and crow.

The universe runs complexity,
with aplomb in spite of storms.
So why would we be afraid,
of such reflected forms?

It may sometimes be a little hard,
to find good within the bad.
We may wonder why it's happening.
Healing lessons to be had.

Try to see tough learnings as what is,
rather than what could be wrong.
It is not the why of happenings,
that helps us grow and be strong.

Living requires our humility,
not thinking what we should know.
All will be revealed in time,
Just surrender to the flow.

Like ending a game of tug-of-war,
we stop and let the rope go.
Surely this is how we surrender?
Trusting, beginning to know.

Begin to trust in the Universe,
release preconception of how.
Discard all clear expectations,
shred all your treasured pictures, right now!

Perhaps you will see that what led you,
was the dance of mystery.
And what you once thought as failure,
was luring you to be free.

The truth is that we don't always know,
what is our best interest.
So you think that you're smarter than God?
Most assuredly you jest.

Controlling the uncontrollable,
is surely doomed to fail.
Paradox, mystery of
knowing the end of the tale.

To surrender simply rise each day,
and say, "thy will" and not "mine."
Release the attachment to knowing.
Surrender to the Divine.

I don't know what's to happen today,
I foresee changes to face.
Situations will lead me to paths,
new journeys destined to grace.

My greatest unfolding will be found,
on a journey of being and soul.
Where love is possible today,
transformed events of the whole.

When is the right time to surrender?
Every moment, every day!
Each event an opportunity,
To love in a bigger way.

We remembered when we were born,
and will again with our death,
that we must not forget to surrender,
with every living breath.

If you have the power to change things,
then sure, go right ahead, but
learn to recognize situations,
where Divine door has been shut.

When we feel we are bailing against
the tide with struggle and fear,
then these are the times to surrender,
lest our struggle consume our cheer.

If life doesn't flow or feel at peace,
if weight has consumed splendor,
if you want to change what cannot be changed,
then it is time to surrender.

A Demonstration via Second Life

Recently I blogged about how the Internet has personally touched me.  Well, it turns out that something magnificent is indeed unfolding. 

I had the honour to be asked to support someone in a Practitioner session in Second Life a few weeks ago.  For those of you who do not know, a Practitioner is someone who trains in the art and science of Affirmative Prayer.  We are trained to listen from a place of love, to know the Divine nature of those who share with us, to teach spiritual principles, and to offer an Affirmative Prayer as a part of shifting the mental cause and supporting the transformation on the part of the person we are working with.  In order to complete my Professional Practitioner designation (RScP) I have to get three letters of demonstration where a client expresses how the support I have offered has manifested in a meaningful way in their lives.

Today I received my first demonstration letter!  And what's more, it was as a result of my service on the Internet and through Second Life.  And so I celebrate that not only have I been personally touched by the Internet, but I can point to at least one other person who has been touched by my service in a tangible way.

On another note, I am 16 verses into a poem on Surrender.  I hope to have it finished soon and will share it with you as soon as it is!

Know the Flow as you go