Thursday, June 23, 2011

Loving is Understanding

" Loving is not just caring deeply, it is above all, understanding. " - Francoise Sagan.
To love someone deeply is to prioritize understanding and confront those things that are misunderstood with gentle honesty; to listen for deep truth so that you may share the perspective of the other, see the world as they do ... see the things they see ... Loving relationship is about seeing the Potential or ' Perfection ' in them , and by reflecting that vision back , encouraging them to be a better version of themselves.

Seeing "the potential/ perfection" in another is seeing Christ in them. It is this (Christ) awareness that allows us to realize we are the same -each one of us filled with the potential for...anything! Potential beyond what we can even imagine! We are images of God! Spirit beings incarnate. And in this identity, we are not only individual sons and daughters of God, but ONE collective humanity, We are ONE sacred and inclusive life creation, intimately connected, and  interdependent with, all of life to the farthest reaches of the cosmos. In Christianity, LOVE is the vehicle by which we know this truth and the means by which we live this truth. Love is the way, the truth, the life. LOVE WINS!

Jesus (LOVE) said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes (to awareness of their image of God identity, to their own divinity which unites them with God [All Divinity]) to the Father except through me. John 14:6.

May understanding come to your heart today through love. May you know yourself as divine, united with all Divinity, for this is how we bring each other into Christ who lives in all. We are one. Today, follow Jesus. Be the loving way, the loving truth, the loving life. Be Love. It is who you are!

Lovingly, Peggy

Photo:
Sri Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma, as she is lovingly called by millions of her devotees, is a humanitarian, living saint, and incarnation of the Divine Mother. This south Indian woman from the state of Kerala, has been leading a life of compassion, service and unconditional love for all regardless of religious, ethnic and racial background for over forty years. Amma's current message is of embracing the world -- literally. Not only has she hugged millions as part of her spiritual public programs, but she has also created a vast network of humanitarian programs in India and abroad.


Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Wounded Listener - ongoing thoughts on communication

Communication is how we weave ourselves together, as friends, as families, as societies and as humans. To be able to convey ideas and feelings and have them gracefully received and affirmed is truly the path to peace for humanity. Mostly, people dont need to be right or wrong, they just want to be heard. They simply want to make contact. Gracious listening - attentiveness. What a different world we would live in if we would listen to each other and respond with sensitivity, if we would value the deep significance of communication.

Today may you be mindful of those who speak to you with voice or gaze or body language. May your heart be your listening ear and attune you to the cries of those around you who simply need your patience, your time, your gentle affirmation. Listen with all of your faculties, and you will find yourself rich.

Peace, Peggy

Photo: victoriasartvisions.com

Sunday, June 5, 2011

"As I recognize my holiness, so does the holiness of the world shine forth for everyone to see." ACIM

For Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things. 25 She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; so nothing impure can find its way into her. 26 For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God's active power, and image of his goodness. 27 Although she is alone, she can do everything; herself unchanging, she renews the world, and, generation after generation, passing into holy souls, she makes them into God's friends and prophets…Wisdom Ch 7:24-27

Wisdom lives within each of us. She guides us to the truth of our spiritual nature, our essence, our transcendent potential. Wisdom is the Spirit breath of God within us. She is the Divine Feminine counterpart to the Divine Masculine, and yet there is no separation between the two. Scripture points us to our divine nature, our Imago Dei over and over again. Wisdom is the Spirit of Love and Goodness that each human being holds deep in the core of the True Self; the Self that is often shrouded by the false (ego-driven) self. While the false self is prompt to react in defense, the True Self is known by her quiet voice. And so it is that we must "be still" in order to hear Her. Jesus pointed us to Wisdom in all of His ways. He is our example of a human who understood the She lives within us and that Her benevolence and compassion can flow freely from us if we only identifiy with Her as our True nature. She is called Wisdom because She knows this truth.

We are knee deep in a river, searching for water. We are part of an invisible river, but we are so distracted by outer things and what we imagine they could mean to us that we lose contact with the source of our own Being. Kabir Edmond Helminski

May today you take the time to "be still" and know that you are the home of Truth and of Wisdom. Made in God's image, they reside within you. The river of sacred goodness is within you and when you recognize this, water for all will flow freely from you. Goodness flows from Goodness, Love from Love...Be open and receptive to this stream of life-giving water...

Peace be with you, Peggy

Thank you Leslie Hershberger, for your inspiration!
Artwork: The seven pillars of Wisdom from the St John's Bible