I am bold in spirit. I speak and act from Spirit within.
Just as surely as Spirit guides me, so, too, does Spirit prepare and empower me to accomplish every good I have been guided to seek. As I listen in the silence of my soul, I open to receive wisdom and understanding.
Any tendency to be timid about carrying through on divine understanding vanishes. I am bold in spirit. I feel at ease in making decisions, and I am open to better ways and means of doing my best--for myself and for others.
Being bold in spirit does not mean that I force or coerce others to believe or act as I do. Understanding and compassion, patience and cooperation flow from Spirit in all I think, say and do. I do my best, and I help to bring out the best in others.
Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.--2 Corinthians 3:12
Standing under a tree on a windy fall day, watching the leaves fall down around me, I experience the richness of God's bounty. I know that money does not grow on trees, but those leaves symbolize the good that is available to me. Spirit continually showers me with blessings in a variety of forms--a friendly smile, a phone call from a loved one, or an awareness of total well-being.
Spirit is the source of my every good. As I pray and meditate on the good in my life, I become conscious of the ways in which I am blessed. Spirit is the fulfillment of every need. I have only to center myself in Spirit, my infinite Source, and notice the goodness showering down around me.
See if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.--Malachi 3:10
The presence of God watches over me; it is within and around me, enfolding me in love and guiding me in right ways. If I encounter a situation in which I feel frightened or uneasy, I affirm: The presence of God watches over me, and I know I am not alone.
I may picture the presence of God as an open umbrella, protecting me from the "weather" of life. Regardless of any seeming storm or wind of change I may encounter, I stand safely in God's presence.
Though outer conditions may seem chaotic, I maintain inner peace and composure. My mind is tranquil because the peace of God comes from within, from an awareness that we are one. There is no need to be concerned or afraid. I am protected in every way.
Protect me, O God, for in You I take refuge. -- Psalm 16:1
Putting things off until tomorrow is simply putting them off all together. When I delay in getting things done, it may be because I do not want to do them at all. When I accept what is, I then have an opportunity to move forward without delay. All effort, work and accomplishment take place in the present, not in the future. I release my tendency to put things off, and I begin.
Much of the inclination to postpone projects and responsibilities lies in my need for order and organization in my thinking and in my life. If I am slow in getting things done, I can map them out and approach them one by one. In the glorious now of Holy Spirit, there is no more delay or procrastination.
Do you not say, "Four months, then comes the harvest"? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are rip for harvesting. -- John 4:35
I choose thoughts, words and actions that set me free.
Why does one driver smile and relax in traffic, while another is tense and irritable? It's a matter of choice. Freedom of choice is an expression of our spiritual freedom, and it affects our attitudes and experiences.
Today I have a simple choice: I can be held captive by irritation and restrictive ways of thinking and being, or I can practice genuine spiritual freedom by expressing love in all I think, say and do.
I choose thoughts and words that are free of disapproval or the need to be right. I choose activities that nurture my body and mind, expressing the freedom of my soul. I choose to treat others in ways that reflect and attitude of spirit of freedom and love.
You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. -- John 8:32
In anticipation of an upcoming change, I may wonder what my life will look like. Will it ever be the same? The truth is that every day is filled with change. Some changes are major turning points and others are minor adjustments.
Instead of worrying about what may happen in the days, weeks and months ahead, I choose to remain calm and confident. I know that good is always present, because God is always present. Attuned to God, I am aware of everlasting good.
I welcome the turning points in my life that bring new opportunities to recognize, accept and experience the good that awaits me.
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. -- James 1:17
My faith is a gift from God. It never leaves me. It is with me at all times, ready to be applied in right ways. By exercising faith, I welcome all that I desire. I say "yes" to God and "yes" to my good.
When I am uncertain about which way to turn, I call upon faith to assist me. Faith surrounds me. It is love unwavering -- like the arms of a dear friend embracing me, letting me know, "I am here for you always". My faith allows me to surrender outcomes to Spirit. When I use faith rightly, I actively draw my good to me, bringing forth the visible from the invisible.
I exercise faith and see clearly God's good in me and in my life. I allow the Holy Spirit to work through me, and I am richly blessed.
Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith, let it be done unto you." -- Matthew 9:29
A beautiful tapestry begins with a single thread. That thread may be died many different colors and woven with others into a variety of textures. In the hands of the artist, they have beauty and order, each thread a part of the magnificent whole.
I see myself as one of God's threads with my own unique color and texture. I am not separate from people or creatures or life around me. I am woven into the whole, and part of my family, my community, my country and our planet. We are each a unique expression of the One Life and One Love.
I release the perception that any part of God's creation is less worthy than another. I am whole in mind, body and spirit. I see the wholeness of life, of which I am a part.
From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth. -- Acts 17:26
Every time I step out in faith, I embark on an adventure. When I am invited to do more than I think I can do, I call upon the Christ of my being. The Christ expresses as all the power, wisdom and courage I need to accomplish great things.
When I am invited to be a peacemaker in times of conflict, I call upon the Christ of my being. The Christ expresses as the compassion and understanding I need to be a transformational presence in painful situations.
When I am invited to share more than I think I have, I call upon the Christ of my being. The Christ expresses as new ideas, infinite supply and all the abundance I need to be a blessing to my world.
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border..." And God granted what he asked." --1Chronicles 4:10
In ancient rituals, people rose in the morning and turned toward the sun, honoring the source of light and warmth that sustained all life. Even on cloudy days they turned in the sun's direction and honored the source they knew to be present.
I turn within to find the light of God that is always there. I close my eyes and remove my attention from any confusion. I place my focus on my breath and open my mind. In the stillness, I receive the guidance I need. I am not in darkness, for God's light is ever shining, illuminating a path to my highest good.
With new awareness, I see possibilities for greater good in my relationships, health and finances. I keep my eyes turned toward the Light and trust the guidance I receive.
The Lord went in front of them ... in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light.--Exodus 13:21
An appropriate message for the anniversary of September 11 from today's Daily Word:
The Christ Presence within me is my comfort and strength.
How blessed I am to know that the Christ Presence is within me. I need only relax and turn my attention inward to feel the calming, comforting presence of divine love. As I breathe deeply and release emotional and physical tension, I open my heart to an inpouring of support. I allow peace, like a welcome gentle breeze, to sweep over and through my being.
Comforted by love, infused with strength, I am a supportive presence for others. When offering help, I am guided in what to say and do. I behold the Christ in me and within all of God's children as our source of eternal comfort and strength.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father ... comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.--2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17
The word family holds different meaning for different people. I may assume that being with family means connecting with the people who brought me into this world and raised me, those who shaped me during my formative years. But I may also consider my family to be the people with whom I share time, energy and love, either at home, at church, at work or at play.
While I would like to spend time with my family regularly, my physical presence may not be possible. Nevertheless, I can call, write or e-mail them, and I can be with them in my thoughts and prayers at all times. In truth, I am never far from those I love, the people I know as family. We are one in Spirit.
Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.--Galatians 6:10
As in real life, faith and belief in God and spiritual growth play a major role in Water Signs, particularly in the character development of the book's heroine, Madeline. Like me, she was brought up in a traditional, Catholic home where the family attended weekly mass together, celebrated sacramental milestones (First Holy Communion, Confirmation, etc) and sent their children to parochial school. One of the things for which I am most grateful to this very day is the solid foundation of faith my parents gave me -- along with clear boundaries of discipline. While I never thought of them as being overly strict or too lenient, my guess is that by today's standards, most kids would view them as "out of touch".
Given the prevalence of current cultural problems like drug and alcohol abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and generally out-of-control, irresponsible behavior, I consider myself very fortunate indeed to have grown up with parents who cared enough to set and enforce the rules. This responsibility mainly fell onto my mom, since my dad's work as a surgeon often kept him out of the house during the after-school hours of dinner, homework and play time. Being a strong, independent and determined woman, mom was never one to scold, "Just wait until your father gets home!" when one of us was in need of severe reprimanding. Whenever there was a need for punishment (which, in truth, was rare as we were all pretty good kids most of the time), she had no qualms dispensing it. For me, one warning look from my mother was typically enough to change my behavior. I knew she meant business.
But I also knew her as not only disciplinarian, but as ever-willing helper with school-work, homeroom mother, Home & School Association President, confidante and comforter. Perhaps most importantly, she was also my first spiritual guide who taught me how to make the Sign of the Cross and recite prayers like the Our Father. And the values imparted in the home were reinforced through 18 years of Catholic schooling -- from Montessori to university.
However, our traditional beliefs never stopped us from doing something that I now know many Christians consider the work of the Devil -- reading a daily horoscope. Along with the crossword puzzle, my mother and I used to take great delight in checking out that day's forecast for Aries and Pisces, our respective signs. Never did either of us think of it as anything more than fun entertainment, kind of like a thought for the day. And in no way did it change our beliefs about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit; it was simply an enjoyable activity that became part of our morning routine.
In the novel, the same is true for Madeline. Thus, when she unexpectedly makes Ken's acquaintance at the Somers Point dance club in Chapter One, she takes no offense when he expresses his delight upon discovering that they are both Pisces. He's further intrigued to learn that not only do they share the same sign, but also the same exact birthday, down to the year. As an author, I gave my two main characters the same date of birth to enhance the "star-crossed", "soul-mate" aspect of the novel, as if to suggest that God purposely brought these two souls into the world simultaneously so that they could experience life in a physical body and aid in each other's spiritual growth while on Earth. Once they'd finally met each other for seemingly the first time (at least at the physical level), this purpose could be fulfilled. In real-life, "Ken" and I are both Pisces born in the same year, but about two weeks apart.
The Pisces symbol also reflects real life significance in terms of Madeline's grandmother. In a previous post, I revealed that March 7 -- the shared birthday of Ken and Madeline -- was actually my maternal grandmother's birthday. I'd enjoyed an especially close bond with her, having been born several months after my grandfather's death and thus provided her a much-needed, joyful distraction from bereavement and sorrow. According to my mom, it was almost as if I were her baby, given the way she constantly doted over me. Although she died quite traumatically a month before I turned seven, my remembrances of her are crystal-clear, thanks to the close bond we'd shared, and the many wonderful hours we'd spent together. "Nanny" epitomized everything a grandmother should be: loving, warm, caring and comforting. A stickler for looking her best, she always had her hair done, and wore nice dresses with matching pearl necklaces and earrings. Her best accessories, however, were her ever-present smile and joyful disposition.
Which brings me to perhaps the most controversial element of the book, which is also an event straight out of real life. While still battling panic and anxiety disorder -- in spite of embracing just about every known remedy from prayer and meditation to Yoga and exercise -- I bumped into a very interesting woman at a monthly business/networking meeting. Trained in what is known in military circles as "remote viewing", she was in reality what most civilians call a psychic -- and many Christians a "Handmaiden of the Devil", although upon first sight, she looked like just another no-nonsense businesswoman.
When Maddy meets Ann Claire in the novel, it's an accurate retelling of my own experience. Thus, when Ann accurately calls out Maddy's guilt for "leaving behind a middle brother who is handicapped" (my brother Ralph who is in-between oldest son, Mark, and youngest son, Paul), and notes that she is still "in mourning" for a grandmother who'd passed away over 20 years prior, it's an example of fact that has only been fictionalized marginally. I might have changed the names and altered the descriptions a bit, but the basic events are 100% true, including the fact that Maddy awakes one morning -- six months after a private reading with Ann -- to discover that for the first time in years, her head is clear, her stomach is calm and that the black cloud that seemed to relentlessly hang over her head has completely dissipated:
And exactly six months later, Maddy awoke with a clear head, a calm stomach and an overall feeling of excellent health for the first time in nearly eight years. It was as if a black cloud had finally been lifted, leaving a clear, blue sky and a brilliant rainbow in its place. Overcome with sheer gratitude, joy and relief, Madeline called Ann to share the wonderful news, exclaiming,
"Ann, thank God I ran into you that night! I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't -- I was at my wits' end!"
"Madeline," she replied dryly, "You manifested me into your life, don't you know that? God led you to me, based on your own intentions."
As was true for me at the time, Madeline doesn't quite grasp the meaning of that statement until much later, when she takes a course at Unity Church in Delray Beach. She'd been reading Daily Word faithfully for years, having been gifted a subscription by her mother, and had even called their toll-free prayer line on many occasions, without really knowing anything more about the organization. That would change upon meeting the local minister and taking a few classes.
More thoughts on God and spirituality in my next post.
