Work with Spirit

" He who loves money must labor." - Mauritania

As a consultant, I don't earn anything unless I work, unlike some who have paid vacations and holidays. This is not a complaint, but a reality, my reality. But work for me is not labor or struggle, but an expression of my identity. Work is not the core of who I am, but an integral part of the way I account for my presence in this life. I love the work I do, because when I am working with others, I experience joy. I like watching the faces of people who light up with a new understanding of something they didn't know that they knew. A teary-eyed employee who suddenly realizes that she is being listened to without judgment warms my own heart. A team of managers who smile at each other as they leave a retreat because of a sense of satisfaction with their decisions reinforces my belief in the collective wisdom of people. I marvel at the dedication of leaders who work with passion to improve the lives of others, sometimes being the only window to the future for those who have lost their way. My reward is being with others and deriving joy from the temporary connections with them.

For a short space in time, I experience a sense of community, and the presence of Spirit. What I do with others is less important to me than how I feel the presence of Spirit with me as I connect with others. Often I will design a retreat or a training with specific times for certain activities, but Spirit is there, knowing the needs of all present, including me, and begins to respond. I am just a player in the drama of my work, not the playwright. It is only an illusion for me that I act alone. There is a powerful energy present with me at all times. Spiritual energy flows freely when I acknowledge its presence.

Money for me is part of the flow of energy that allows me to do what is necessary and enjoyable in my life. Energy is not something you love, but something you allow to flow. Like the rush of water from the faucet, I can turn it off or turn in on, depending on my intention. When it is on, I appreciate what it can do for me, and when it is off, I do not think about it but I know it is available. I have faith that the faucet if turned on will produce water. If there is a water supply interruption, I am confident that the problem will be resolved, and that water will once again flow freely.

The flow of money to and from me is a reality of life. If I am in a place of appreciating what I have now, of experiencing the joy in my work, the energy of money flows freely to me, but if I turn my attention to the lack of it, or if I see work as labor or struggle, the energy of money dries up, and the faucet gets clogged with doubt and fear. It is my belief or my intention that invites a response from Spirit. When I immerse myself in the deliciousness of my work with others, I am aligning myself with the truth of who I am. Work is an expression of our union with Spirit. When we allow that union to be acknowledged in appreciation, we work with integrity and joy.

Yes

" The toad likes water but not when it's boiling." - Guinea

We like to see the weather in the southeastern region of the USA warm up a bit during the spring, but during the summer - not so much. The summers can be relentless in abundant sunshine and profuse moisture that hangs in the air like steam in a small bathroom.

When I went to Ghana several years ago, I experienced intense heat that caused me to increase my usually limited consumption of water to several bottles throughout the day. I arrived home 10 pounds lighter and happy with the unexpected benefit of sweating profusely. But Ghana also gave me cool nighttime breezes from the ocean and spirited connections with people in the markets and various places I visited. I laughed and danced and was warmed by the hospitality and gracious invitations of the people I met. In the stillness of the night, I experienced the replay of the intensity of the day, and realized the blessings of my being there.

When the heat turns upward, we take positions and make changes in our lives. We may focus our energy and thoughts on the discomfort of the heat and change to different clothing or seek refuse in air-conditioned spots. We may be grateful for the absence of the cold, and plan to absorb as much of the sun and heat as possible or we may bask in the beauty and presence of Spirit in the changing seasons. Our various positions can determine how we experience the changes in temperature.

When our world heats up with challenging situations, we notice our discomfort, and we have memories of more peaceful times, so we can realize that all is temporary. Some of us change our view of the situation, finding peace in the midst of the chaos. Some of us are relieved, saying "Things could be a lot worse," and express our gratitude to Spirit.

We may also respond by allowing Spirit to be more fully recognized in our life, trusting that everything changes because the universe moves. We realize that in any challenging situation, Spirit's presence is our way through, around, over or under the obstacle. The way is to be present in the still moments when we focus on the silence, when we stop doing and start saying yes to Spirit. We say yes because we know that our discomfort is known, our questions are answered, and our requests are already fulfilled. Say yes to Spirit, and the waters will quiet down to a simmer. The water is our life; Spirit invites us into the flow.

Giving Love

"He who receives a gift does not measure. " - Kenya

My mother used to say that even if I didn't particularly like a gift I received that I should appreciate it because " it's the thought that counts." Gift giving is at best a delicate activity. Sometimes we receive gifts from others that are not to our liking, and may even be a bit offensive. We may attribute our bad feelings about the gifts to the insensitivity of the giver, or the giver's lack of recognition of who we are. On occasions, the receivers of gifts offer to return gifts to the giver that they do not like, or express disappointment with the choices.

Holidays (holy days), and special occasions become fraught with tensions and tentativeness about what kinds of gifts would be accepted and suitable to the receiver. Sometimes the giving of gifts becomes a kind of contest for originality, ingenuity or surprise, and often an odd statement of worth. Sometimes the packaging is as much a statement of value as the contents of the package. The game of gift-giving sacrifices the thought for appearances and illusion.

Often we're not privy to the intentions of others when they choose to give us gifts. Even though we may try to imagine their thinking, we may never have an image that matches their intention. We just know that we have been thought of in some way.

There are no imperfect gifts from Spirit. Even though infinite intelligence lovingly bestows gifts on us and gives us joy, we may not give full attention to the perfection of that power. There is a delicate dance of responsiveness and creation that generates for us a universe of abundance. The universe knows who we are, and responds fully and creatively, honoring each of us, while neglecting none of us. To Spirit, we are both significant and small, the center of attention and simply one of many. Spirit is all things to all beings, because Spirit is all there is.

Spirit is everywhere love is, so when we feel love and affection from others, Spirit is there. When the loving energy of giving shows up in our lives, Spirit is there. When others attempt to show their love the best way they can, Spirit is there. When others say I love you with their smiles and laughter or their recognition of our hopes and dreams, Spirit is there. When others think of us, holding us in their attention, Spirit is there. When we value others not for what they have to give, but for what lives in their heart, Spirit is there.

There is no beginning and no end to love, and therefore no way to measure it. Loving thoughts are gifts that we give to others and to ourselves. Love simply is.

Love Cures

"There is no medicine to cure hatred." - Ashanti

Hatred is symptomatic of a turning away from Life. It is fueled by a belief in separation from others, and an irrational expectation of redemption. Instead of generating redemption, hatred emotionally severs the relationship with Spirit, like unplugging an electrical cord that generates powerful, continuously flowing energy. The stale sparks of hatred cause the holder to burn and self-destruct as he attempts to burn others. But my thoughts and behaviors can be complicit in this drama. When I turn my attention to those who hate, I inadvertently give them power.

A friend called me a few years ago hysterically laughing at the irony of a TV report of a demonstration held during a KKK rally. While men dressed in white robes and hoods rallied against a list of groups of people they hated, another small group held placards that read, "We love you anyway," "Don't be afraid,"and "Your parents did the best they could for you." My friend also reported that after a few minutes, the hooded men disbanded, failing to get the negative attention they craved.

Each person who hates has a history, a series of life experiences that create a perfect storm for hatred. Anyone can become a suspect. Eric Hoffer, in his book entitled The True Believer, traces the development of mass movements, and the emotional, political and economic factors that contribute to bigotry and hatred. Pascal wrote,"The embarassment wherein [a person] finds himself produces in him the most unjust and criminal passions imaginable, for he conceives a moral hatred against that truth which blames him and convinces him of his faults." Hatred is at the core self-hatred, and a disconnection from who we really are.

When we allow ourselves to separate from others, to establish an "us vs. them" mentality, we have begun to emotionally separate ourselves from our relationship with Spirit. I remind myself that all human beings are spiritual beings, and that we are inextricably connected spirits. Just because a human being or like-minded group gathers to justify their illusion of separateness, does not make it a spiritual reality. But if enough people focus their thoughts on some person or group they hate, the power of that collective thinking, even in its perceived disconnection from spirit, can cause sometimes unimaginable cruelty and destruction. But know that the impact of that cruelty and destruction is not only felt by the receiver, but also by the giver. One cannot give what one does not already have. Those who hate others overcompensate for their self-hatred, diminished sense of self-worth and learned helplessness.

Spirit does not recognize these foibles, but rather knows the goodness of us all, and attends lovingly to us in spite of the damage that we may do to ourselves and others. Lifting us from the depression of our lives, Spirit holds us in the light and sees us as who we really are. Spirit is the model of who we can be with others - unwavering in our determination to think thoughts that feel good; holding others in a light that envisions their recovery from shame and pain; demonstrating that abundance is overflowing; and believing that broken hearts are healed and cries for help are answered with a simple question. Who am I being right now?I know for sure that I need not demand that someone suffer because I hurt, or die because I am afraid to live fully, or agree with me because my ideas are the only truth. I can be secure in knowing that everything always works out for us, if we allow joy to replace any vestige of hatred in our lives. Love is the cure.

Your Own Business

" Do not mend your neighbor's business before looking to your own." - Tanzania

J. California Cooper wrote a short story called "The Watcher" that describes a community busybody who is so busy watching others that she is unaware of her own family's destruction. The neighborhood busybody is a useful metaphor for the destructiveness of judgments and gossip, but it is more than that. What is our own business?
I believe that my business in this life is, as Joseph Campbell encouraged, to follow my bliss, not to the exclusion of others, but as a clear example of how wonderfully joyful life can be. Following my bliss in relationships is enjoying a conversation with my 78 year old sister, who delights in the antics of her grandchildren, or feeling proud of the extraordinary teacher that my 76 year old sister is, and wishing her well when she receives yet another award for her excellence. I follow my bliss when I observe the success of my young cousin who has worked hard in school to win accolades for her achievements.
When I consider how bravely my daughter meets the challenges in her life, still believing in the power of love, I know joy. When I hear the smiling voice of my grandson, who continues to light up my heart, I feel energized. The literal and figurative hugs of my Atlanta cousins, who have encouraged me through periods when I suffered with the illusion of disconnection from Spirit, and literally became dispirited, have helped to light the way to reconnection. They are continual beacons of compassion and unconditional love. When a long-time friend calls to chat, and we talk for 2 hours, I leave the conversation appreciating friendship and compassion. When I go for long walks with my little poodle and delight in his curiosity and energy, I am reminded of the simplicity of joy.
Spirit shows me what my business is each day; often the bliss of the experience keeps me busy into the night. What stands out for you as blissful in your experience? Are you following your bliss?

Voice of Spirit

" When the heart overflows, it comes out through the mouth." - Ethiopia

The words," I love you," have long held enormous power. What do the words actually mean today? What motivates us to express them? In Diane Ackerman's book, The Natural History of Love, she examines ideas about love from Plato's "perfect union" to attachment theory. Plato believed that people in a relationship are two incomplete halves, while attachment theorists believe that love is an escape from self into unhealthy attachments to others. Many theorists are concerned about the results of the loss of the person who is attached as the reason for emotional disturbance and self-destructive behavior.
Marianne Williamson writes in Enchanted Love, "You will not be lonely today because my love is here for you. I see you in the arms of God, and know that we are there together." Whether we think we are completing ourselves in union with another or forming an attachment or clinging to another, we are seeking the power of a loving relationship. But we are not powerless in this world, and our relationship with Spirit is complete and eternal. Other relationships are temporary reassurances that we are not alone in this world, but our spiritual bond is infinite.
When we love, we are living from our soul, and expressing the Spirit within us. Unexpressed love leaves us feeling stuck, because the Spirit within us, the love that we came to this life to be, must flow from us.
Keeping love to ourselves is like attempting to stop the flow of a waterfall with a spoon! Love is a powerful flow of energy that we can use to power our compassion, authenticity, and presence. Many of us say that we must acknowledge the Spirit within us and let God into our lives, but as Paul Gonyea of the Spiritual Living Center once said, "we must let God out." When we are filled with Spirit, we express our love freely.
Some of us may feel reluctant to express love too often or too quickly in our relationships, because of fear of rejection, or concerns about not receiving an expression of love in return. Some of us on the other hand may be reluctant to hold their expressions of love, because they believe it is expected of them. How many of us say "I love you," when we don't really mean it? How often do we regret having said "I love you" to another in an intimate encounter, too soon? Spirit is love unconditionally expressing itself through us, without respect to timing or strategy. Love simply is. When we make our loving relationships instrumental or part of a bargain, we construct shadows and uncertainties around the energy of the soul that Love is. Each moment of our lives is an opportunity to love. How will you let Spirit out today?