THAT LOVING POWER

Whenever I am mentoring someone or doing something like writing in this blog, I ask for guidance from that power. I’m writing of that unconditionally loving power that most people call God or love, though the name you give it does not seem to matter. I then get guidance and remarkable things can happen.  My first encounter with this power was during the first few days of social work graduate school. I was asked to speak and rather than speaking from a written script, I decided to speak lovingly, honestly, openly and from the heart. The power flowed through me even though I was not conscious of it nor did I intend it. The results were quite remarkable in that several people shared openly and spontaneously about things they had never spoken of before and all were effected.  It was remarkable and very healing. One student even commented to me at the close of the semester that I had changed the entire class for the whole semester. Of course, it was not me at all, though it was my voice and I was not even aware of it.

 

LOVING GIVING

  During my first 35 plus years I was a “taker”, always concerned with my own welfare and “getting mine”, a position which was totally understandable given my history. Since then, I have become a “giver”, particularly after my near-death-experience in 2006. During that experience I came back to this plane in order to be of service and part of the love I found there.  Over the years I have realized that if I do something or give something to or for someone with any expectation of a return behavior or gift ... I have not really given a gift. I can and do certainly enjoy any gift or gratitude, but not expect it. In order to avoid the expectation I often ask myself “is this a gift freely given?”

CONNECTING TO THAT POWER

  My connection with God, or whatever you call that power often takes a form that can best be described as my being flooded or possessed by that loving and immense power. I request it and then do what I am told to say or do. The feeling is quite overwhelming and wonderful. I have to have a loving, understanding and open attitude in order for that to happen. I cannot be fearful, distracted or overly logical. Words or reasoning can point the way, but not take me there.  The loving, listening and open practices I describe in my book and this blog can prepare me.

"Indeed, it is the most difficult thing in the entire human experience -- to claim your Self, your Life, your Light, your Truth and your God. 

From Emmanuel's Book, a Manual for Living Comfortably in the Cosmos, compiled by Pat Rodegast and Judith Stanton.  Bantam Books, March, 1987.

WHAT WOULD LOVE DO?

  I often find myself or when talking to others asking the question “What would love do?”. It is a very simple question which, when considered deeply, cuts right through logic, fear, anger and ego. For me, if I take a loving approach, the answers are usually very simple, feel right and tend to defuse the situation, rather than escalate it, For example, if I disagree passionately with someone love tells me to respect, honor, listen and be quiet.

“The appropriate language for the person receiving these favors [communion with God] is that he understand them, experience them within himself, enjoy them and be silent.” from St. John 

SURRENDER

  During today’s recovery meeting there was much talk of surrender (let go and let God). I spoke of having surrendered to God, love or whatever you call that power.  I have been through many extremely unpleasant experiences and near death a few times. I have also had periods of ecstatic joy. Today’s meeting helped me to realize that all those experiences were tied together and all were a gift — though an unpleasant gift at times.

“You can be a saint, if you want to be one. It's as simple as that. Only you must remember, ALL THE TIME, that GOD makes saints, not we: we just do what we are told. But in order to do what we are told, we must hear what is said, and in order to hear we must listen, and in order to listen, we must be quiet - not only with our tongues, but interiorly, in our minds and hearts.” )author, an anonymous priest or brother(

GOD/LOVE/NATURE/THE ABSOLUTE

  Today I am very aware of a strong and magnificent power behind and/or within everything and everybody in the world/universe.  Call it love, God, the absolute, nature, or whatever.  As far as I can tell, the name makes no difference.  I live within that power.  It is part of me and I am part of it. I live within what Jesus called “the kingdom of God”.  I have surrendered to that power and ask its healing and guidance several times a day, quite a way to live.

I find. it interesting to note that God//love was always there. I did not earn it or deserve it. I simply allowed it. I now see the world through a lens of love.

SCIENCE, WONDERFUL BUT LIMITED

 I have been given the gift of being able to heal my own physical problems.  I have managed to heal several conditions including: hypothyroidism, heart irregularities, lung problems, reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy, athletes foot, pre-cancer, tinnitus and partially cerebellar hypertrophy.  I use the power of Love/God, though, as far as I can tell, the name you give that power seems to make no difference.  Science can elucidate the process with evaluations and descriptions of various aspects.  I doubt that science will ever truly and completely understand how that power changes tissues.  Nor will I.

“As I understand contemporary trends of physical science, there is increasing recognition of vast unknown areas which science may explore and assist in ordering, but to which it may never provide anything like complete answers.”  Margaret Mead, as quoted on p 63  from Miracles of Mind, Exploring Nonlocal Consciousness and Spiritual Healing, by Russell Targ and Jane Katra, Ph.D., New World Library, Novato, California, 1998.

Silence

 It seems that the main things I need to do today if I wish to progress spiritually are to be loving, grateful silent and then to listen. It is then that I  can hear God and the spirits.  They give me the guidance I need.  I do get limited help from reading and other human sources.

In order to do this I get into a loving and grateful frame of mind and silently, quietly meditate.  Sounds simple but takes determination and practice.

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“To understand better the value of silence in daily life, and its relation to this spiritual transformation for which we yearn, it is useful first to consider the limitation of language, of words” p 5

“It is next useful to contemplate the limitations of logical reasoning.” p 6

from Silence: Our Eye On Eternity, by Daniel A. Seeger, Pendle Hill Pamphlet 318

CHANGE

 As I have mentioned, I am in the midst of some unanticipated physical recovery, a major physical change for me.  What I did not realize is that there is also accompanied emotional and spiritual transformations/ changes.  It's strange to me, but at the age of 76, my internal world and my relationship with the external world keeps changing. I just need to listen, pay attention, and act accordingly.  These changes are necessary in order to facilitate the physical.  For example, last night I attended an IANDS (International Association of Near-Death Studies) meeting, and it was clear that my role was to support and encourage others in their own spiritual journeys, which is what I did.

Understanding is not Required

 I just returned from a visit to Meadow ridge cemetery where I communicated with the spirits and blessed the spring water.  I could feel the power of love and God flowing from and through me with both interactions, but understood neither. As I told Maria, my wife, I just do what I'm told.  It seems that in this world, right now, there is a lot of acting out of fear, so I encouraged the spirits to act out of love and to carry that message to the people they influence.  They know about the love and joy in God's kingdom and I showed them that "giving it away" will make the feeling stronger.