Honesty is More than Just a Word

When I think of honesty, not the word ‘honesty’, but honesty the way I live it, I kinda get the heebie jeebies. Whenever I am wavering on the edge of truth, truth that isn’t easy, truth that doesn’t serve me in some way, a laser of light cuts through any crap that I might be hiding behind and, like the curtain yanked abruptly aside revealing the man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz, I stand, shaking, under the naked light bulb of truth.

Of course, I, like you, have always known the truth. But through years of untruths fed to me and years of manipulating the truth to suit my own needs, I shudder at my own inability to be truthful, even to myself.

Mostly to myself.

Honesty sometimes seems to be a slippery concept. Some people live their lives balanced on a beach ball, shifting it slightly this way or that till their truth accommodates the situation. Sometimes we omit certain segments of a story to refrain from an out and out lie or we avoid speaking at all, justifying to ourselves, at least, that no lie was committed. Is the halo still firmly in place?

But more sadly than the above examples of human dishonesty, is that we don’t even know, or if we do, we rarely live, the absolute truth about ourselves. And that is that we are divinely created, divinely protected and divinely cherished. And we don’t have to do anything to obtain this love. No lie is required. There is no need to shift on the beach ball to conform to another’s (or our own) expectations.

Lying to ourselves and others keeps us shackled. Opening our arms and hearts wide open and speaking our truth, with kindness and compassion, of course, is freedom unlimited.

To me, this is liberating!

Life is Easy

My dear friend, Janet, and I were discussing life and all its challenges today. We decided life does not have to be so hard. We may have to peel off some layers of, well, I don’t know a nicer way to say it, peel off some layers of crap to create an easier life, but life itself just does not need to be so hard. It is true, of course, that we experience difficulties as we travel life’s road, but I don’t believe that means life ITSELF must be hard. If we adopt an attitude that it is, and where I work many people that end up in front of me do believe life is truly hard, then everything becomes hard. Getting stuck in traffic becomes hard. Now if there is someone who is having a heart attack or bleeding to death in your car and you become stuck in traffic, then yes, life is hard in that moment but let’s face it…how often does that happen…unless you’re an ambulance driver?

Most things that first appear to be difficult can be knocked down a notch or two by infusing the situation with a little bit of humor. Or on a more philosophical note, ask yourself the question, “What is mine to do right now in this moment.” This question allows you to get perspective on the issue and to re-define your integrity and re-establish your boundaries.

As my regular readers know by now, I connect very deeply with nature. While sitting at the lake this morning, I was reminded of the beauty and balance in the unhurried, unrushed life in which all of nature abides. There is no such thing as time or acquisitions or life’s difficulties in the natural world. Life just is. Watch birds sometime. They don’t stress. Everything just IS and they move through their lifespans effortlessly.


Today did hold a measure of stress, strain and struggle for me but I discovered anew that life does not have to be hard. I have it within my power to flow WITH life and not to resist it. Non-resistance is the key to experiencing an easier…no, no, not necessarily easier life, as in no challenges…but an easier viewpoint. Non-resistance coupled with the choice to breathe in the light and love of the moment, rather than breathe in the darkness and difficulty, creates an easier energy. An easier way TO BE.

As I write this, I am sitting down at the lake again. The day is drawing to a close. It’s quite windy and therefore chilly. I have a blanket wrapped around me. A man paces back and forth a short distance from where I sit. A mother, talking on her cell phone, walks with her young daughter near the water’s edge. A small houseboat, struggling against the wind, motors toward its mooring. The wildlife is bedding down for the night.

So is the sun.


So must I. Easily.

Living authentically

The question was presented to me recently: “Am I living authentically in this very moment?”

My mind began instantly to do what minds do - think - searching for my definition of authentic to judge and determine if I am. I looked up the word authentic and gave myself a gold star because my definition was nearly identical to Webster’s.

Authentic: not false or copied; genuine, real; reliable; trustworthy.

Within moments that inner voice, the gloom and doom critic, chimed in with all the reasons and all the ways I could not possibly be living authentically; i.e. Thanksgiving cooking would soon commence and butter, eggs and many other non-vegan food ingredients would be used. See how that inner judge is so ready to jump on me.

Is it true that without absolute perfection one cannot live authentically?

This cannot be true. We are perfect spiritual beings, living an often, imperfect human experience. For me, living authentically in this very moment means an awareness of my inherent perfection…a “knowing” that allows me to be consciously aware of this moment. It is not listening to a rehearsal of all the past moments and the judging that accompanies that particular song and dance. Being authentic, not perfect, in this moment means I feel the chilly wind blowing all around me as I sit on the dock, I hear the birds nearby and see the branches move with the wind. I am aware of my breathing.

In this moment I am living authentically.

In this moment I am alive to life.

The Way of the Osprey

It is so fascinating to watch an osprey fish for his breakfast. He will spot a fish from where he is flying high above the water, he folds his wings against his body and then he splashes into the water and catches the fish. Somehow, he is immediately back in the air, holding the fish in his grasp, the fish’s head facing forward, aerodynamically efficient. Then he flies away to find a tree or pole in which to enjoy his meal.

Sometimes, however, the fish is too heavy to lift out of the water. The osprey, rather than release his meal, will hang on tenaciously, even until the weight of the fish pulls the bird under the water, drowning him.

I witnessed an osprey not long ago, struggling thus. He did manage to get airborne enough to reach land safely with his prize but it gave me pause, time to consider and examine all the ways I allow persons or circumstances to nearly drown me before I let go.

For me, it has mostly been romantic relationships, hanging in there long after the funeral dirge, mirroring what appears to be stupidity, on the part of the osprey, but persistence on the part of humans.

How about you? What do you need to let go in order to feel freedom?

Anger and resentment?

Self-criticism and self-judgment?

A job?

Toxic relationships with family, friends or others?

As we prepare to move forward into 2012, is it time to release that which threatens to drown you, pulling you down, down, down?

Like the osprey.

Kindness Matters

I met a young woman the other day who had some serious issues, some of which could possibly result in her arrest. She was so sweet and so open and vulnerable about her situation; I couldn’t help but be gentle and compassionate toward her, though all of her “stuff” was ultimately her responsibility.

At the end of our interaction she was very grateful. She ended our conversation by telling me that I was pretty. What a nice thing to say and, of course, I thanked her. She said, “If we complimented each other more, the world would be a nicer place.”

How true, how true.

We don’t get too much in the line of compliments after about the age of 2 or 3 years old. The world becomes a harsh, mean place where we dole out compliments as if they physically hurt us to do so. How can it harm us to tell someone they have great hair or a beautiful smile? Do we really believe the myth “You’ll get a big head!” if we compliment someone too much? Is that why we become so stingy giving them?

Well, we can change that one person at a time!

A gentleman came to me, needing help with his documents. He had the most handsome nose, very chiseled and Roman looking. I told him so. The next day he came back to complete the transaction and requested me. He told me it was because I complimented his nose and that made him feel good.

Just think…something so very simple can be so very profound.

Connected...Again

I had a few moments this morning when I felt so completely connected and full of love for everybody…and it happened in the most unlikely of all places, 7-11. It was quite early in the morning, around 5:15, and I was on my way to a rare, but deeply appreciated, pet sit.

When I walked into 7-11 to get a cup of coffee, my mental state was one of self-judgment. My inner critic was hot on the trail of beating me up…again. The energy within the store was surprisingly warm, a real sense of community. Everyone seemed to know each other; the solitary cashier and a police officer chatted convivially; other shoppers greeted each other with familiarity. I felt like I’d crashed a family reunion wherein everyone liked each other. It was nice and once again I felt connected…this time to humans.

I drove away feeling much less like a crabby island and more like a member of a happy village.

Connection

This morning I drove down to my beautiful and beloved lake. Before I even turned off the engine, I noticed an Ahinga (a Florida water bird) sitting on the dock – the same one who had been there a few days earlier. When I had first spotted him, he appeared to have a long worm or a long piece of intestine in his beak. As I watched him, however, it looked like he was trying to scrape something off his beak rather than eat the something. Looking more closely, I thought what I saw was a piece of rope about 4 inches long. Silently I swore at humans who dump nearly everything into the lake, ignorantly creating deadly situations for the resident wildlife. There was nothing I could do, so off to work I went.

But here he was again, still with that length of ‘something’ hanging from his beak. Now rather than try to scrape it off, he just sat there, burying his head under his wing. He’s starving, I thought to myself, becoming weaker and weaker. My heart was breaking but how could I help him. Maybe I could catch him?

I opened the door to my truck carefully, quietly…he didn’t move. I slipped off my outer flannel shirt…no response. I began approaching him over a distance of about 35 ft, expecting that at any moment he would startle and fly away. Amazingly, he didn’t. When I was about 3 feet from him I thought to myself ‘I’m going to do it.’ Two more steps and I threw my shirt over him and grabbed him! COOL !!! Except he immediately went for my eyes. I held his beak and examined the mess – and what a mess it was.

He did have rope, like clothesline line rope, wrapped and knotted completely around his beak. He was unable to open it enough to even get a drink of water. He would have perished for certain. But I had him now!

I immediately realized that this would be a two person job. I scanned the near empty parking lot until I found someone just emerging from her car. I called out to her and asked to help me. She agreed without reservation. Her name is Stacey.

I held the bird, holding his head and beak and she took the scissors I handed her and began to cut away the rope. It was quite a job and took some time. Soon we had the big piece off, but many small knots and fibers remained.

Fishing birds, like the Ahinga, have many small barbs or teeth on the ends of those long beaks. This enables them to hold the fish they catch so the fish cannot slip out of their beaks easily. The fibers of the rope were caught on these barbs making it quite difficult to finish the job easily. We wanted to be sure when we let him go that he was fully functioning again.

Interestingly, he stayed relatively still and quiet (except when I inadvertently let go of his beak and he pecked my face, ear and head) until the last fiber was removed. He knew when it was time to go. Stacey and I cheered in excitement when our rescue effort was successfully completed and he flew away, hopefully to enjoy his first meal in days. What a perfect moment! Stacey and I, complete strangers 30 minutes prior, hugged as only persons who have just accomplished a team effort, something meaningful will do.

WOW!

I am so blessed, I feel so prosperous because prosperity has little to do with money, and I feel so very connected to the Universe.

We are all connected to EVERYTHING.

Finding Answers

An acquaintance approached me last week and asked me if I had any books on motivation. Immediately she began complaining about having no support in a particular area of her life, stating that it was a scheduling issue and proceeding to list all the things that prohibited her from gaining the support she said she needs. When I suggested some solutions, her instant response began with “I can’t” or “but”. She really was not open to examining her situation and coming up with alternative options.

I never know what to say to a closed mind.

I believe there are ALWAYS options. They may not be easy or attractive but they are always there in one form or another.

Sometimes scraping some things off the proverbial plate is the starting point. This requires quiet stillness, slowing down to determine what should go and what should stay. And when I use the term slowing down, I mean a complete slowing…of body movement, of breathing, of thinking, of everything…almost a short period of hibernation. Only then can we see the big picture clearly. When we are in a frantic-cross-off-the-list mode, we cannot think clearly, see clearly or really KNOW much of anything, especially ourselves or our needs. WE certainly cannot come up with any alternatives, possibilities, or solutions.

I am blessed that I have a lake less than a block from my home. At this writing I am sitting on the dock on this exquisite Sunday morning. I chose to forgo church which is a mainstay in my life in order to slow myself down and take care of me. The water is my sanctuary, the dock my pew, the birds my fellow congregants, minister and worship team.

I am complete on this Sunday morning as I sit within myself and allow a creative stream of alternatives to rise within me. I see possibilities that I might have missed had I pursed my normal routine.

May you, too, slow down…and be prepared for your brilliance to emerge.

Lighting the Path

I went to visit my adult daughter recently. It was my first visit to her home which is located in Fort Bragg, NC, and though it is base housing and modest, her natural sense of beauty created a cozy and lovely living space. One of her items captured my attention…a large glass jar filled with wine bottle corks and a string of tiny white lights intertwined amongst the corks.

It reminded me of my life…how sometimes my path is clearly lit and other times (admittedly most of the time) the next light is hidden, waiting to be revealed. During these unclear times, I could choose to feel lost and frustrated, splashing about frantically in my own “jar of corks” searching for the next light. When I am centered in my truth, however, I know that the next step, or light, will be revealed in time, when the Universe in Its infinite Wisdom, knows I’m ready and prepared to move forward.

But what to do in the meantime? (Look at that word “meantime.” I often feel that the time in-between the lights IS a mean time). I am learning to just BE, to sit and wait, not with my hands folded neatly in my lap but rather in quiet stillness, meditation and confidence that the next step IS on its way and will be revealed. In time.

Follow your lights!

The Gentle Art of Non-Complaining

I can’t believe my boss won’t give me those days off I requested!
I’ve been sitting here waiting for over 45 min…I want to speak to your supervisor.
Here I am on vacation and it’s raining!
They need to do something about all these homeless people.
The price of gas is ridiculous!
My steak is over-cooked!

Bitch, carp, fret, fuss, gripe, groan, grouse, growl, grumble, lament, moan, snivel, wail, whimper, whine, yammer

Call it what you will, complaining is one of the most pervasive and annoying of all human behaviors. Some call it "frumping." I like the word because it sounds exactly the way it feels when you hear someone do it. And that would be everyone on the planet. Psychologists say we do it 20 to 30 times a day. You'd think it was better than sex!

According to the dictionary to com•plain (k m-pl n ) is:

1. To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.


Assuming you have not achieved sainthood, what are some of the common complaints you express or hear on a daily basis?

I was perusing a recent copy of AARP and came across an article entitled “The Art of Complaining.” I was sort of surprised…I didn’t think old people needed a tutorial on complaining, I figured by the time you reached your mature years, you pretty much had complaining down pat.

Complaining takes an awful lot of energy and it drains the energy of those around the complainer. Then when people start to complain in a group, it catches like wildfire and the energy of that group gets sucked into the downward spiral of complaining despair. Not only that but physically your heart rate and blood pressure are elevated and you can get headaches and stomachaches. Researchers have actually discovered that “second-hand complaining” or those who are in the presence of vocal complainers, have even more severe physical symptoms.

I think they should have a 12 step program for complaining. Hello, my name is Linda and I’m a complainer. (Everyone responds “Hello, Linda.”) There could be meetings in every DMV across the country because that’s where a huge amount of complaining occurs.

Let’s say you have identified yourself as a chronic complainer. What do you do about it? I know you want to change because you cannot live a happy healthy life if you fill every moment of it with the negative energy of complaining.

First thing you can do is to observe yourself.

Notice it because by changing your mind you change your life.

Stop it and replace the grousing with gratitude. “Thank-you” is a powerful, positive energy that you put out there.

How do you keep this in the forefront of your mind? Put a bracelet or colorful wide rubber band on your wrist. Every time you catch yourself complaining, move the rubber band to the opposite wrist. It’s called cognitive retraining. You could snap it against your wrist but then you’d complain about that, kind of defeats the purpose. See if you can do this for 21 days. New habits are formed in 21 days.

2nd thing is to express gratitude at every complaining occurrence. I keep a small stone or rock in my pocket or on my desk at all times as a reminder to be grateful. Replace the complaints and negativity with positive, grateful thoughts.

Although we all do it, we do have the capacity to reduce how much we complain. Imagine the peace we would experience in a complain-free, positive energy world. John Lennon said it this way:

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

Living in the Land of I Don't Know

Living in the Land of I Don't Know

Waiting for direction for which way to go.

Waiting for the Voice of the One who will show

When and where and why I should go

Yes, I'm living in the land of I don't know.

Abiding in the space of I don't know

It's all a state of grace

This I completely know.

Confused and scared as the four winds blow

Moving through the land of I don't know.

Resting in the arms of the One who does know

Protected and connected from above and below

Not resisting where I am in the I don't know

One step at a time, my path is aglow

As I float in the land of I don't know.

Rhapsody by the Sea

The sound of the surf rushing in and gifting me with hundreds of shells at my feet; the salty caresses of the breeze on my skin; the laughter and shouts of other beach-goers; the kiss of the late afternoon sun; all these greeted me when, finally, we arrived at Captiva Island on the west coast of Florida.

The earlier storm, which gratefully, we missed, left the water rather rough but that did not discourage our rapid entry into the waves, splashing and frolicking like kids.

My puppy, Rhapsody, actually a puppy in size only, was introduced to the ocean. A dachshund, by breed and temperament, naturally abhors the water. At home, it takes much difficulty to coach her out of doors to use the bathroom if she detects the slightest amount of moisture on the driveway. So I was quite sure she would rapidly retreat from the very wet waves that every few moments threatened to overtake her. Though she certainly didn’t plunge into the surf and was quite cautious, she was also quite curious, carefully checking out each wave. She chased some sea birds and as she became acquainted with this new experience, she pondered the wisdom of proceeding down crab holes. All in all, she seemed to enjoy herself.

My companion and I relished the beautiful sunset, always a marvel, that orange ball dropping silently into the sea. Good food, pleasant conversation and a warm connection was a perfect ending to our first day but also a lovely prelude to the beginning of our mini vacation.

The next day dawned bright and beautiful. We walked across the street to the Gulf with a cooler full of water and other munchies and settled in for the day. My fair skin did not appreciate my lack of attention and as we floated for hours in the warm aqua water, I managed to burn myself nearly senseless. Too late, I applied sunscreen and donned a long sleeve shirt. But I know I’d do it all over again. The call of the sea is too compelling.

In addition to burning my skin practically off, a quick run across the hot sand scorched the bottoms of my poor little feet…compelling or not, I will NOT do that again. Flip-flops are my new best friend.

The next afternoon, we enjoyed a parasail ride. This was something I had wanted to do ever since I arrived in FL nearly 26 yrs ago. Finally I got to go. What an incredible experience! Sitting on the back of the boat, strapped into a harness, the boat took off and as the wind caught in the parachute, we were pulled off the boat and into the wind! Amazing! Exhilarating! Riding approximately 60 ft above the sea, we looked down and saw stingrays, dolphins, sharks, and a sea turtle or two. WOW! I would do it again and again, it was wonderful.

But as the saying goes “all good things must come to an end”, and so it did. But still my gratitude runs deep for the time spent in quiet solitude, enjoying God’s lovely gifts of nature with my companion, Sandy, who made it all possible.

I AM Discovering the Power Within

In Discover the Power Within You, page 37, Eric Butterworth spoke to my heart when he said “…disturbing as the idea may seem, God is dead to you, if you are asleep to the activity of the Presence in you…If you are unaware of the greater dimension of your nature, then it doesn’t exist as far as you are concerned.” When I wake up, open up, I suddenly come alive to the ‘within’ of me, the depths of me and then Presence is very real – not as a separate entity but as the Is-ness of who I really am.

Sometimes difficult people and circumstances have entered my life to open me up wider and wider to Christ consciousness. Rather than run from the discomfort or attempt to eliminate the pain, I try to embrace it with open arms, seeking the learning. These people or circumstances are merely tools. Much like a car is relevant to move me from point A to point B, so difficult circumstances are present to move me from victim-like whining to the radiant glory being that I am.

This is not to say that pain and suffering, loss and devastation are always used to advance me but merely that those are the tools most likely to get and keep my attention. Are there those among us that need not experience the level of discomfort that I require?

I’ve learned that there is a more direct route, a better path, one not strewn with splintery planks and rusty nails. Conscious opening up is a gentler, kinder way. Though pain may be involved, the pain comes from a slow realization of my own erroneous thinking rather than messy life circumstances. Opening up to God who loves me and doesn’t wish ill on me (yet will allow it should that be my path choice) fills me with light and brings to my attention God’s all pervading goodness manifest in every aspect of my being. I need look nowhere else to find the solution to all my problems. Every answer is available to me but I must be open to receive. Like a screw top lid on a jar or doors on a kitchen cabinet, I open my mind and open my heart to listen with every fiber of my being. In the stillness, answers emerge, little by little, or all at once. Meditation prepares the way, sweeps out the cobwebs and makes ready the receptors.

More and more, as I open in awareness, I am experiencing the oneness I am with Spirit and the oneness I am with everything and everyone. This is magnificent.

Have a Glorious Day

Linda

Prosperity (con't) - Part 2

After my little gold PT Cruiser, crushed and maimed, was towed to the body shop, I received a rental car to use until the damage could be assessed and, hopefully, repaired. (Prosperity – Insurance covers rentals).

By mid-week I received the not-so-great-news that my insurance company was writing my car off as a complete and total loss. By now I had come to a place of peace and acceptance on this. I knew without a doubt that God had my back on this and I had an inner knowing (also known as intuition) that the scenario might pan out like this. I had begun to think about what I wanted to replace the Pt Cruiser. Certainly not another PT Cruiser! If going a max speed of 12 MPH could total a vehicle, I sure didn’t want another. I thought of the ramifications of traveling at say 40 or 50 MPH – my conclusions were not pretty. Nope, I wanted something sturdier. Like a small pick-up truck. Color – red!

From the time the insurance company told me of their decision, I had four more days with the rental and then I had to return it. Yet I had to wait for the settlement check from them before I could look for another car because whatever monies they gave me was all I had. Note the time lapse here – no more rental AND no money. YIKES!

Oh, you of little faith…

Happily, the check I received was twice what I imagined I would get, not a windfall but a workable amount. (PROSPERITY)

My son, Chris, was leaving the county for 8 days and graciously allowed me to borrow his vehicle while he was gone as long as it was returned precisely on the day he returned because he would need it immediately. PERFECT PROSPERITY! That took care of my immediate need.

The money arrived in my account on a Wednesday. I was going out of town the next day (Thursday)to fulfill a commitment I had made months prior and then return on the same Sunday that my son was returning and would be wanting his vehicle back. I would, on that very day, be vehicle-less. YIKES!

Except…

A co-worker had a nephew who was selling his little pick-up truck. A Ford Ranger. Can you guess the color? Yup - R E D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (PROSPERITY)

I got back into town on Sunday, early afternoon, and by late afternoon, my little red pick up truck was sitting in my driveway. (PERFECTLY PERFECT PROSPERITY)

I was able to purchase it, get some work done on it and buy a used washing machine (mine had died a week or two prior).

Oh…and by the way…I tithed on that insurance check…no hesitation or regrets. I wrote that check, as I write all my tithe checks, with joy and gratitude.

Wouldn’t you?

Peace and Love

Linda

Prosperity - Part 1

I recently completed a class offered by my church entitled “The 4T Prosperity Program”. I was excited about this class, assuming from the name that the focus would be mainly around the energy of bringing in more of the “green stuff”. Being a BIG FAN of the green stuff, I was all over that idea!

Within the first 15 min of the very first class, it was clear I had been badly mistaken about the whole “green stuff” idea – the focus on the class was actually to change consciousness which didn’t ring the way I had hoped it would but I did want to work on my consciousness otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen this church to attend. And besides, I was there and thought I might as well follow through and see what might happen.

The class itself cost $50 which I had to pay in installments and one of the main commitments of the class was to tithe. Now this idea scared me half to death. Though I had tithed in the past, I mostly felt that tithing applied more to other people than to me, after all, in the past I had given enormously of my time and talents so I figured God would cut me some slack in the tithing department. Besides that, this was most definitely NOT a good time to give away any of my money. I didn’t feel I had enough of it to spare, even for God. So I cried as I drove home that night, but then decided, “What the heck, it’s only 12 weeks, that’s 6 paychecks, I can do anything for 6 weeks.”

Almost immediately stuff started happening…and from the initial appearance, this “stuff” was not good stuff.

My plumbing, which has been an on again/off again problem in this nearly 65 year old house, began acting up. And by that terminology I am being literal as in not going down but indeed coming up. I called my plumber, “Billy the Plumber” but he was unable to get to me immediately. With gratitude I write here that I do have another bathroom which was not affected from the “obstruction” so I used that one until Billy could finally schedule a visit.

His visit was scheduled on a beautiful Saturday afternoon nearly two weeks later. I planned to run an errand or two in the morning and had just settled myself in my little gold PT Cruiser, pulled out of the driveway and drove three doors down to the stop sign when suddenly CRASH KABOOM, I smashed into another car. This was my fault completely having failed to stop at this stop sign where I had been stopping for 13 years! Why? I don’t know. Distracted by a garage sale on the corner, perhaps? So the cops come, I’m crying hysterically, got a $164 ticket but worse was that my little gold car was crumbled, undriveable – and I couldn’t have been going more that 12-15 MPH.

Billy the Plumber arrives later that afternoon and begins working on my clogged plumbing, commiserating with me sympathetically about the car (which a neighbor had already proclaimed “totaled” to which I cried even harder and louder with that bit of info knowing I had no way to buy another car) and the ticket blah blah blah.

Anyway, Billy works and works on my plumbing, unable to get the crap moving, muttering about how it was REALLY “ jammed-up” in there. I stopped him after about an hour and said, “How much have we spent so far because I have $100 and that is it. That’s all I’ve got. For real.”

He graciously said, “Nothing yet, I haven’t got you unplugged yet.” I was so grateful but as the minutes turned to hours, I knew he couldn’t do all that work for $100. And still the pipes were clogged. I walked around the outside of the house and the inside, visualizing light moving through the piping, opening up the way. While I was inside, he began packing up all his stuff. I figured he had given up. It was a hopeless case. And I literally had NO money for a more extreme method of unclogging. I asked him what should I do next and he looked at me quizzically, “We got it all moving again, you’re good to go! I about fainted with relief.

So the next big question. How much? Because he had worked non-stop for 3 1/2 hrs, it had to be an enormous charge, right? Billy the Very Fine and Bestest Plumber In All The World said.”$100”. Can you feel the energy around this? WOW was I blessed. Thank you God! Thank you God! Thank you God!

THAT WAS PROPERITY IN ACTION!

Stay tuned for more stories from these 12 weeks of classes. There’s a bunch.

Namaste,

Linda

I'm B - A - C - K

I took a hiatus from this blog months ago, expressing to you, patient readers, of the need to break for an imagined project of, what I then thought, was of great import and would consume my time.

It is certainty true that this latest leg of my journey is most definitely crucial, the pinnacle of import, but I have not been traveling in the direction in which I first embarked.

So I’m back again, for what that may be worth. I wish to share with you all of my discoveries, old and new. That of which I write is merely about one ordinary, yet at times, extraordinary life – mine. But it is my belief that my life is not much different from yours. Yes, our life experiences may vary but we are all connected, on a much more basic level than can be comprehended at first glance.

Read on in the coming days, weeks, months…I think I can help expose a glimpse of paradise to you, to all of us.

PEACE AND LOVE

Linda