You know the rest of the story. The serpent talked the woman into a fruit salad,
who shared it with the man. Followed almost immediately by the Bible’s first lesson
in taking personal responsibility (or not).

But notice the words in Genesis 2: the knowledge of good and evil. What is that?
A belief in separation–that there somehow could be good vs evil.

Consider how that belief (conscious or unconscious) in separation effects our lives.
That Spirit (God, the Universe, or Higher Power) has to travel from some distance
to zoom in and fix the situations we have created.

Byron Katie reminds us to not believe everything we know. We know it because someone
told us. But what if it is not true? How would our lives look if we really recognized our
Divine Nature–that we have the hearts of Divine Love, the mind of Divine Wisdom, and the
lives of Divine life?

Click on the link below to listen to my talk from last Sunday…

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In honoring and celebrating the life and talent of Whitney Houston, I was reminded of this song that she recorded.

On this Valentine’s Day, whether you have another beloved (besides yourself) or not, how will you honor yourself and this “greatest love”? What do you say about
yourself?

My dear friend and mentor, Edwene Gaines, says that “my life means what I say it means.” If we say (whether verbally or in our thoughts) that we are powerful and power-ful beings, that we are a blessing to the world and that the world is a blessing to us, that is our truth.

What I know for you is that everything in your life is exactly as it should be.

Depending on how your life looks, that statement might surprise you. But when we step back from judgment, away from how it is “supposed to be” based on someone else’s rules and regulations, we can honor ourselves for how far we have come, the opportunities and lessons we have learned, and face today (and every day) with excitement and anticipation of new and wonderful blessings. Every experience has been there to bring us a blessing, whether it seemed like it at the time or not.

A Course in Miracles reminds you that you are host to God. (Remember that Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you.) How different would your life look, today and every day, if you were consciously aware of that in every moment?

Today, you don’t have to send yourself candy and flowers (unless you want to). But I challenge you (and me) to experience that “greatest love,” in the remembrance that you are the beloved of God. Not anyway, but period. And then act accordingly.

When you do, the most amazing things will happen. When we decide that we deserve only the best, and settle for only the best, Life responds (because as we know,
Life is a mirror of our beliefs) with only the best in our relationships, our health, our money, and in every other area. Godiva or Whitman’s Sampler–always our choice.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

But how would our lives look if we decided to be our own Valentine? If our best friend came to us and described a challenging situation in their life, we would most likely counsel them in compassion and unconditional love. Do we treat ourselves with the same love and compassion?

We know that, as Alan Cohen says, “there is no future in the past.” We must stay out of resentment and regret, recognizing that every experience in our past was there to bring us a blessing and quite possibility give us the opportunity for a lesson. But when something comes up, do we also feel that?

Click on the link below to listen to my talk entitled “Will I Be My Valentine?”

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This, of course, was before the days of direct deposit, the internet, and scanning checks to be deposited on your smart phone. But suddenly you didn’t have to stand in line in the bank (between the hours of 10 and 4, thank you) in order to make a withdrawal.

We’ve come along way. I sometimes find myself feeling a little inconvenienced if the internet moves too slowly, or if I do have to go to the bank and stand in line for 5 minutes. Spoiled? Perhaps.

As you may know, A Season for Non-violence is the annual 64 day campaign celebrating the lives and work of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King. Non-violence sounds like something governments and countries should do. If they would just _______________(and feel free to fill in the blank), the world would be a better place.

But I believe that violence is more than just physical. It is also in the ways we treat one other–anger, resentment, bitterness and the need for forgiveness are also forms of violence.

Our decision to be non-violent starts with a willingness to change. Change is most often inconvenient–we may have to do something we have never done before. Giving someone the benefit of the doubt; putting ourselves in their position; being willing to not take their actions personally.

I choose to consciously experience this year’s SNV personally, by allowing myself to be inconvenienced, and by being aware of how I can be more loving. Won’t you join me?

Yes, I enjoyed Madonna’s half time show, and the message about world peace. And the commercials were fun, as always (especially the little boy in the sling shot, stealing his older brother’s Doritos, thanks to help from Grandma).

But I was routing for the Patriots. Because we lived in Boston for two years; and because our dear friend Pat, who made her transition last year was a huge fan (Pat being short for Patricia as well as for Patriots–cute, huh?).

There was also that nagging irritation about what happened in the 2004 NFL draft. If you’ve been in San Diego for awhile, you probably remember that Eli Manning was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, but refused the offer, because he wanted to go to the New York Giants instead.

Never mind that it was up to Eli to make a decision that was best for him. We were, and many of us still are, highly insulted. And what makes matters worse is that Mr. Manning now has two Super Bowl rings as a result of playing for the Giants, and the Chargers have, well, you know…..

Chances are that Eli will be very busy over the next few weeks, making new television commercials. And I can stay stuck in my anger and resentment, jumping for the remote control every time he comes on the telly.

Or, I can forgive.

In this Season for Nonviolence, I believe there is more to it than physical violence. There is also emotional violence, through anger, resentment, bitterness and the need for forgiveness.

Yes, he probably should have shown more respect to the Chargers and the City of San Diego. But, as A Course in Miracles reminds me, I can choose to be right, or I can choose to be happy.

There is no better moment than this one to begin to forgive the Eli Mannings in our lives.

Something happens. There are facts about what happened (the who, what, when, where, period). But then we tell a story about it.

If you were with me in church on Sunday, you know my Costco story. There on Saturday, buying food for a party and for a gathering with my family. Those were the facts.

But then….story number one was being there at noon on Saturday (can you even imagine), trying to find a parking place, maneuvering around the hoardes of people there for lunch, parked crossways in the aisles grazing on the free samples and / or talking on their cell phone. Etc., etc. etc.

Story number two was the opportunity to walk a little further in the warm and beautiful San Diego sunshine, Costco having exactly what I wanted, lots of people out having a great time, and checking out in record time.

If I stick with story number one, my state is struggle, lack, irritation and inconvenience. Story number two is all about ease, grace and joy. It’s always my choice as to which story I want to tell.

Click on the link below to listen to my talk from last Sunday entitled “The State of Our State.”

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Often, after we do that, a well-meaning friend, or the news, or our ego (which some people believe stands for Edging God Out) will remind us of all the reasons why those wonderful things couldn’t possibly happen. And often, after we get those messages or ideas, we accept them as our truth. The reasons why wind up being excuses.

Our reasons / excuses may have been with us for a long time. Perhaps your goal or resolution is to finally stand in your truth and change the dynamics of a relationship that no longer serves you. But you might have been taught that children should be seen and not heard. We are someone’s child, no matter how old we are. Or that the meek shall inherit the earth, which could be used as a reason / excuse for playing small.

But what if we looked at it all and made the decision to change what needed to be changed? Click on the link below to listen to my talk entitled, “Yes, but…”

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The word Epiphany means to reveal. This particular day was the day that the wise men found Jesus. Consider their experience. They went to King Herod, and asked where Jesus was (and you may recall that Herod wasn’t especially thrilled). They watched and followed the star. The point is that their epiphany was an active process. They didn’t just go sit in their tents and watch football until someone brought them the news.

So it is with us. Jesus reminded us that for us to receive, we need to ask, seek, or knock. Just sitting in the corner and hoping for whatever it is won’t do it. Our manifestation may not require physical work on our part, but we must at least make the decision on what it is we wish to experience, and then do our affirmation prayer.

Click on the link below to listen to my inspirational message from January 8 on this subject.

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In this moment, we are creating how we will experience this bright and shining new year.  Just like planting seeds in a garden, Life always “grows” for us whatever we plant.  Will we harvest a year full of financial abundance, wonderful health and loving relationships?  Or will 2012 pretty much be a carbon copy of 2011?

Someone said that the Universe is conspiring to bring us our good.  But we have to say “yes” to it.  How do we do that?  By consciously choosing what we want to “harvest” this year, keeping ourselves focused on that, and then moving our feet.

Life (God, Spirit, the Universe, our Higher Power) is for us.  It is only our old B S (belief systems) in struggle, lack and dis-ease that keeps our wonder-ful and amazing good from us.

What happened in your life in 2011?  Did you receive greater financial good?  Was a physical challenge or relationship healed for you?  Did you buy or sell real estate, dispite the appearance of a difficult market?  I’ll bet, if you look back, you can find many of those “ordinary miracles.”

Well, because Life is for us and always brings what we expect, we will experience greater and more wonder-ful ordinary miracles in 2012, if we expect them.  The same power that works in our relationships works in our money.

“Just imagine” the good that Spirit has for you.  And then do your part.  Keep your focus on the good that is yours now, because you have planted the seeds.  Do your daily spiritual practice (affirmations of what you want, not what you don’t want; meditation and prayer; coming–or coming back–to Church; attending classes). Need some help?  Just ask.

On December 31, 2012, wouldn’t you like to be able to look back at the year and say“wow”? We are planting those seeds today. Just imagine……

 Edwene is the essence of my concept of that statement.  She only does what she wants to do, only flies first class, and goes to amazing and wonderful places.  Her best-selling book The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity has been translated into Spanish, and she is working on a new book about forgiveness.  She has absolutely no debt—the beautiful retreat center, her home, and brand new Lincoln Town Car are all paid for.

 It wasn’t always like that.  If you have read her book, you remember that she had experiences such as being abandoned by her husband, eight months pregnant, in Hong Kong; and dealing with the appearance of no money while trying to support a young daughter.  So how did she get to this point?  She walked through the fire, with the statement: “I choose to believe in my self and my dreams.” (Edwene will be with us in person for a workshop on Saturday, March 24, so you’ll get to hear more about her path.)

 The physical experience of walking on fire is indescribable.  (You’ll have to come to Church on Sunday if you want to know if I walked this time….)  As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, and the birth (and rebirth) of the Christ consciousness within us, we have choices to make.  Not just what to get Aunt Sally, but also what gifts will we give ourselves?  Will we decide to “play with the big kids” and release judgment, resentment, regret and limiting beliefs, or will we launch into the new year tethered to our old stuff?  Newness requires change, which sometimes requires walking through fire (with no flames or heat involved, but intense just the same).

 But when we believe in ourselves, and our dreams, we can do that, knowing we are always loved and supported. 

There’s no place to go to get more of Spirit–all the Light, Life, Love, Peace, Power, Beauty and Joy that we will ever have is right there within us, because that’s where God is.  We just need to give in and receive the greater gift. 

I’ll be sharing thoughts on our experience of these attributes of Spirit in my emails and posts throughout Christmas week, starting with Light on Sunday.  And be sure to be with me Sunday morning starting at 10 a.m. for my topic “Instructions for Walking on Fire.”