Victim or Victory?

In the past, my life has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. Things would go my way for a little while and then suddenly it would be as if a rug had been snatched right out from under me. It’s hard to maintain a positive attitude when you look around and see so many bad things happening to folks. Even more difficult, when it is happening to us or members of our family and then we compound our own situations by trying to fix what is happening to the others we care so much about. Without even realizing what we are doing we assume their burden as our own.

I want to share something with you that has taken me almost 13 years to realize. Every single thing that happens to you in your life happens for a reason. Even the bad things, most especially the bad things, there is a divine plan in action even though it may not always be apparent. You may not think so at the time, but when all is said and done you will benefit from the experience. Every detail of your life was planned out before you ever came into existence.

Sit down and make a short list of troublesome situations you have experienced in the past. Limit your choices to things that occurred at least five years ago or longer. Now sit down and reflect on how your life was changed by those occurrences. In almost every situation I think you will see that you are better off as a result of what happened to you. Maybe you were fired from a very important job and now you have employment with less stress and more money. Maybe a relationship that you were completely committed to for 15 years ended, but now you find you are with the person that you have searched for all you life. Just look and you will see you are better off than you were. It was something that you had to experience to reach where you are today.

If you happen to find yourself in one of those situations now, there are a couple of things I want you to remember. First, nothing is ever as bad as your mind makes it out to be. If you will look back at past situations, you will find it really wasn’t all that bad and you made it thru just fine, though it may have been a difficult time in your life. Second, other people’s problems are just that, other people’s problems. They have their own lessons to learn just as you did. If you are in a position to help and you can, by all means do what is right. I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t lend a hand, I’m only saying don’t tax your spirit trying to resolve a situation that only the person involved can fix.

My next door neighbor is a deeply religious woman. She developed breast cancer and had to go thru all the horrible treatments and surgeries. I was talking to her one day in the garden and she told me she was losing faith. She didn’t know what she had done to make “God” turn his back on her and allow her to suffer as she had. I told her, Janet, this is not who you are, you are strong in your faith, you encourage people. You have always been a light in the darkness and you hold on to that. She did that and more, she took flowers from her garden to the treatment center, she prayed with the other patients that wanted her to and she read poetry to people as they waited. She found before long, she was feeling better even on the bad days and her spirit was lifted.

A few months later she saw me outside again and told me how the other patients she had seen were telling her what a blessing she was to them during the treatments. Some even told her that they would have given up were it not for her. I told her Janet, God didn’t turn his back on you; he put you where you could help others and make a difference. She could have never fully understood how they were suffering had she not gone through it herself. Her God would have never put her into that position, if she was not strong enough to persevere; in the process I believe she saved the lives of others. To this day Janet is certain, that was the reason for her battle. Now this is an extreme example, but you can see the point I’m trying to make. I myself suffered an enormous personal tragedy many years ago. To this day I have yet to know why I had to experience what I did, but I find great solace in knowing sooner or later the larger picture will be revealed and it was not in vain.

Today’s homework: Search for the silver lining…

You are not being punished and there is a higher purpose in all that happens. Though you may not see it now, one day it will all be crystal clear and you will know it helped create who you are as an individual. You can not always control you circumstances, but you can control how you choose to respond to them.

Living With Purpose

About a week ago I decided I had to become more focuses on my spirituality. No matter your beliefs, you have to incorporate them in your daily activities. If you are a follower of Jesus, bring him into your life every day, if Buddha is the deity that brings you to a higher consciousness practice daily, if it is the God of the universe or Gaia that give you strength then worship them daily. Sounds easy does it not? You would think so, but the truth is no it isn’t. We get so caught up in living life that we aren’t experiencing it. Before you know it, day after day, after day of your life passes by each day busier than the next. Though I strive do a little “inner work” on myself every day, I find that I am easily distracted by the daily activities and my good intentions fall to the side. I asked myself what I could do to stay focused on my path. Then it occurred to me, everyone is writing blogs these days; I’ll sit down every day and type out what I did to make me more connected and make me a stronger child of light. I’ll keep an online diary, but in the long run how would that help me on my path. Would documenting my studies really do anything to help me stay focused and how would it benefit me in the long run? Then it occurred to me, maybe I shouldn’t do it to help me, maybe it should supply a higher purpose. Maybe I should use what I’ve learned to try and make a difference in someone else’s life. It hit me like a ton of bricks, instead of always trying so hard to help myself, maybe I should channel that energy to a less selfish purpose. What can I do to help someone else? I think that is my lesson and purpose for this particular window period.

We spend our days running around like crazy. We get up, get ready, take the kids to the sitter, go to work, pick the kids back up, go to the grocery store, go home, start supper, wash clothes, clean the house, pay bills take a bath, go to bed and get back up and do it all over again. But in reality when you sit down and think about it, what did you really accomplish? What did you do that made a difference? How did you impact the people you were around today? Don’t get so caught up in daily activities that you forget to live. Not only do you need to live, you need to live life with a purpose. Don’t just exist, do something that makes a difference. Are you sitting there wondering what you can do? I can’t tell you. It has to be something you feel inside and that you can fit into your lifestyle. Ask for guidance, I bet you’ll be shown the path to take. ;-)

Today’s homework: Create an intention and put it into action…

A good way to start in your search for a purpose is to follow the words of Mahatma Gandhi- “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Whatever you feel strongly about is a good place to start looking.

The Light Bulb Moment

I’m not the type of person that reads books just for the story. Anytime I’m reading, it will usually be a book about spirituality, psychology or something else that will enrich my life or help me grow as a person. One of the most inspired times of my life was when I read the book ‘When you can walk on water take the boat’ by John Harricharan. It was a life altering moment for me, finally I found an author that had the same view of religion as myself. At last, someone had put into words what I was unable to describe. It was around 1991 when I was first given this book to read. I can’t begin to tell you how many copies I have given away over the years. I was totally at a loss when I realized the book was no longer in print and I was unable to get a copy of it.

There was no possible way to determine who the last person was to borrow it from me and I had decided it was gone for good. There had to be some way for me to find another copy. Following my instincts I got on line to start searching. I was able to get in contact with the writer via email and he sent me the book I’m speaking of and also the one that followed. He also took a moment to hand write a message in both books on the dedication page. They are two of my prize possessions.

‘When you can walk on water take the boat’ is believed to be the life experiences of the author, but he will neither confirm nor deny the story. At any rate, it is a book that has forever changed my life. It helped add solidity to the beliefs I’ve had since I was a small child. It was also the catalyst that started me on my journey as a student of life.

I want to encourage you to explore new possibilities. Get out of that little box you were placed in as a child and understand that there may be more to life than you’ve been told. Just because you explore other people’s beliefs does not mean you have to accept them as your own and it does not mean that you are less dedicated to your own religion. I explore all religions and condemn none for their beliefs as long as it does not harm another. By approaching it with an open mind, I have learned so very, very much. Some of it I retain, other parts of it I dismiss, but it is all a learning experience.

Today’s Homework: Open your mind to new possibilities…

John’s book is no longer in print, but if you would like to read it you can download a copy of it absolutely free of charge here. There are no catches or strings attached, it downloads the e-book and you can start reading it immediately. It is an extremely generous gift from the author himself to you.

Giving Thanks

One thing that I know with all my being is that life is so much better when you are grateful for all the gifts that are given to you daily. I think it’s so easy for us to get caught up in all that is going on around us that we don’t take time to realize just how many times in one day we are blessed. Every morning when you crawl out of the bed you are presented with choices. The two biggest being that you can have a good day or a bad day. I can promise you if you wake up in the morning and take just a few quite moments to think about just how incredible your life is, you are going to have a wonderful day. No matter what your circumstances are, you have something in your life for which you need to give thanks.

So many times I witness people taking things for granted and my higher self whispers to me, uh… oh, someone is about to get a dose of reality. I have yet to see this fail to happen. If a person brags constantly about a possession, job or situation they have or are in and they carry on as if it is owed to them. Life has a way of stepping in and taking it away. I speak from past experience on this and I have seen it way to many times. Every single day, when you wake up in the morning, you have been given the gift of another day to make a difference in this world.

I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t spend near as much time being thankful for things as I should. I don’t know why, it always makes me have such a glorious day and it’s so simple to do. I have a private spot that I go to and watch the sunrise. Let me tell you, if you want to feel close to your creator, you find a quiet spot. Watch the sunrise, while the entire time saying from your heart, I am so thankful that I woke up with a loving person lying asleep beside me. I am so thankful that I have the eyes to see this sunrise. I am so thankful for the abundance that is given to me every day of my life. I am thankful I have food on my table when so many don’t; I am thankful I have a job to pay that mountain of bills. I am thankful I am in good health. You will be filled a bliss you haven’t felt in a long time and a masterpiece will unfold before your very eyes.

Today’s homework: Give thanks for the blessings in your life…

I would like to suggest each morning when you arise give thanks for at least three things in your life. When you go to bed, say these words. “I am thankful for what you have given me, I am thankful for what you have taken from me and I am thankful for what you have left behind.”

The Beginning

I guess, I should back up to the beginning to tell you how I began this journey. I never have been one to believe in traditional or organized religion. As a small child I would attend church with my mother’s sister. I was very young, about three or four years old. My parents didn’t attend church but they encouraged us to go. Even at that very small age, I knew something inside of me just did not connect with the loud man at the front of the church yelling out scripture at the crowd. He was always so mad looking and spoke of a vengeful god that would punish you if you didn’t do exactly what you were told. I knew from that very moment that I didn’t believe a word that he was saying and I decided church wasn’t right for me.

A few years passed and I returned to vacation bible school and church in the evenings. I thought maybe I would feel differently as I grew older. I still felt the same. I just didn’t understand how one man could tell me his interpretation of scriptures, that have been translated from language to language and think it is the only way it could ever be. My days of going to church were over.

So, I grew up not knowing exactly what to believe. I did know there was a higher power in control and we would answer for out actions while we are on this earth. But, I also knew that there was much, much more going on around us than we were taught to see. I just didn’t know how it all worked, and I still don’t, but I am learning.

About 18 years ago my first teacher appeared and to this day she is one of my very, very dearest friends. She was a patient at a hospital where I use to work many years ago and that is where we first met. Late one evening after I had been working for over 14 hours, she came in to have an exam done. I was exhausted. During a conversation I was having with her she asked me what my astrological sign was. I told her I was an Aquarius, she reached into her purse and took out a little cloth bag filled with crystals. She pulled out two small pieces of raw amethyst and gave them to me. She told me to keep them in my pocket because they had healing properties and would help me keep my temper under control. I was fascinated as she pulled out one beautiful stone after another and told me the life enhancing properties of each stone and what healing powers she believed they have. She also gave me a small book that was a child’s guide to crystal energy. As I read the little book, I was absorbed in the entire concept of what I was reading. I already new about the electrical energy produce by our body and I could see how it was possible that since quartz contains a measurable electrical energy, one could possible have an impact on the other. With this thought a whole new world was about to open to me. Of course I had my share of nay sayers when I first started that practice. My response was, give me scientific proof that it doesn’t work… I still have one of the small amethyst stones all these years later. It is one of my heart's treasures. Do they actually have healing powers? I suppose it all depends on how strong your belief is... the mind is a powerful thing.

Today’s homework: Believe all things are possible…

Our minds have been trained to believe we need proof of everything to validate it. How many times have you heard someone say “Prove it”? Instead of believing something is not possible until it is proven, try believing all things are possible until someone can prove that it isn’t.

The Introduction

I chose the name ‘Crossing Through Windows’ because it was used to describe changes in my life. A dear friend of mine, that I will speak of in detail in the next post, would always tell me that I was about to cross through a window when I was having periods of extreme difficulty in my life. Once I stepped through the window, I would be more enlightened and I would also be able to see exactly why I had to endure the circumstances I just experienced. Usually, just as suddenly as trials appear, they tend to disappear equally as fast. I may deal with something for months and suddenly it’s all over and when it is, I always seem to have a heightened sense of awareness. I have crossed through many windows in my life… I know in my heart of hearts, that there is something grand and beautiful going on in our lives, we are all connected with this incredible energy and we have all felt it at some point or another. We were designed to feel that way all the time. Unfortunately, we get so caught up in the day to day activities of our lives we don’t see the synchronicity around us. It is my deepest heart felt wish that this blog will help me as well as others grow as spiritual beings and keep me focused on my path. I will discuss and invite you to discuss all sorts of topics here. No negative comments concerning anyone’s personal beliefs will be tolerated in any form or fashion. This sight is meant to be food for the soul and an introduction to a world with infinite possibilities. I hope it grows into a wonderful thing that will be enjoyed by many.

Today's Homework: Find beauty in an unexpected place...

Don't get so focused on outside appearances that you can't see the beauty within. Whether it be people, places, things or circumstances.