Surrender

It has been quite a while since I've entered anything on my blog.  Not really sure why other than I've been traveling (in consciousness and reality) as well as just plain busy with spring chores.  My travels have taken me to that condo in the valley a few times.  Happy to report they were quick visits that resulted in more clarity and growth.

 My "real" travels took me to South Beach, Florida to visit some good friends and recharge at the beach.

I'm so grateful to Yuriy and Irina for their hospitality and friendship. It was great reconnecting with some of Ulya's Russian heritage as well.

A day in Key West (my favorite place in the whole wide world) made the trip absolutely perfect.






Since my last entry, I've been reading quite a bit.  One of the books that I have found very insightful is The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson. I have always found enlightenment in her books but one chapter in this book really resonated with me, "Spiritual Surrender."

Surrender to many means giving up; however, this chapter gave the word a completely different meaning.  Marianne Williamson writes "To the spiritual mind, surrender means giving in and receiving."  As a self-confessed control freak, giving in is not something that has come easily to me.  I typically know what I want, know how it should be done, and may be very frustrated when it doesn't unfold exactly like I think it should. Surrender? Maybe......

It was probably at one of my condo visits that surrender became something I wanted to consider.  I must admit there were a few times since my last blog that I was pretty "down."  I meditate, I pray, I listen, I read.  And things just don't change.  Not that my life is that bad.  In fact, I really have a very blessed life; however, it sometimes seems otherwise.  The chapter on surrender appeared during one of those periods and I finally "got" it.

Now along with all those positive affirmations that begin my day, I also add statements of surrender.  And I am actually surrendering to that Divine Presence and Power....not just saying I am.  I have truly embraced letting go and letting God.  And guess what? my days are unfolding much more smoothly. Yes, I still become unglued and upset when life gives me lemons.  But I love lemonade and lemon meringue pie!  And since I now am a regular visitor to 24-hour Fitness, that lemon meringue pie isn't doing the damage it could.

My statement of surrender each morning goes something like this:

Dear God,
I surrender to You this day, everyone I meet, all that I do.
I surrender to You my hopes, my dreams, my failures, my discouragement. 
I surrender to You my finances and my financial agreements.
May I be a blessing in all that I do today.
And so it is.

Namaste,

Mareda