Stories

Yesterday evening I came across Gabrielle Bernstein's website. She is one of many motivational speakers and coaches appearing in our world today. As I watched some of her videos and listened to her, I felt a connection.

One remark she made especially resonated with me. She said we all have "our story/stories." Her message stressed the importance of sharing stories especially for those who are called to be "lightworkers." This morning as I scrolled through Facebook, I came across another message from another lightworker also indicating the importance of sharing stories. Having been around the metaphysical block a couple of times, I took this as a message from the Universe or God or Mind that it was time for me to share my stories. So here goes my first story.

A long, long time ago, I had pitched a tent in the land of despair. Newly divorced, lonely, unhappy. There was not a negative emotion that I did not feel. Misery was my constant companion. However, even in the midst of all this despair, something within me knew there was a better way. I had pretty much given up on God. Lost, alone, miserable. I gave the God I knew then an ultimatum that I really needed help and if He existed,I expected a miracle. The miracle I wanted didn't come right away so I went to the grocery store.

At that time I shopped at a Kroger store at Big Bend and 141. Kroger no longer exists in St. Louis and the building is now and has been vacant for years. But that shopping trip changed my life. 

For some unknown reason to me then, I went to the section with paperback books. I really wasn't interested in getting another one. Heaven knows I had enough to start my own book store. My eyes and attention went to the self-help books. This was not my usual choice of a book. I was into romantic novels where the handsome man would rescue the helpless maiden and they would live happily ever after. I remember thinking why am I looking at these books and turned my attention to my usual literary genre. The next thing I knew this book fell, yes fell, into my cart. It was written by a woman I had never heard of but the title hooked me. "The Inner Path From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be" by Terry Cole-Whittaker. Not really realizing what had just happened, I bought the book. My miracle manifested at the book section of a Kroger store!

That was 30 years ago. In that book, I discovered so many thing about life, about God, about me. I also discovered Religious Science. Another book led me to The First Church of Religious Science in St. Louis. That book was the Yellow Pages. The first time I stepped into that church I was at home. It was the first step of a path I continue to follow. 

Do I believe that book was about ready to fall anyway? No. Do I believe that a Power greater than me picked that book up and put it in my cart? You bet your sweet life I do. There are no accidents. Did my life immediately become easy and sweet? No.Was my path easy and clear? No.  But from that moment on, I realized that I was not alone. I no longer believed in the God of my chldhood. I now knew God was so much more than a bearded man in the sky. 

This is my first story. There are many others. What are your stories? 

Namaste,

Mareda

Change

It has been said that the only constant in life is change. The first time I heard someone make that statement, I shook my head and thought this was so wrong. However as time has passed, I find this statement to be true. I also find this to be comforting.

What if every day of our lives stayed the same. I'm sure many who are reading this think their days are the same. Wake up, go to work, come home, get dinner, do chores, go to bed, and repeat this same scenario the next day and the next. But are they really the same or do we keep them the same?

My life is changing again as it has many times over the years. I've prayed about this current change, meditated upon it, taken steps to move it forward. And now that the momentum is increasing, I find that an old feeling is trying to make headway into my psyche. Fear. It creeps in when I am falling asleep. My old friend, the ego, making sure my sleep doesn't come easily. It creeps in when unexpected events occur in my life that might affect my finances. It creeps in when I question my heartfelt desires. It creeps in when I question my self worth.

Yesterday, I allowed fear to be my buddy. I embraced it for what it was. I cried. I took a nap. I invited it into my meditation. I examined it and then bid it farewell. Fear is a product of not recognizing our truth. It comes to us in moments when we are weary, when we feel off center, when we forget our source.

I remembered during the process of embracing my fear that I am bigger than it is. I remembered that I had asked for change to occur. I remembered that change can be scary when trust is missing.

So today, I shall continue to move forward. I shall continue to do my mental work. I shall continue to know that I am a child of God. I shall continue to live life on this plane of existence loving every experience. I shall continue to know that I am more than enough. And when I doubt, I shall love myself even more.

Most importantly, I shall remember why I came to this planet at this particular time. Why?

To Love and to be a Healing Presence!

Why are you here? 

Namaste,

Mareda