Actually, I love the book he wrote and him for doing so. The Power of Decision. This is the first book in years I didn't just nod "yes, yes, thanks for the reminder". It has really charged me up and every page is just soaked with wisdom. There is some meaty, juicy stuff to dig into here and I am learning deeply. Instead of feeling shaky on what I felt to be true, he is is just solidifying and taking it DEEPER. It isn't written like these self help, watered down safe versions. He goes for it.People in the waiting room at chemo and I get into discussions. I always find it funny, when I am struggling with a fear trying to sink it's teeth in and take me down like a zebra that straggled from the herd. Usually, on those days, I have someone, usually new, come to me saying how great I look, how vibrant I appear, and to hear I have (gasp) Stage IV and doing this for almost 2 years now....how can I be so dang positive?! So radiant. I always say "Today, at this moment I am happy, (or even not, I feel so tired, afraid) but I have days where I do let fear get the best of me but I don't fear fear. I just let it really wash through and don't struggle, because I trust there is an edge to it, and I won't be taken down. (Thanks to Jack Kornfield, the other GREAT book I have to read in small doses, because it takes years in integrate)
I watch, like a patient, compassion, detached monk, with unfettered curiosity to see what it is teaching me...to ride it out to its edges. For me in this cancer moment, I feel the most sick when I resist anything about my experience (I resist alot like resting, body signals to drink, sadness, fear, etc.). But when I pay mindful attention to what I am resisting, it just moves through quickly. Anxiety comes from suppression (for me) of any unwanted information or uncared for bodily needs.
I go on to talk about the core usually. That we all have the truth of who we are, the core, and that can never be broken. With the lady I talked to this last week (she approached me after overheaing a friend and I talking the week before), I describe it like this, "What God designed me to be before the world got a hold me of and I began to believe their point of view about myself".....THAT is the core. The rest is just circumstance passing around that radiant light of the core of me like fog passing round me. It can't become a part of me. It can obscure my view, halt my movement forward, but it cannot permeate that core. So just wait it out with curiosity and compassion. This ISN'T you, just an experience. Wow, what a great conversation we had. She was so amazing herself!!!!!!!! She had a great bible verse for this, but I don't remember what it was.
I have had this conversation in some form many times in the last two years. And my understanding of it is growing. When I do have a freak out moment, I know to NOT lean on myself at that moment. To call on a friend who can ground me in the truth of who I am, even if it is just through listening. Some are so skilled, that can speak words that let the smoke pass quickly.
This Sunday, I have been drawn back to a particular church again. It's greatness is in is simplicity. They started a new class based on a book called the Power of Decision by Raymond Charles Barker. And WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH. It is like what I was trying to say, but on such a deeper level. It is like a circuit board. I got the parts and pieces, but this book it connecting the bits and pieces and the board is lit up and powerful now. It is fluid rather than pieced together.
Some juicy bits from today:
- People who have added to the world, and expanded what the world thought was possible (airplanes, cars, equal rights, ending poverty) did so because they moved from a place of comfort, to follow a spark of a new idea. They were willing to change, to move from what was safe and comfortable to follow this spark of an idea. They did so with conviction and without pause. They accepted consciously or unconsciously, they were important in the grand scheme of Life (as all are).
- pg 46 " the real you is not on invisible, it is also immeasurable.
- pg 47 " it is unconditioned by time and space, it knows no limitation, only expansion, the unfolding of consciousness unrestricted by the past experience"
- pg47 "It is practical. Every improvement in the lot of mankind came about because someone expanded their consciousness (didn't stay where it was safe, and what they knew....the moved into a sense of knowing something different was out there and they were willing to make themselves uncomfortable for awhile to follow the spark of something new).
pg 48 "Consciouness, by definition, timeless, spaceless, and needs no means. It is complete in and of itself" (this is the core I keep trying to refer to)
pg 49 "It knows no dimensions and does not NEED them, but USES them to express itself. However it is not conditioned BY them. - our subconscious is"
When people realize these things, the shift. They are no longer people experiencing life. The are/were Life experncing ITSELF.
And this is just a few pages. Gooooood stuff. Good stuff.
I was asked to speak on behalf of a charity for those of us with children. They give us some financial assistance to help when the going gets tough. A small bridge, to fill in the gap when you need it. I turned it down. because this week, I got very caught up in fear. I didn't feel inspirational at ALL. But I used that as I sign. I was not listening to something that needed to be addressed and shifted. I was being indecisive and paying the price physically and mentally for it. I am glad she asked. I realized I was feeling ashamed. And one thing this book talks about it to NEVER feel guilty for learning, and learning means making mistakes. So maybe, if the door is still open I will speak. I course corrected and life has been so easy since then.
On Sunday, I read the opening chapter to this book. I saw my missteps, my indecisiveness. I cried my fears away. And as I did, we got a call, we got two offers on our house that day, the next day, my energy has been extremely steady today, and I am speaking without fear. Very cool.
Thanks Unity, Pastor John, and all your bright lights who make it impossible to walk in darkness, because you hold up lanterns on my path when I get lost. Love you all.
By the way. I had the numbers wrong. Doctor showed me my counts today, 79. Not 89. She is beaming again. She seemed almost dumbfounded at the "incredible drop off in numbers!! It is just beyond her..." Lol! She said to keep doing whatever it is I am doing. I get the impression this is unusual. :) lol!
Jenna
Here are a few random highlights
