My spiritual practice became a moment by moment experience when I began practicing nonviolence back in the 90’s. I studied the nonviolent teachings of Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, Rev. James Lawson and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.. I had the great blessing to study with Rev. Lawson who was a mentor to Dr. King. These studies informed my way of living and being.
In practicing nonviolence, I learned to put aside the ways of behaving that other people have taught me and developed a willingness to stand in the moment now and experience it with greater and greater awareness. I no longer was interested in investing huge amounts of my energy into taking offense at things that had nothing to do with me.
Still, every day I am discovering more clarity about my true nature in order to live and act from that inner being and the knowing of Spirit. One thing I truly have in common with everyone on the planet is that no two of us are alike. We’re all unique and we all have something to offer that is precious medicine for the collective.
Ralph Waldo Emerson advised us, “Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you have only an extemporaneous half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him … Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare?“
Today, I recognize the value my life has and the power of the contribution that I can make if I’m willing to practice being loving, forgiving, patient, kind, and generous of heart. The preciousness of this human experience and the opportunity to be myself, to love myself and to share freely is a miracle every day.
I notice my behavior, my responses and reactions, my choices and actions and I ask myself if they come from my authentic self.
The more I express who I truly am, the more vibrant the whole world is. I practice being my true self by being loving and appreciating my uniqueness as well as the uniqueness of everyone I meet.
We’re all one, and we’re each unique. Each one a precious gift. Together we form a tapestry of Love.
LATEST PODCAST EPISODE: The latest episode of my podcast’s topic is Attraction of Death Cont’d: Obstacles to Peace – Part 9. We’re healing at the level of the mind, and it’s working!
