Faith and Fear

I believe we are here as a soul to have an experience.

Every event in our life- everyone we meet -have been strategically placed in our path in a Divine way to afford us an experience.

When it is a positive experience we can apply Faith that it is Divine.
But- when the experience is senseless and tragic- we have learned to apply Fear and cannot believe that there is anything Divine at work.

Fear is the absence of Faith.

Fear makes us a victim to tragedy- Faith offers us a freedom that it is purposeful in the Divine plan in our life- or the experience of another.

I have experienced many tragedies in my life. In the moment- it is very difficult to think that there is a Divine purpose- it makes me angry- it makes me helpless and it makes me want to control the uncontrollable.

Faith allows me to release my need to know- to control the outcome and be present to the event.

There are many things at work that I cannot understand from my limited perception as a human being. This is where I know- through Faith- that as senseless as it seems- there is Purpose.

In retrospect- I have seen these events inspire significant changes- without them happening, these changes would never have occurred.
Out of the rubble of despair- great things have been born.

Here is the thought for the day-

“There is nothing that wastes the body like worry,
and one who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry
about anything whatsoever”

Mahatma Gandhi

A Comitted Life- The road to true wealth

The situation with our economy is a ‘wake-up call’ for our society and the way we’ve chosen to live.

We’ve skewed the priorities; where material wealth and 'things' have us working 2 jobs- putting our kids in the care of strangers. We pass our partner like a ship in the night, and generally having been financing our happiness.

We are spending our free time addicted to reality programming.
It's more amusing to watch the pain and drama in other people's lives than tuning in to your own reality show.
No one is tuning in to your life and it's chaos and drama- including you.

So how do you define a successful life?

I believe that true happiness asks us to re-evaluate our priorities
and accept our part in our unhappiness.

We need to stop blaming and get accountable.

We need to embrace gratitude.

We are being called to become truly powerful in our lives.

Purely accountable to what is really important for each individual.

Getting re-invested in our happiness by removing the things, thoughts and actions that are not Peaceful Loving and Joyful.

Not and easy task! But worth the effort.

Our disposable society has us devaluing things, people and relationships.
We are demanding more and more- but giving little.
And yet, we are dissatisfied.

So... you think your boss is a jerk and you can't get promoted? Maybe you have a bad attitude. Maybe you are not clear in communicating what you want. Are you a team player?.... It’s not so easy to just quit your job, because jobs are scarce- how can we better communicate, set a boundaries and find a common thread that brings us together?

You hate your neighbors or the neighborhood- and can’t move because you house won’t sell- but when was the last time you went out and helped your neighbors- or sat on the porch- played with the neighborhood kids (or your own for that matter)or started a watch group or had a block party?.

No one is responsible for your happiness but you.
It's not the money- or the job- or the house- or your boss- or your kids- or your partner.

It's YOU- you are part of the equation.

There is a personal investment and responsibility in commitment.

This change is forcing us to get INVESTED in our happiness;to be accountable to our job, our family, our home, and our neighbors.
People have been in a form of denial..

It's like waking up to a blaring horn and realizing you've been sleeping in the middle of the street; then wondering how you got there.

But the good news is there's hope!
By becoming accountable, instead of blaming;
we can own it, fix it and change it.

Human's only learn through pain and don’t really value what we haven’t worked for-
so put on your overalls- roll up you sleeves and dig in!

We can then lay a blueprint for our future- for our children's future.
Where a world of suffering, chaos hate and blame are something we read about in a history book.

Marianne is available for personal and spiritual development classes- seminars and one on one coaching sessions.

Change- The river of life.....

Change
I always share in lectures that human beings only learn through pain. Sounds grim but it is a fact....and resistance to change is the cause of suffering for many of us..We will do anything to avoid pain.

Change is a constant state; What I believed to be true from my limited perception in youth; due to lack of experience and my inflated ego- came to be a humbling.But I could not see that until I looked back in my adulthood.

Lack of faith-insecurity, ignorance and ego are the saboteurs in our ability to accept change.

What brings peace is understanding that there is a current under the canoe of life and no matter how hard we paddle that current is going to take you down river.

I am an avid canoeist- and we would take 3 day river trips- sometimes with people who never canoed in their life..We would stay in the rear and watch as the river took a turn, and in the bend there would be a tangle of debris. We would tell them not to paddle- but steer only at the bend- but inevitably they would not listen. It was amusing to watch people paddle their proverbial butts off- only to get caught in the debris- having to get out and drag the boat- as we gently and effortlessly glided past them...

Life is like that. We are faced with change and we resist, we struggle to stay where we are. With what is familiar- where we feel powerful.

Change asks us to admit we don't have all the answers, that there is an exciting opportunity waiting around the bend. We would rather struggle and fight- but inevitably the current takes you downriver- around the bend. Whether you like it or not.

Let's embrace change- not as something to fear- but as a chance to stretch- learn something new to explore the journey on the river of life...

Just remember as my friend Chuck used to say ":Just go with the natural flow of the river!!"

Then you can just enjoy the view....

Thought for the day

The river- Garth brooks
You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores
And I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
It has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance that tide
And I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
With the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all
And I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Lord, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

The embodiment of Empowerment- A Parable

The embodiment of Empowerment

The embodiment of Empowerment-Marianne Goldweber

Empowerment is an interesting word. It’s not about giving someone power- it is encouraging, supporting and nurturing the power that is within everyone.
We tend that seed of our purpose- our greatness- that lies within us all….

I will share with you a gardening parable…..
Life is like a garden.

The seed already has within it, the power to be what it is destined to be. The gardener gives it fertile soil, moisture and the loving act of nurturing; as the seed becomes a sprout. The gardener continues to tend for that fragile sprout until it’s roots take hold and it is strong enough to seek it’s own sources of nourishment.

This is where the wisdom of the gardener knows she must wean the plant, gradually exposing it to the elements, as it instinctively reaches toward the sun. This makes the plant more hardy and self sufficient.

The gardener must encourage the plant through this weaning process- to drive it’s roots deep or the plant will not have the ability to withstand the drought, storms and winds that the gardener knows will come.

Each plant is unique- and the gardener gives each what it needs. Some of the things that the plant really needs- the gardener knows she can’t provide. The plant’s needs are far below the rich topsoil, and above; through the energy of the sun.
The gardener gives the plant-in the sowing and tending- a beginning that will increase it’s chances of survival, and in spite of her tender loving care- some plants may not thrive. It’s not solely through the tending that determines if the plant will survive.

The gardener knows when to come along and pull the weeds. She waits before giving the plant water or it will become dependent on the gardener.

The gardener rests and waits for the harvest and then enjoys the fruit of her labor.
Every season must come to an end and eventually each plant will die. But the gardener is not sad, for she knows the plant will pass on that wisdom to the seed that it carries- and she will teach others to tend the garden-and those seeds will go forth to be planted in the next season, by wise and loving hands.

Within each of us lies the seed of our destiny;
and within that seed is the love of the gardener
and the wisdom of the source from which it came.

.

The Christmas angel..a parable....

The Christmas Angel

My 12 year old son wrote this for his English class...

The Christmas Angel
It was Christmas Eve, and God was looking at the Earth. He saw horrible things. He saw that the people were selfish and greedy. They were cutting down the forests, and they were killing the animals for fun. God was very disappointed with the humans and flooded the Earth before. Maybe he needed to do that again.

God called a meeting with every single angel in Heaven. He said, "I have been thinking about allowing a fire to destroy the Earth." "I have many angels down there to wake the people up, but they won't listen. They are selfish and busy with being greedy. There is no Peace or Love." said God.

One of the Angels stepped up, his name was Chamuel- he was the angel of Tolerance. He said "There are many people trying to help the Earth but are having a hard time because they don't want to listen. "I know that change is coming, if we could just give them more time." said Chamuel. Then God said, "Chamuel, if you can find 3 people that are kind ,loving and giving in 12 hours, I will help the people save the Earth. " Chamuel said ok, and God made him a homeless man, like many of the other angels he sent before, and put him on Earth.

God put Chamuel in front of a mall in Michigan. He was wearing an old brown shirt, torn jeans and tennis shoes- or at least he thought they were tennis shoes because they were held together with duct tape. He had no socks, hat, or gloves and his coat was filthy. He saw himself on the window at Sears, he looked pretty bad. He started walking around asking for money. Everyone he went up to said "No!". Some of them said "Get away freak", "Get a job", "You stink". Some ignored him. "Maybe God was right" Chamuel thought. Just then, a man came up to him and said "Here's a sandwich" and gave him the brown paper bag, and a twenty dollar bill. Chamuel thanked him as the man scurried to work. "Yes! One down, two to go and I still have nine hours left" said Chamuel. Just then the security guard grabbed him and told him to get out of there.

Chamuel walked and walked for a long time until he found a park. There were kids playing in the snow. They were sledding and having a fun time. He sat on the bench to eat the sandwich the man had given him, when he heard a crash of breaking ice and a kid yelling for help. Chamuel ran over to the pond where the kid fell in, he jumped in and pulled him to safety. Just then, the boy's mother came running over yelling at Chamuel, asking what he did to her son. He tried to tell her that he sledded into the pond, but she was screaming for help. It just so happened that a policeman was driving by, and he stopped, hearing the woman yelling. Chamuel was frozen and wet. He explained to the policeman, but he put him in the police car anyway. The officer gave him his coffee and his gloves, and a blanket from the trunk. He told Chamuel "You better go to the hospital; you might have hypothermia and frostbite." The policeman said he would drive him there. "See God, I told you there is Love here" Chamuel prayed. One to go, but he had less than an hour left.

He got to the hospital emergency room and went up to the nurse at the desk. He waited but she ignored him, then she looked up and asked him if he had money to pay. He said "No, I don't" She was rude and said "Wait over there with the others" and pointed over to a group of homeless and poor looking people who were waiting too.

He sat down, and saw a man on a stretcher off to the side in a hallway. He looked like someone he knew. Chamuel got up and went over to him. He was very old and homeless too. He knew this man! He was Ezekiel, an angel messenger sent here by God, a long time ago. Ezekiel was dying. He was getting ready to go back to Heaven. Chamuel said "Ezekiel, is that you?" Ezekiel said, "Chamuel, my old friend, I failed my mission, I could not get people to understand. Now I am old and my time here is done." Chamuel said, "You did your best," and while holding his hand, Ezekiel died. Chamuel cried, for his friend and for the people of Earth. His time too was short; he had just 15 minutes left.

As Chamuel went back to the waiting area a small boy came up to him, he had a small bunch of flowers. The little boy handed him a tissue for his still watery eyes. He asked, "Was that your friend?" Chamuel said "Yes, what is your name?" He said, "My name is Joshua, My mom has cancer. I'm waiting while she has her treatment. Sometimes I get sad too, because I'm afraid she is going to die." A nurse pushing a woman in a wheel chair came over. Joshua said "Hi Mom!" this is my friend. She shook the Angel's hand, and said "I'm Jenny, it's nice to meet you." As Chamuel shook her hand, she felt tingly all over. Her son was the third and final person,that through his kindness and Love saved the Earth.

Chamuel gave Jenny and her son Joshua an amazing gift that Christmas Eve, he healed her Cancer. Chamuel let go of her hand and said "It's my pleasure to meet both of you too. I'm sorry, but I have to go, Merry Christmas!"

Chamuel walked to the elevator.He got to the elevator and there was Ezekiel already there. "Ready to go?" said Ezekiel. "Ready to go." said Chamuel. They pushed the very top button that only the angels can see, and when the doors opened they stepped into the light of Heaven.

The End.

"Continue to love on another, with true brotherly love, don't forget to be kind to strangers for some who have done this entertained angels without realizing it." Hebrews 13:2