Maneuvering Life's Highway

There are always going to be people and things that cut you off on the highway of life.. but how you maneuver and respond makes all the difference...- Marianne Goldweber

This quote was inspired by a car adccident the other day. I was driving along- listening to  the radio, the sun was out when all of the sudden- I saw an accident about to happen. I check the rear, tried to maneuver around it, but one of the drivers cut in front of me and I when I tried to maneuver away  we collided anyway.

After the initial shock and aftermath I had some quiet tome to reflect on that situation and how it pertains to Life. 

Many times, we see  the situation coming- but we can only prepare so much and there are going to be times that no matter how much we prepare- things are not up to us. There are others involved and we can never anticipate how they are going to respond in the same situation. The outcome is  now out of our control and  we are left with  the impact and the cleanup.

Had I not been  careful and alert; armed with many years of driving and past experiences- this could have been much worse. So the lesson here is; You can only be adequately prepared for the unknown- how everyone will respond  in  life's situations will affect us- but there is great purpose and learning in each and every one for us and everyone else. :)

The Path

crawling
rising
stepping
unsteady
falling
crying
rising
angry
determined
panting
puffing
climbing
slipping
defeated
bruised
broken
resolute
resilient
excited
careful
curious
strong
courageous
grateful
methodical
pondering
believing
purposeful
aware
conscious
liberated
grateful
jubilant

Marianne Goldweber

Spiritual accountability- the key to freedom

We are groomed from birth to feel  pain, pleasure, disappointment, success, guilt,  and a myriad of emotions. However- as psychic spiritual beings- we are not taught how to separate the feelings or emotion of others from our own.

For most of us, culture and  spirituality are very separate. Unlike  most indigenous cultures, where the relationship from  Creator to man is not separate; that they co-exist with the Divine.  This teaching includes  a  great responsibility to themselves, the children  and communities to stay on the Good Red Road;  to serve selflessly and care for their brothers and sisters be they  human, animal, plant or stone.

Lives of honor, truth and accountability to defend our planet- our Mother. Their thoughts and actions  leading the way. Remembering that any negative experience that they have,  has been created for growth- not as a punishment, but as an event to gather knowledge and  use to evolve to a place of wisdom. Through those teaching, they become  the wizened  example of a committed life.


Now, in our  western culture there are few leaders, that we hear of  regularly, who can fit into that category. The leaders that we hold  above and emulate are famous; however, not for the most  honorable reasons. They are entertainers, or politicians, or  recognizable because they are willing to put their dysfunctional lives on public display for money.  Material wealth- not character, gives them a higher status of respect and reverence.

This is a culture of blame- not ownership. It's always someones fault for the suffering.- the victimization that  permeates this negative culture. So instead of becoming a leader- we seek out diversions to escape a painful, uninspired existence. We numb ourselves with  anything that will take us away from  the truth  of our lives for a while. We use alcohol, drugs, antidepressants and other pharmaceuticals, shopping,  technology, television and video games.

In order to keep the illusion going, we must work  grueling  jobs we hate, for people who remind us that we are expendable. Just so we can  buy more stuff, or pay for the stuff we bought- while our children are in  day cares with strangers.

Where are the Heroes, the Elders, the Wise ones?

We are the future- what we feel in our depression is the pain of our  changing world. The chaos and drama of others. Until we clear our own  life and home,  and create peace- we will not be able to understand and defend ourselves against the assault of negativity that surrounds us.

We must first decompress-  and assess where we are, what we want and what is truly important in our lives. To (possibly for the first time) look at who we are authentically, not who we have been told to be. We must stop and gather our thoughts and  take a  clear look at what we have created while we were diverted- or asleep. It is in that stillness  that the Divine speaks. The loving,  higher knowing,  reminds us of  the better way.

As we awaken- and make changes, it becomes easier to know what makes us feel good, loved and peaceful. We can then  come to see the source of what does not. It's then, that we can choose to  create purpose filled lives, and begin to set boundaries to the fear and  unhappiness of others.

You are the hero, you are  the one you've been waiting for. :)

Be the change you wish to see- and you will find that the world is not as bad as it seems. There is Hope, Love and Joy. You will meet others,  just like you that had the courage to lead.
Then the ripple will be created.

Independence Day

I woke up today, thinking about Independence and Patriotism. they are both  interesting words, meaning;

Independence-freedom from the control, influence, support and aid of others. 

Patriot-a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.

a person who regards himself or herself as a defender, especially of individual rights, against presumed interference by the federal government.

I was reflecting on how the United States wanted their independence from England- that  they wanted the  freedom to self govern. I was thinking about all the people who saw this country as a place where they could be free to think for themselves, to make money by creating their own business, to take care of their families, to believe what they wanted and to escape from persecution. 

Some of our inhabitants were not here willingly, but enslaved and eventually earned their freedom. I think about the Native peoples of this country, and every country- the First Peoples- our Native American brothers, who have had to relinquish their freedom in order for us to have ours; who still suffer today.

I thought about the courage and challenge and effort it took to be Self Governing, and to stand in that truth amidst the criticism of the naysayers, critics and large powers who sabotaged that  fight for Freedom at every turn.

I see the result of that Dream of our ancestors, and ask- would they be proud of what we've become?

I saw a commentary by Tony Blair on what makes America great- and I have to say that it inspired me as a Patriot. I don't always agree with  our politics, or  the decisions our government  makes- but I do believe that by having the Freedom to not agree; I am blessed to live in a place that allows me to do that. 

It is through the hard work- determination of  every immigrant that made this country what is is  and through the kindness and tolerance of our Native peoples, that I have these freedoms today.

I am inspired to  see tomorrow as my own Independence day- to be free from the tyranny of  the greatest enemy- myself and seek to  be self governing- disciplined and  raise my flag in truth, integrity and faith. 

I will strive to be courageous and blaze my own trail .

I will seek to be independent and pull my own load. 

I will not burden another with my lack of accountability.

I will defend that independence and be a beacon of it in  this world.

I will be an expression of my Faith.

I am proud to be an American and a Patriot- and Our United States,  like any family it has it's quirky bits- but we love each other and will do whatever it takes to defend it and  keep it together.

That is what makes us great. :)

 

Guides- a parable

Two spirit guides are on the other side having coffee....

Cleo- "Hey Bob, how's it going?"

Bob- "Pretty good, had a rough week with my assignment"

Cleo- "Amen brother-  there's a lot going on down there now."

Bob- "There is so much chatter and interference that  she can't hear me. Although,  most of the chatter is that damn critical voice of hers. She's constantly on that computer,  and don't even get me started on that cell phone. She keeps saying the same things over and over. 'I need guidance, I need help, send me more money.'
I sent her money last month and instead of paying her bills, she bought something called a cafe late' and a video game system for the kids' I really hate to watch her struggle. I even sent a messenger as a little old lady in the grocery store, but she passed her by. "

Cleo-" No one said this job was going to be easy. They don't get enough sleep, so I can't even get the team together for Dream time messages. The challenge Bob, is that they never learned how to look for the signs we send.  My assignment was looking for a sign about the relationship she was in  and I posted a sign on the back of the truck in front of her at a traffic light that said   'You deserve the best'  but she thought it was funny and brushed it off as a coincidence." 
Bob- "It's hard being invisible. Can you pass me a doughnut?"

Rain

Rain

Anxious feelings stir
as the rain approaches.
Not because of the storm-
but the drought within me.

 My Soul thirsts--
cracked and parched
as the Painted Desert.

In the distance
the Thunder gently rolls
announcing the arrival of
the Thunder beings
bringing the much needed rain.;
the nourishment and cleaning I need.

Like the parched grass- I wait.
The fist drops kiss my skin;
Then another
and
another

Relief.

In the rumble of the thunder
I hear the Sacred Voice as it whispers-
‘Drink, let me quench your thirst Daughter
and wash away the dust that clouds your Vision.’

To the Great Sky Nation
I raise my face.
The rain washes me gently.
As it mingles with my tears,
it refreshes my Soul.

Marianne Goldweber

Walking the Good Red Road in Faith

I know that until any of us take the 'final trip ' the truth  about belief and faith is just a speculation. None of us knows first hand the  mysteries that the Universe holds.

There are many spiritual  paths to adopt and allign with that describe our personal 'Belief' and whatever our connection is to the Divine- and that choice is personal.

Our need to criticize, judge and admonish the 'belief' of others seems inaccurate- for there is no 'truth' except for the personal truths that we each hold and express through Living our Faith.

Our lives are the example of the path that we follow- there should be no need to 'convince' another of the rightness of what we believe. If we are living examples of what faith brings to our life- then my Life is my Testimony- there is no need for words to explain my spiritual choosing.
 I remember as a child,  there was a song that we used to sing in school- it was called- They will know we are Christians by our Love. I would observe others and see if I could 'see' who the Christians were. I tried to see if  you could really know if someone was a follower of Christ just though their actions- as an expression of Christ's love. Walking examples of the  teachings of Christ.

If I was to sing this song now- as a woman of faith I would sing it "They will know I'm a _________ by my love."...... Am I? I try to be, and hold MYSELF to that  observation. When people meet me- am I a walking example of my Faith? That is my question.

When I leave this journey- I want to go to  the Source of all there is with clean hands and a glad heart- and none of the other things will matter. My impression on those I have met and leave behind, is my testimony.

Just pondering today..... :)
Marianne

Let us pray to the One who holds us
in the hollow of His hands,
To the One who holds us in the curve of Her arms,
To the One whose flesh is the flesh of hills and
hummingbirds and angleworms,
Whose skin is the color of an old Black woman
and a young white man; and the color of the leopard
and the grizzly bear and the green grass snake,
Whose hair is like the aurora borealis, rainbows,
nebulae, waterfalls, and a spider's web,
Whose eyes sometime shine like the Evening Star,
and then like fireflies, and then again like an open wound,
Whose touch is both the touch of life and the touch of death,
And whose name is everyone's, but mostly mine.
And what shall we pray?
Let us say, 'thank you.'


Reprinted with the author's kind permission. Reverend Max Coots is the Minister Emeritus of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Canton, New York. © Max Coots.