Let's let it be Easy!

I recently reconnected with an old friend, Rev. Marty Bacher. While visiting, Rev. Marty reminded me of something that I had said to him in 1994 when I was assisting him start a new church in the area. Rev. Marty said that he would never forget my words, "Marty, let's let this be easy!"

I needed that reminder. We are all so bombarded via email and Internet with the activities of hordes of people living their dream. I had begun to feel overwhelmed by the possibilities of connecting with others to get my message out.

I then had an experience that would forever change my life. I have a very green thumb, or maybe, as a friend once said, "Joy you don't have a green thumb, you have a green body!" I had planted a pomegranate tree at the corner of my patio. A few months later I turned the patio into a greenhouse. As the little tree grew, holes were made for it to be able to exit through the fiberglass roof. When the tree grew to over 20 feet tall, I began to encounter an issue. There were electrical lines going beside the tree, and it was so huge that the trimming of the branches began to be an ongoing thing.

One day I noticed that the branches were once again touching the wires. I thought, "Man I just had those trimmed in April." I didn't want to deal with it so I ignored it. Bad move.

We had 70 mph winds come through in a storm. The branches put so much weight on the electrical wires that the housing connected to the electric meter was at a 45 degree angle instead of being vertical. Thank goodness it didn't rip the wires right out of the meter!

I apologized to the tree and told the tree that it was time for it to become mulch. I called the man whose crew helps me take care of my trees. They were supposed to come on a Sunday afternoon. No crew. I called the crew, and was told they would be there the next day. No crew the next day. This went on and on and I was getting frustrated, judgmental, and negative about the whole thing. 12 phone calls, 3 days, and still I had branches on my electrical wires. Every time the wind blew I felt nervous and was in angst.

Then I remembered the "Let's let it be easy" wisdom. I went into my quiet space and realized that I had gotten embroiled in a power struggle about this tree. I simply opened my heart and visualized the tree being gone in love and joy and ease.

About an hour later, I was 5 minutes away from leaving for an appointment, and the crew showed up. No forcing, no "I am going to make this happen." They just showed up. They removed the branches and all was well.

I was left with a valuable lesson. When I find myself in a power struggle with a situation, I can only create discomfort. I am not in the flow. It is my job to hold the intention for what it is that I desire, and then relax, release and let go.

When I continue to affirm "Let it be easy" I remember that my job is to hold the intention. All the pieces will fall into place at the proper time and in the best possible way.

Being "in" the world but not "of" the world

This morning I found myself having thoughts that, if manifested, would not take me where I want to be. I know that thoughts create. What was I thinking? How did I allow myself to start to wash down a river of fear and negativity? How did I move out of gratitude? I know better than that? I had allowed myself to mentally and emotionally link up with the current group agreement (in the world) of fear and lack.

How easily we can shift from what we need to be thinking to create our world the way we want it to be, to thoughts that are going around in the world.

I once heard a story about a group of psychics that assembled in order to find a missing child. Throughout the night, the predictions grew more and more horrifying. The worse the stories became, the worse the stories became. The psychics had moved into group agreement and had lost their center. They had lost sight of their own knowing.
The child was found the next day, safe and sound. I heard this story many decades ago, and it made quite an impression on me about the value of staying with my own knowing, regardless of what is going on around me.

More than at any time that I can recall in my life, the world is being challenged economically. If we move into group agreement, and begin to focus on the challenge rather than the solution, we will sink into the negative darkness. What good can come from that?

I wonder what would happen if everyone on this Earth began to affirm prosperity, and enough for all.

I think it takes 100% conviction and commitment to stay with what I know. I can tell countless stories about other times in my life when the seemingly impossible occurred. When we stay open to it, that open door allows the good to enter.

When we stay determined to rise above what is going on around us, we will shine. That seems to me to be a great place to be.

Simple solution: Decide what I want, make a 100% commitment to be there, hold true to my intention no matter what, and reap the rewards. Tune out the thoughts and words of others around you. Hold true to your vision.

Embracing Change

Wise words: Don't be sad that it is over. Be glad that it happened!
I cleaned out my garage this weekend and came across quite an array of camping gear that dated back to when my sons were still little boys. I thought about all the great times we had on the beach, in the woods, and in the water. I wondered if I would have chilled out with them more if I had known how busy they would become as young men. As I looked at the camping gear, I remembered how close we were and the great hugs and conversations that we shared. I shed a few tears. Then I thought about the many blessings that they now bring to me and to the world as young men. I felt the pride of knowing I had sent them off into the world with open hearts and wise minds, with self confidence and a life viewpoint that would take them to great joys and accomplishment.

Every day is a new day. Life brings change. Change IS the one constant thing in life, isn't it?
Even a beautiful sunset fades and gives way to the sparkling stars in the night sky.

So it is with all things in life: relationships, a vacation, a great holiday, even segments of our lives.
What I have come to realize is the importance of embracing change. When something is over, the key is to look forward with great and positive expectancy. We may not know what is coming next, but we must know that it will be something good.

I have seen so many people who attempt to move forward in their lives, but they do so with one foot still in "what was" and looking over their shoulder toward the past. Their energy is spent on wishing it wasn't over. They may be stuck in regret or in blaming. They may be angry.

My advice: Accept that it is over. Grieve a bit if need be, and do it knowing that the grief will pass quickly. Now ask yourself, "What's next?" Go create something wonderful to be your "what's next!" Embrace change. Keep your heart open and expect wonderful things to come your way. When you do, it will surely come easily and swiftly.