The Posture of Power and Responsibility
“I am thankful for my struggle, for, without it, I would not know my strength." ~ Alex Elie
Behind everything we say and do, there is a thought and behind every thought, there is a desire - a reason, a why.
These intentions are directed by Love (the Heart) or by fear (the ego). The ego will always measure, prove, and judge; the Heart will always Love, allow, and hold. This is why it is of the utmost importance that we learn how to shift intention out of the ego and bring it into the heart - so that what we truly desire can be manifested.
We do this through the Purity of our words - those that give birth to Absolute Truth - through the Humility of viewing our beliefs and actions honestly, and within the vulnerable steps enlightened by Grace that reveal the intentions of a fearful ego. To do this, we must stop judging, comparing, or trying to be "right", using everyday life, all feelings, emotions, and thoughts as grist for the mill.
I notice this as part of me spirals through our home like some dirt devil on a mission. The part of me that likes to control the narrative wonders how my family must look at me when I am not the stillness that I desire or espouse - then a deeper part notices how I am judged and how it feels to believe I am being judged. And then a higher part notices how it is their dharma and duty to see that what is happening within me, is also happening within themselves which wakes me up to what is happening in me!
Each time I feel judged, I notice I have to understand by whose yardstick I am feeling judged ... each time suffering reminds me that it is my own!
Each time I snap back, each time I defend, each time I blame, each time I distance myself from the truth of the matter - that right now in this flame of anger or this wrench of despair I can rise, I can see that "it is up to the most conscious person in the situation to break the chain of reactivity" (Ram Dass).
It is not the responsibility of the earth to save me or free me, or in the actions of another to forgive me; it is in the spiritual response - in the recognition of consumption - that "I know my strength." When I notice, it is like being released from a whirlpool - I surrender these assumptions - unkind thoughts and lies - and I am returned to Love.
Love is known by many names: Sat (Truth), Chit (Consciousness), Ananda (Bliss)
The mind calls Buddha, "May this mind be obedient to the Absolute Truth."
The body calls God, "May this body serve Conscious Wisdom."
And the Heart calls Christ, "May this heart serve this Bliss - this birth with the promise of death - and this story, with the promise of eternal potential."
Amen