Life Questions for the New Year

Life brings change; welcome and unwelcome. The difference between the two is often only a matter of perception if our basic needs for food, shelter, safety and belonging are being met. Here in the United States, many of us are fortunate enough to have abundance in these areas.

Last week I caught myself envious of a colleague who is about to build a new home. Huge bedrooms, great room, backyard, kitchen, etc. A dream house for her and her partner. Oh, how I did covet the ability to do that! I began to think about my lack of financial resources, played the blame game (and I placed a good bit of it on my own shoulders, I'll have you know) and completed a solid course of internal whining.

But, thanks to long Life and self-reflection, my thoughts eventually turned to all the wonderous things I have done, seen and experienced, in my time on this planet. I started to think about all the plans I have set in motion and the desires I have yet to fulfill. Perhaps a poor choice on my part, but I have never been interested in accumulating anything other than Love. And even that I am learning to give before I receive (slow going on some days, but I am learning!). But , I sometimes worry about the day when I will be considered old. Will I have enough to survive - to provide for my basic needs?

This culture values many things external to the inner Life. Whether that has a positive or negative impact on our lives is a relevant conversation. If our basic needs are met, what guides our choices? Is it the accumulation of material and physical things or is it our reason d'etre, our purpose? What is our purpose in Life and how do we know if we are fulfilling it? What choices do we make if fulfilling that purpose does not bring us the wealth we see around us? Should we change course or plod onward? I have found myself considering these questions over the past few years.

Who are we? and Why are we here? become central questions that begin in adolescence and continue throughout our lives. How we answer these questions deeply influences our outcomes. The choices we make as we define ourselves can have long term implications. As a nation we are riddled with divorce, isolation, longing, violence, poverty, and an unquenchable desire for more of everything. We are chasing joy, and while some of us find a bit on Sunday, most of us take comfort that the "other guy/girl/group" won't find favor with our God. That somehow we are better, by virtue of our beliefs.

And if I choose to follow the path designed by my inner Life, as I most certainly will, I realize I am engaging in a massive experiment. The creation of reality, my reality, on this planet. With its ripple effect on the rest of the collective consciousness, what I believe and live has power. And the same is true of you. (Lakota Clay has a nice piece on the noetic sciences and the expansion of our consciousness - check it out at the link on the right).

Most of us just want to get from one day to the next, make sure our children are safe and healthy and protect whatever possessions we have that we believe are valuable. Given the stress and strains of Life, the level of violence we tolerate and perpetuate, and the barriers that keep us separate from one another, these goals are by no means small ones. Yet, it seems to me that there must be a way to live more harmoniously, with less fear and so much more ease in fulfilling the basic needs of Life.

I think it requires a change of mind. That we see ourselves as connected to one another and make our decisions from that perspective. That we allow ourselves to be guided by what we know in our hearts is true. That we offer help instead of punishment, Love instead of hate, truth instead of convenient excuses. Those are huge changes. And along the way there will be hard questions about how to react when we are feeling attacked, when others are not changing and threaten our well being. I wish I had answers for these questions, but I am just trying to navigate my way through the change along with my fellow pathmakers/pathfinders.

I do know that there is a tipping point. The point at which enough people have changed their minds in favor of Love that the course of human existence will be changed for the better and that change will be unstoppable. There will be enough people believing in living Life from a place of inner Love, truth and joy that the differences between us will no longer be reasons for fear, pain and death.

In my heart, I know that all of us are powerful. The sun shines on the just and unjust alike; Love is for everyone. I am lucky that many of the people I come in contact with are of like mind and spirit. They support me in remembering and understanding my purpose, in the face of those circumstances, ideas and emotional responses that might derail me. I am grateful for their Love and kindness.

This holiday season, as you go about your family and religious ceremonies, think about what is really important in your Life. Ask yourself the central questions Who am I? and Why am I here? Then jot down a line or two and add them to this site. I'd like to support you in your quest to live Life from the inside-out.

That the sun will shine brightly upon you is given. My prayer is that you recognize its warmth upon your face.

Away

Sometimes far away is better;
a little distance,
a new perspective.

My dreamcatcher holds night dreams of you;
bringing the gifts of your voice,
your laughter and
your touch
to the place of magic
where I am only who I am
without censure.

Dreams that wriggle and squirm
like toddlers in search of freedom
like you
they have stepped off into a different bright and colorful future.

But these days are not like the old days.
I guess I mean they are not like my young days.
No baleful of tears, no wailing, no bemoaning of my fate.

Instead I burn sage,
shed the cleansing tears,
open the inner chamber doors and breathe the perfect breath of Life.

I am a woman
and I have lived disappointment by the heartful.
I am not easily broken, chipped or cracked by what might have been
but is not.

I am fully formed,
a woman.
I understand the turns of Life
with its sorrow-filled lessons
and resultant new skin, new path, new hope.

Still,
there are moments when I long for a plane ticket and a suitcase,
for a place in time and space
with no memory or hope of Life with you.

Sometimes I know that far away is better.