Seeing Beyond the Unknown
Fear of Losing What We Have
One of humanity's biggest fears is losing what we have. It is healthy when fear of loss helps us take steps to protect what we have worked hard to attain, but it is unhealthy to continue to fear something we can do nothing about. We need to remember that focusing our energy on fear can actually create what scares us, and holding tightly to what we have keeps us from participating in the universal flow of abundance and instead creates stagnation. Since we can only really control our thoughts and our responses, gaining proper perspective may be key to conquering such fears.
The letters of the word "fear" can be used to stand for "False Evidence Appearing Real." Fears of being separated from something or someone we feel we need for our security or happiness comes from a delusion—a distorted way of understanding ourselves and the world around us. When we understand that possessions are only representations of the energy at work in our lives, we can shift our attention to the right and proper place. We can stop fearing loss of money or success because when we understand how it is created, we can always create more. We can stop fearing loss of possessions when we realize that they are not the source of our joy or well-being but only icing on our cakes. And when we understand the energy of love, we need not hold anyone too close for fear of losing them for we know that love does not diminish when it is given or shared but expands beyond boundaries of time or space.
By focusing our light on our fears, they are revealed as mere shadows that disappear in the presence of mind and spirit. We can choose instead to direct our thoughts and creative power toward things of true value—love, abundance, peace, passion, and joy. These are energies that are always available to us when we place ourselves confidently in the universal flow of abundance.
Human Contact
Kate Nowak
A woman I know, let's call her Dorothea, tells me another story. Every evening she hears her neighbors' baby girl crying in the apartment next to hers. The parents put the child to sleep alone in the dark. The baby cries for a long time while the parents watch television. The baby's desperate crying expresses all her anguish, her solitude. What should Dorothea do? She is uncertain. Speaking to the parents might make things worse. She decides to sing. Just as she can hear the baby, the baby can hear her. Every evening when they put the baby to bed, Dorothea sings her sweet lullabies, talks to her through thin walls, consoles and comforts her. The baby hears the invisible friendly voice, stops crying and falls peacefully asleep. The warmth of a stranger's voice has saved her from the icy cold of loneliness. ~ Piero Ferruci
We all yearn for the warmth of human contact, whether we are rich or poor, young or old, our need for warmth is hardwired into our being. And just like the baby, when loving human contact is missing, we each, in our own way, make our plaintive cries in the darkness of our loneliness. Fortunately, we each have within us the ability to put an end to this human chill factor. We can do this whenever we reach out to those around us; each time we sing a lullaby or speak gently, or offer a reassuring smile, a tender touch or even a simple look of understanding, our warmth is shared. This is a basic human kindness in which we can all partake. And in a world that tends to isolate and divide, it is also necessary for our survival. It is the one kind of global warming we should all encourage.
Soles vs Souls
Author Unknown
I showered and shaved, I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat in a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer, as I closed my eyes,
I saw the shoe of the man next to me touching my own and sighed.
"With plenty of room on either side," I thought, "why must our soles touch?"
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine. But it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: "Our Father," I thought, "this man with the shoes has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!"
"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet, "Amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer, but my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren't we supposed to look our best when walking through that door?
"Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought, glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended, and the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud, sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters. His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear the shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering. And what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out, what the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft "clink" as when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me to tears, and that's no lie.
It must've been the same for the shoe man, for tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service, as is the custom here,
We must greet new visitors and show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow and wanted to meet the shoe man,
So after the closing prayer I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old, his skin was dark, and his hair was truly a mess,
But I thanked him for coming, for being our guest.
He said, "My names' Charlie. I'm glad to meet you, my friend."
There were tears in his eyes, but he had a large, wide grin.
"Let me explain," he said, wiping tears from his eyes.
"I've been coming here for months, and you're the first to say, 'Hi.'
"I know that my appearance is not like all the rest.
"But I really do try to always look my best.
"I always clean and polish my shoes before my very long walk.
"But, by the time I get here, they're dirty and dusty, like chalk."
My heart filled with pain, and I swallowed to hide my tears,
As he continued to apologize for daring to sit so near.
He said, "When I get here, I know I must look a sight.
"But I thought if I could touch you, maybe our souls might unite."
I was silent for a moment, knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison. I spoke from my heart, not my head.
"Oh, you've touched me," I said "And taught me, in part;
"That the best of any man is what is found in his heart."
The rest, I thought, this shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am that his dirty old shoe touched my soul.
Summon Your Aliveness
Being Fully Present
When we are fully present, we offer our whole selves to whatever it is that we are doing. Our attention, our integrity, and our energy are all focused in the moment and on the task at hand. This is a powerful experience, and when we are in this state, we feel completely alive and invigorated. This kind of aliveness comes easily when we are absorbed in work or play that we love, but it is available to us in every moment, and we can learn to summon it regardless of what we are doing. Even tasks or jobs we don't enjoy can become infused with the light of being present. The more present we are, the more meaningful our entire lives become.
Next time you find yourself fully engaged in the moment, whether you are making art, trying to solve an interesting puzzle, or talking to your best friend, you may want to take a moment to notice how you feel. You may observe that you are not thinking about what you need to do next, your body feels like it's pleasantly humming, or your brain feels tingly. As you enjoy the feeling of being located entirely in the present moment, you can inform yourself that you may try to recall this feeling later. You might try this while driving home or getting ready for bed, allowing yourself to be just as engaged in that experience as you were in the earlier one.
The more we draw ourselves into the present moment, the more we honor the gift of our lives, and the more we honor the people around us. When we are fully present, we give and receive aliveness in equal measure. For today, try to be fully present in your daily activities and watch a new reality open for you.
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