Living Consciously June 10, 2009

Dear friends,

Emerson wrote: We may take what belongs to our spiritual estate; we cannot take anything else though all doors are open nor can all the force of men hinder us from taking so much.

We are unlimited in our ability to believe and choose, but bound by our beliefs and choices. It seems that the foundation of our choice making is the basic belief we hold about the nature of our nature.

What we believe to be the well spring from which we arise becomes that which we rely upon for everything: love, peace, intelligence, vitality, creative ideas. Should our construct of reality hold the view that all the Good we seek is in the world and must be bought or won, then we will make choices that give us proof of that. We will be limited in our experience. On the other hand, a deep conviction that God is within, that the Source is inexhaustible, that we are the outlet for our Good to be made manifest, fosters decisions that are not going to exploit nor harm anyone, but will bring more Good into the world.

Our dreams are the sequel of our waking knowledge, Emerson wrote. He well understood that we cannot expect Life to give us more than we are prepared to receive. If our knowledge leads us to believe in ourselves and humanity, we will find opportunities to prove the truth of that conviction. It is the character of our dreams that reveal what we hold to be true. Our biggest vision is simply a reflection of what we think is possible and why it can be realized by us.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev Carol Carnes

Living Consciously June 11, 2009

Dear friends,

Forgiveness is on the top of everyone’s list of things to do! We all feel we have been wronged by someone at some time. It often seems impossible to forgive an act of betrayal or violence. It could be years since the incident yet we carry the emotion of anger or sadness throughout our lives. How to let it go in a way that actually works to remove the terrible feelings that do not serve our greater good?

Forgiveness is nothing more than claiming our spiritual intactness. It is the realization that who we really are has never been damaged nor diminished by any experience we may have had. Our true nature is one of always beginning fresh in this now moment. It is the content of our awareness that gives continuity to our emotions. Should we spend some time in the presence of our own inner wholeness, the memories will tend to fade and lose their sting. We may even realize that in some way we have been responsible for the ongoing pain because we have refused to see ourselves in a larger context than the small playing field of this world.

Forgiveness does not mean the person got away with anything. It means we are greater than our experience and we can be happy and well off no matter what the past contained. It is rather like seeing an old movie again that once made you cry but now has lost the power to move you.

If you have been feeling stuck in your current life, whether it be in career, relationship or even your health, consider the possibility that there is some more forgiving to do. It is worth the effort!

Peace and Blessings,

Rev Carol Carnes