“I will go against my brother
but I will join my brother to go against my cousin,
but I will join my cousin to go against my neighbor,
but I will join my neighbor to go against a stranger.”
~Arab Proverb
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
~Matthew 5:44
Humanity has lived in survival and fear for a very long time, whether that be on the very physical level of our being, or on a seemingly more sophisticated political, ideological level. It all of course ultimately affects people’s physical and psycho-spiritual well-being, and even more so depending where one is on the economic strata of life.
Unfortunately, we are still living in the paradigm of the enemy. Whoever opposes us becomes our enemy, even on the most subtle of levels. With my own recent upset of abruptly being asked to leave from my accommodations I could feel how easy it would be to see my host as the enemy. There were moments of accusation and judgement beginning to rise within my being, but before they could even form a solid thought in my mind, I firmly said, “No!” And instead I opened to love.
And I kept opening, and I kept praying, and I kept loving, and I kept quelling any notion of judgment rising.
A couple of other housing opportunities arose, but none that were suitable. I kept loving. And when the time felt right I had a conversation with my host and she agreed for me to stay through the end of the month when I will return to the US to sort and sell my things and arrange my life. I bowed down in gratitude.
I have been contemplating love and prayer. Prayer opens me to deeper love, and love opens me to deeper prayer. In prayer we are ultimately asking to know, or acknowledging, that we are loved and supported, whether it be for ourselves or for others. In the above quote from Matthew, the words love, enemies, pray, and persecute, all start to flow for me into one energetic swirl of new life, rising above humanity’s fear and survival, and instead opening to a new dimensional way of living.
Please join me in this act for humanity. Anytime, judgement rises, say “No!” and pray to know your own love within. When that feels real and grounded, let the love spread out. This takes enormous discipline given what is unfolding all around us. A quote from 2 Timothy 1:7 gives us heart. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
This is the time for us to live into and use the power of the Spirit within. The power of love, the power of self-discipline.
I thank you for all of your prayers and replies. I am now waiting on confirmation for a lovely home for the winter when I return to Ireland. One needs patience here in Ireland for folks to call. There is no urgency here. Life is slower. I breathe and surrender my US way of being.
Please join me for the course beginning Oct.7 Living Into The Unknown - a good opportunity to deepen your spiritual discipline, release your judgement, and feel the power of the Spirit within you. We will also be doing a special prayer ritual for Samhain, the Feast of the Dead and the Dying.
May the Spirit rise from within you
And may you use it well
Meghan