How Do You Call It?

Many people are amazed at the twist, spin and interpretation of recent events impacting the upcoming presidential elections here in the States. The media claims to report the facts, but often the stories are slanted at best and biased at worst.

Political campaigns are a wonderful example of how we form new ideas or hold onto old beliefs in spite of the evidence. People want to believe the good reports about their favorite candidate, but disregard the negative stories as campaign politics. How is that the same in our daily lives?

The Principles of New Thought teach us to decide how we want to experience life. We can allow our past belief system to stop us or we can chart a new course based on what works for us. Sports analogies are not my strong suit, but I found a story recently that speaks to this.

A young umpire was calling his first game and proudly told another umpire, “I call it as it is.” A more experienced umpire chuckled and said, “I call it as I see it.” The oldest, most senior of the umpires was walking by, stopped and looked at them shaking his head. He said, “You both got it wrong. It ain’t nuthin’ till I call it.”

Are you getting the flu, or did you just enjoy a good sneeze? Have you been devastated financially or has the stock market just dipped? Does your spouse no longer love you because s/he forgot to get you a card on a special day?

No one gets to “call it” for us. We have that privilege, but it comes with responsibility. For how we call it determines what we experience. Choose wisely!

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Do Your Best

I often say in guided meditations that no matter what the situation may look like at the time, everyone was doing the best they could with what they had to work with. We can certainly “Monday Morning Quarterback” any situation, but what’s the point?

Reviewing past situations with the intention to do even better next time, or to avoid the same pitfalls, is exercising wisdom. If, however, our intention is to bitch about what “they” should have or could have done, particularly when we chose not to be part of the process, then there’s really no point in regurgitating the episode. Who needs the drama?

I was criticized today for not supporting something I made clear some time ago I would not be able to fully support. I asked the person, “So basically you feel I failed you when I told you I wouldn’t be able to support you and then didn’t?” Seriously? I get that the person needed a lot more help than was available and in spite of it did an amazing job. I also get that I can only do as much as I’m capable of doing, even if someone thought I should be doing more than was possible.

Of course, this means I disappointed someone. I hate that. You can’t be a successful leader and expect to please everyone – it ain’t happening. If you’re in a leadership position trying to do that I strongly suggest you reconsider your career choice.

But to say I wasn’t pained by the disappointment I heard today would be untrue. I was pained quite deeply because I work so hard to make sure that everyone in my life is supported. Then I remembered that I did exactly what I said I would do. That’s integrity. It may not be what was desired of me, but I followed through, even if that follow through was less than was desired by others.

I’m blogging about this because if I’m upset by this after all the spiritual and inner work I’ve done over the past 25 year plus then perhaps you can see something in your life to which you can relate. We aren’t here to please each other. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t go out of my way to tick people off. But if we are going to live authentic lives then someone is going to be upset with us because we aren’t playing by their rules.

Today was my day to disappoint someone. I feel that person’s pain. I also know that we’ll both live. As my friend, Peggy, says, “It’s just one piddily-ass day. Get over it.”

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Transitions

Last weekend I attended the funeral of a colleague, Sandy Chappell. While I believe that Life is eternal, our existence on this plane as spirits having a human experience is limited.

In Sandy’s case, her years were far too limited for my liking and the liking of her many other fellow flight attendants, pilots, family and friends who attended the services. The fact that she was three months my junior was a jolt to my otherwise confident assumption about my own life expectancy.

I flew with Sandy many times over the past seven years that we were at the DC base. I did not know her well, but she appeared to have lived life fully and without regret. At least that’s what I’m choosing to believe. She was authentic, always smartly outfitted in her original flight attendant hat (no longer an approved uniform piece, but I never knew of anyone challenging her on that!) and, of course, her signature bubble gum pink lipstick. If there was a difficult passenger on board I always knew she could turn the customer around.

I want to be more like she was - sans the lipstick, not my shade – and simply be me. My friend, Arleen, lives by the adage “I neither defend, justify nor explain my actions. I let the results speak for themselves.” I never shared that with Sandy. I believe if I had she would have looked at me with a blank stare on her face as if to say, “Yeah…and?”

Be willing this week to pick up the phone or send a card (you know, the paper kind that requires a stamp) to someone you love. Let them know the difference they’ve made in your life. The Centers for Spiritual Living ministers on our listserv have been doing that this week with an amazing outflow of love and appreciation for those who mentor us in life.

It’s just life. We all have mostly  the same issues. Let’s all help one another to enjoy it to the best of our ability. I think Sandy would have liked that idea. Safe flights now and forever, Sandy.

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Take Just a Moment

I stopped at the post office one day last week for some stamps on my way into my office at Unity of Harrisburg. I asked if there were any “Love” stamps and the clerk quickly got them out of his drawer for me. “These are the only kind of stamps we should be selling,” he said. “With all the awful things going on in the world,” he continued, “we need more love.”

I suggested to him that if we look in the right places we can find so much good in the world and in our community. Though, I admitted to him, it’s not usually found on the news. When he complained that there wasn’t anywhere locally that was positive, I smiled and gave him my business card from Unity. “You’ll find it here,” I said, “every Sunday at 10:00am and we’re just down the street!”

He laughed and said he should have known he was talking to a pastor. I didn’t see him on Sunday, but it got me to thinking just how easy it is to show someone who is obviously in distress that there is an alternative. I also realized that my attitude shifted as well, leaving the post office feeling deeply grateful that I have a people in my life who are willing to do something about their lives instead of buying into the “stinkin’ thinkin’” with which we can come into contact on a daily basis.

At the bottom of this blog you’ll see a link. It’s to a “TED talk”. If you’re not familiar with TED (technology, entertainment and design), it’s worth a look. It’s a stellar example of how many people in the world are making a difference. This particular link is one that will take you about ten minutes to watch. I encourage you to do so. Besides being an amazing visual treat, I found it to be centering and uplifting.

At least I did the second time I watched it. The first time I brought it up on my laptop, listening to it, glancing occasionally at the images, while I caught up on email on my desktop and programming my new mobile device. MADNESS!

Take just a moment today. Stop what you are doing and look around at the world around you. Nothing in your sightline will ever be the same. Do you really want to miss that? Being in the moment and being mindful of our surroundings allows Spirit to revive us. In that flow of Divine Love all is possible.

Here’s the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ&vq=medium

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Stop the World!

For some reason the name of a play from the early 1960s, Stop the World – I Want to Get Off has been running through my mind. A quick look at my Google calendar would explain that reason. Are you feeling a little over-scheduled and hectic lately?

I hope not. My prayer for you is that you are enjoying life to the fullest and surrounded by like-minded, loving individuals. Then again, I am experiencing that and I still feel stressed sometimes. Why?

It comes from the fact that even if we are doing what we love to do we can still use a change of pace or a new venue from time-to-time. I’ve heard someone say, “Well at least he died doing what he loved!” Maybe if the guy had taken a break and re-focused his energy once in a while he’d still be doing what he loved instead of being dead.

In a recent email, Rev. Noel McGinnis reminded me of this fact:  We have freedom of choice, but not of consequence. While I truly believe we are Spirit having a human experience I also understand that our bodies were not meant to run non-stop, never resting. Yes, my car can be driven over 300 miles on a tank of gas, but soon after that it will come to a stop if I don’t refill the tank. The same is true for us.

At some point this week … please … stop your world. Take time for yourself. Be selfishly indulgent. Love yourself like you were taking care of the person who holds the biggest place in your heart.

                                                                                       

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Cash, Check or EZPass?

I use the Pennsylvania Turnpike quite a bit. In fact, since I moved back to the eastern part of the United States over ten years ago, I’ve used a number of toll roads, bridges and tunnels regularly. Knowing this would be the case, one of the first things I did when I returned to the East was sign up for the EZPass system.

This “drive through lane” or “whisk through the express” method of paying tolls saves me a tremendous amount of time and money. I don’t have to sit in lines waiting to pay, fumbling for the change or a credit card. I also get a substantial discount by using the system.

What amazes me is the number of people I see in the long lines who choose to continue paying cash or charging their tolls in person. I’m sure many of them pay the tolls as much or more than me, so why would they not make a simple call or go online to secure the account and use EZPass?

I suppose (and now you’ll understand why I’m using this long example) that it’s the very same reason we prefer to complain about our other problems and yet not reach out for prayer support to actually do something to change our situation. It’s the same reason we keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results.

Those reasons are, (1) our ego, and, (2) a desire to stay stuck. Our ego must be right; it demands it every time. Normally that’s a good thing because our ego is part of the mechanism we have for realizing that the stove is hot and we need to move our hand. It’s just that our ego has a whole lot of pride, an unnecessary need to think that it’s right all the time and a relentless need to be in charge. It’s time to thank your ego for its service, but put it on notice that you – not it – are the one who makes the decisions for your life.

Second, if we are stuck we’re receiving a payoff, meaning in spite of the fact that the situation sucks in some way we’re getting something out of not getting what we want. I know this sounds counterproductive, perhaps even a little cold and unfeeling, but it’s true. There’s a payoff in being a victim because we get sympathy from those clouded enough in their reasoning to actually buy into our nonsense. We also get to stop ourselves from being the true lights we are in the Universe. After all, if we are stuck in the mud it’s pretty darn hard to shine like a star.

Take a moment this week to see if your problems could use an “EZPass” solution. We do not pray “hoping” the prayer will be answered. Rather, we pray because we know the answer is already in the prayer. It’s free. Remember, there’s no roaming charge for God.

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

There have been a number of events in my life lately that have given birth to this week’s blog message. I needn’t go into details. Details often cloud the issue, don’t you think? Suffice it to say that I’ve been sufficiently advised by the Universe that we all need to remember this … now!

I can get so very distracted when there’s so much to do. I’m not completely moved into my new office at Unity of Harrisburg, yet my schedule is already full each day with meetings, counseling appointments, visitations and running a corporation with a six-figure budget. I hope this week between writing my talk for Sunday and getting out my weekly message that I’ll manage to get the boxes of books unpacked in my new office!

And that’s my point – it is not easy to write a talk while looking at boxes of books that “should” be put on selves, categorized and alphabetized. But the books are not more important than having a talk for my Mother’s Day service on Sunday. It’s about prioritizing and that means something may not get done.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. The books will get put on the shelves eventually and they are, for now, out of the way. But here’s the Cosmic Giggle when it comes to setting a thing or two aside instead of making oneself crazy attempting to do everything for everyone at once:  When we focus on just one thing and do it well, we end up completing the task in record time. Why?

The longer we keep in mind a positive outcome to our dilemmas the more energy we are focus on accomplishing the task instead of worrying about not getting it done. The reverse is also true, which is why the more anxious we become about what is not yet done the more frantic and scattered we find ourselves.

Consider your projects for today and pick just one upon which to concentrate your efforts. Reap the rewards of accomplishment as you feel satisfied about following through with your plans. Then, put your feet up and relax for a few minutes. You just worked hard and deserve a break!

In Spirit, Truth and Playfulness,

Terry