A Day of Amazing Grace
October 1, 2009
I recently had an experience with a young man named Mike in a parking lot desperately in need of gas to get to his destination and from having been out of work for months. I listened to my guidance that told me to buy him some gas instead of giving him money. It was very important I was told. It was a simple, quick exchange, and as I drove away I found myself crying from a feeling welling up inside of me that I could not name. The feeling was beyond a sense of doing the right thing or 'paying it forward' or even a 'random act of kindness.' It was a feeling of a heart connection between two souls who recognized each other for just a brief moment. Something passed between us in those moments and I knew something within me was changed forever. I did not have a word to describe it at first, but now I do. Grace. A simple act of grace.
Amazing grace. That heart connection that we make when we step outside of our own life for just a moment to honor the divinity in another. Webster's Dictionary defines grace as 'the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful.' Dictionary.com defines it as 'favor or good will.' That is the feeling I had flowing through me, changing me in some way after my brief encounter with Mike that day. Amazing grace.
My experience has inspired me to invite you to join me and others for a 'Day of Amazing Grace.' All around the world--wherever you live. In every country--even in every city. A day for all who choose to perform one act of kindness for another. An act of amazing grace. No strings attached, no expectation of receiving back from the person, no thought except to experience that heart connection for yourself.
Carol Barbeau often reminds us that we are all one and we are all in this life together. The greatest gift you can ever give another is yourself. I invite you to participate in this Day of Amazing Grace by giving some bit of yourself to another. It does not have to cost a cent. You being You out in the world is enough. It can be as simple as making eye contact & smiling at someone on the street. Offering a cheerful greeting to the checker at your grocery store. Helping a mother with young children carry her packages to the car. Paying for coffee for the person standing behind you in Starbucks. Picking up trash off the street. Telling everyone in your family that you love them. Thanking and appreciating a friend. It can be ANY act of amazing grace that you are called to perform.
It is time to re-engage in life and in the greater community. Like Smokey the Bear used to say "Only you can prevent forest fires," I say 'Only you can perform an act of mazing grace.' Just one act; just one day—Thursday, October 1st.
I invite you all to add to this list of possible acts of amazing grace. Let us engage in life rather than retreat from it. Let us make this world a little better because we are here—and because we can. Can you commit to one act of amazing grace on Thursday, October 1st? If you could, what would you do?
There is no official organization and I am not organizing the day. I am inviting you to come join me and have your own experience of amazing grace. Do it for yourself and notice your experience. I invite you to come walk this journey together.
Please add your creative ideas of grace to the list below and then send to everyone you think might be interested in joining us.
Who's day can you change on October 1st? Come and play!!
Bonnie Strehlow
253-719-8167
bonnie@inner-resources.net
Creative Acts of Grace:
1. Smile at someone walking by.
2. Donate to a food bank--and talk to someone there.
3. Cheerful greeting to a clerk or checker.
4. Pay for the person behind you at Starbucks or another shop.
5. Wish everyone you meet a wonderful day--and mean it.
6. Wear a silly grin on your face all day.
7. Walk around with a clown nose & wave at people.
8. Make animal balloons and give them away randomly.
9. Help someone with their packages back to their car.
10. Visit a grandmother or grandfather just to say hi.
11. Tell every family member you love them while you look into their eyes.
12. Compliment someone.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Reclaiming Your Sacred Self
What is a Sacred Self and how do you reclaim it? Your Sacred Self is that part of you that is always held separate, protected and away from any craziness you may have experienced growing up. We all have that part within us. Some of us are more connected to it than others. Sometimes we move in and out of connection with it. She/he is always there—waiting for us to pay attention and reclaim the power within. The more traumatic our childhood, the more disconnected we become from our Sacred Self. Our Sacred Self is eternally innocent and profoundly powerful. When we live disconnected from that part of ourselves, we are only living a partial life. When we are disconnected from our Sacred Self, we are disconnected from our greatest power to create.
I recently had an experience that showed me how disconnected from my Sacred Self I had become. Without really noticing, I was spending increasingly more time working, doing, building and less time being in connection and communion with myself. Even during my daily meditation times I was ignoring that part of me that ‘completes’ me.
There is a funny saying called “Murphy’s Law’ that says that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and Murphy’s Law was actively at play in my life one day several weeks ago. Life around me seemed to be falling apart right before my eyes. I had been commanding for several things to show up in my life and for specific changes to take place. Now, had I taken the time to remember that I had commanded for change I might have experienced that day very differently.
But I became so caught up in what was disintegrating right in front of me that I fell back into an old pattern, which is to collapse under the anxiety, fear & pain. My life was over, my marriage would soon follow, I’d lose my home and I should just give up and get a job at minimum wage and be content. I felt lost, frustrated, overwhelmed and completely hopeless that life would ever get better. I was so caught up in the anxiety and trying to use my conscious mind to figure my way out that all I know, use and teach was buried under the anxiety.
I turned to 2 friends for help out of the quagmire I found myself in. Both are not only good friends, but incredible practitioners and teachers of TOC. With their help I was able to see that my life wasn’t falling apart---my life was changing. It was changing because of the commands I had made. I had commanded to be in closer contact with all parts of me; to be connected to and have a deeper relationship with myself. My job now was to now stop trying to piece the old back together and allow those commands to manifest fully in my life. I was reminded that when the going seems to get rough, that is the exact time to step up the commanding—to command even more. Pain, anxiety and fear are messengers. They carry powerful information for us if we but choose to pay attention.
So, I gave myself the gift of time—the time to focus in on myself and what was calling for healing in my life. I committed to walk what I talk. For several days I commanded for everything. I commanded to feel peaceful as I addressed each issue. I commanded for clarity in the next steps. I commanded to keep moving forward. I commanded for resolution, for deeper connection with the people around me, for opportunities & lucky breaks. I sometimes even commanded to remember to breathe. I allowed the shifts in consciousness to happen and I allowed myself to surrender to the process and trust that I was moving in the right direction.
From that experience I re-committed to myself. I re-chose what I wanted. I re-decided.
And I reconnected to my Sacred Self. Once I allowed all the junk to unwind and dissolve, there she was. Simply waiting—as all our Sacred Selves are. With my connection to my Sacred Self present and strong, my creativity and energy are greatly enhanced. Clarity is my companion. I am hearing, seeing and feeling in new ways. New opportunities have sprung up over night and I am playing in the world very differently than before. ALL parts of me are showing up and the world is responding to me in exciting, wonderful and refreshing ways.
If you are finding your world collapsing around you, I invite you to give yourself that gift of time. Take the time to listen to your Sacred Self and the messages it has for you. Instead of collapsing under the weight of the pain, anxiety and fear, trying surrendering it and allowing something new and wonderful to take its place. Seek help if you need it.
Re-commit, re-choose, re-decide. Re-claim your Sacred Self. Re-claim the power within you to re-create your life.
Bonnie Strehlow
What is a Sacred Self and how do you reclaim it? Your Sacred Self is that part of you that is always held separate, protected and away from any craziness you may have experienced growing up. We all have that part within us. Some of us are more connected to it than others. Sometimes we move in and out of connection with it. She/he is always there—waiting for us to pay attention and reclaim the power within. The more traumatic our childhood, the more disconnected we become from our Sacred Self. Our Sacred Self is eternally innocent and profoundly powerful. When we live disconnected from that part of ourselves, we are only living a partial life. When we are disconnected from our Sacred Self, we are disconnected from our greatest power to create.
I recently had an experience that showed me how disconnected from my Sacred Self I had become. Without really noticing, I was spending increasingly more time working, doing, building and less time being in connection and communion with myself. Even during my daily meditation times I was ignoring that part of me that ‘completes’ me.
There is a funny saying called “Murphy’s Law’ that says that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, and Murphy’s Law was actively at play in my life one day several weeks ago. Life around me seemed to be falling apart right before my eyes. I had been commanding for several things to show up in my life and for specific changes to take place. Now, had I taken the time to remember that I had commanded for change I might have experienced that day very differently.
But I became so caught up in what was disintegrating right in front of me that I fell back into an old pattern, which is to collapse under the anxiety, fear & pain. My life was over, my marriage would soon follow, I’d lose my home and I should just give up and get a job at minimum wage and be content. I felt lost, frustrated, overwhelmed and completely hopeless that life would ever get better. I was so caught up in the anxiety and trying to use my conscious mind to figure my way out that all I know, use and teach was buried under the anxiety.
I turned to 2 friends for help out of the quagmire I found myself in. Both are not only good friends, but incredible practitioners and teachers of TOC. With their help I was able to see that my life wasn’t falling apart---my life was changing. It was changing because of the commands I had made. I had commanded to be in closer contact with all parts of me; to be connected to and have a deeper relationship with myself. My job now was to now stop trying to piece the old back together and allow those commands to manifest fully in my life. I was reminded that when the going seems to get rough, that is the exact time to step up the commanding—to command even more. Pain, anxiety and fear are messengers. They carry powerful information for us if we but choose to pay attention.
So, I gave myself the gift of time—the time to focus in on myself and what was calling for healing in my life. I committed to walk what I talk. For several days I commanded for everything. I commanded to feel peaceful as I addressed each issue. I commanded for clarity in the next steps. I commanded to keep moving forward. I commanded for resolution, for deeper connection with the people around me, for opportunities & lucky breaks. I sometimes even commanded to remember to breathe. I allowed the shifts in consciousness to happen and I allowed myself to surrender to the process and trust that I was moving in the right direction.
From that experience I re-committed to myself. I re-chose what I wanted. I re-decided.
And I reconnected to my Sacred Self. Once I allowed all the junk to unwind and dissolve, there she was. Simply waiting—as all our Sacred Selves are. With my connection to my Sacred Self present and strong, my creativity and energy are greatly enhanced. Clarity is my companion. I am hearing, seeing and feeling in new ways. New opportunities have sprung up over night and I am playing in the world very differently than before. ALL parts of me are showing up and the world is responding to me in exciting, wonderful and refreshing ways.
If you are finding your world collapsing around you, I invite you to give yourself that gift of time. Take the time to listen to your Sacred Self and the messages it has for you. Instead of collapsing under the weight of the pain, anxiety and fear, trying surrendering it and allowing something new and wonderful to take its place. Seek help if you need it.
Re-commit, re-choose, re-decide. Re-claim your Sacred Self. Re-claim the power within you to re-create your life.
Bonnie Strehlow
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