The Original You

  Your soul is a wonderous place with vast regions of openness being filled by God’s love. Into this expansiveness comes the energy of the universe. It’s the very energy that created the birds, the plants, human beings, the beautiful tree you lean against on a hot day, and the ocean you explore. You soul is so beautiful that it came before your body existed and will exist long after your body fades away. The human body is a fallible, short-lived, temporary home for your soul. While the body is magnificent, it will only be here a very short time. While the body is here the soul must be allowed to shine. The more we allow our soul to shine, the healthier the entire person is. And even if the body is not working to our liking, we can still revel in the magnificence of our soul. Allow me to tell you a story of my friend Lucille. She is 94 years young. When my wife and I ride our bikes around our community we often see her taking her daily walk. From a distance, you would think sh...

  I was standing on the beach in Fort Lauderdale at sunrise last Sunday. I was there to support my wife compete in her triathlon. It was a beautiful day. It was a magnificent morning. At exactly 7:16AM, the sun came rising out of the ocean. That wonderful orb of life-giving light was rising for another day. It was a miracle to see that. To see this beautiful star that keeps us alive was so encouraging. It meant that my planet earth will have another chance to live. Like the miracle of the sun shining on us, you have a light within you that shines on those around you. You are a role model to those in your life that need hope. I have such a role model in my life. My wife Rachel. A bastion of courage and strength, I take a lot of solace from her life. She is an example of God’s love for me. She reminds me that God has forgiven me for my past misdeeds, that God loves me unconditionally, and that there is hope for the future. Every day, I wake up with a renewed sense of hope, be...

I’m on vacation this week. It’s the first one since 2019. It feels good. On the first day we arrived it snowed. Big flakes. Sticking to the road. Sticking to the trees. It was beautiful. It is our home for a week. Vacation is something that my wife and I are used to. We have been around the world to many places in the ten years we have been married. This vacation is wonderful. It’s bringing us back to the area where we got engaged. There are lots of good memories here. When I look out on my porch as I’m writing this, I see little birds and squirrels sitting amongst the pine trees. These beautiful creatures remind me of the simplicity of life. They are totally in the moment. They are free to go from here to there. They are free to climb, to sing, to be the beautiful spirits they are. They are not worrying about tomorrow or having shame about their past. They are just there. Now. In the moment. This glorious moment. This is the power of nature. It’s that chance to reflect on ...

  Truth matters. How many times have you heard that lately? We want people in power to be honest, and we want those we love to be honest with us. How about ourselves? How honest are we? Fact check. I lie to myself daily. And, I do it more than I care to admit. Here are some of the most common ones. Maybe you can identify with one or more of these. Lie # 1- People don’t care what I have to say. Fact check- This is not true, because plenty of people tell me they love me daily, and I trust these people are telling me the truth.   Lie # 2- I’m not worthy of being loved. Fact check- This is not true. My God created me, and I cannot be anything other than love. My Creator is not capable of creating anything unlovable.   Lie # 3- I must do something that will earn me the love I need. Fact check- My life is already enough. Nothing else needs to happen.   Lie #4- If I weighed a little more or a little less, I would be more attractive. Fact check- T...

  You are a blessing. Take a breath and take that in for a minute. What does it mean that you are a blessing? How do you know that you are a blessing? What evidence would you need to prove to someone that you’re a blessing? I have struggled with this truth most of my life. Sometimes I’m aware that I add value to the lives of others, and on other days I’m not so sure. My ego tells me that what determines my worth is the opinions and feedback I receive from others about who I am. It’s in the mirroring and feedback I receive where I received the truth of who I am. Right? There is more to me than how others see me. Everyone I meet brings with them their own life experiences. From these life experiences, they will form their opinion of me. There is nothing I can do about that. The same is true for you. The people around you form their opinions of you through their own filters and experiences of life. You cannot change their filter, and you cannot change their opinion of you. N...

  I discovered a truth several years ago. The truth is that how I start my day determines how my day will go. The direction I point myself spiritually and emotionally will help me know which way to go. Go with me for a moment through my morning routine, and maybe it will help you with yours. Upon hearing my alarm (usually at 6:45AM), I roll over and say good morning to my wonderful wife. I’m a blessed man to be able to wake up next to the love of my life. The next thing one of us does is find a recording on Facebook or another source of a meditation. One of us is led by the Spirit to listen to a spiritual leader at our church Unity on The Bay who inspires us. This does several things. First, it connects me with my beautiful home, and grounds me in the truths and principles of this amazing place. Feeling grounded in my home, I listen to another spiritual meditation that is not a part of my church, but that helps me find my grounding in the world. It’s only after I’m conn...

  I’m a scuba diver. I love to dive. I want to share a story with you that I believe may help you in your own life. This story is one that I will probably make into a book someday. For now, I want to simply share how scuba diving is changing my life today, and how working through my fears may help you work through yours. In this time of great uncertainty, we are all going through great changes. I hope that my story today will remind you that you are not alone, and that you can overcome adversity. My wife introduced me to the idea of diving in 2010 when we first started dating. I remember the first time I put on a snorkel and tried to swim across the pool. It was not a pleasant experience. I was afraid of the water. I was afraid of not breathing. When I graduated to the ocean, that was also not an easy experience. I endured panic attacks, moments of dread, and frankly was not sure how I was ever going to scuba dive. The very first time I put a scuba tank on my back within ...

  You have a beautiful heart. The spiritual heart within you was given to you by your Creator who wants the best for you. There may be days when you question this truth. I certainly do. When I’m not living up to the standards that I have set for myself, when I make the same mistake repeatedly, or I treat myself or others in an unkind way I question it. When I’m not willing to do something that’s good for me I have to ask myself whether my heart is as beautiful as I claim it is. What I’m remembering again is that the beauty of my heart is not dependent upon my behavior. My heart is beautiful regardless of what my behavior may display. When I forget how beautiful my heart is, my pain is in full view. My heart remains beautiful while my behavior tries to point to something else. It comes back to acceptance. It’s the acceptance of being ok just the way we are. The great spiritual masters point to this when they tell us about unconditional love. They, in different ways, ha...

  Gentleness. What a beautiful word. What a beautiful idea. What a beautiful way to live. When I’m gentle with myself the very winds of the spirit of life inhabit my soul. Gentleness can even move me to forgive myself. I have caused myself much pain and sorrow in my lifetime. Gentleness reminds me that I don’t have to live that way anymore. Gentleness is the reminder that I have always done the best I can. It’s the reminder that I never intended harm. It’s the reminder that within the walls of my heart and soul is a light. This light is fueled with the gentleness from my loving God. There are some days when I forget to fuel my light. I forget to pray. I forget to do something nice for someone else. I forget to speak a kind word. I forget to ask how a loved one is doing. I get caught up in the daily routines. I forget about my beautiful light within. You have a beautiful light inside of you too. Your light is also fueled and supported by the gentle love of your Creator...

  The beautiful seed of your life was planted in the heart of God before the first star was born. Within this seed contained all of the blessings of your life. Y our personality, your hair color, your sparkling eyes, your beautiful spirit. It was all contained in that one seed. W hen your seed was planted in the human consciousness it took root. Deep roots were spread throughout the world.  Y our spirit and your essence became the light for others. You became the branches for those who needed shelter.  W hen the storms of life came, they retreated to your branches. You became the very hope they were looking for. Your strong branches held the sick, the lonely, and the lost. You held out your beautiful branch and said, “Come one and come all.”  Do you not believe this? Do you not understand that you are one with all? Do you not understand that your life is a refuge for someone? Do you not know that your life is a testament to those who need a light of hope? ...

In this time of great transition, it’s good to be reminded that you have a mission. A divine mission. It’s a mission that nobody else can go on, because it was given to you by your Creator. Have you ever thought that you should be doing things the way that other people do them? That your career should look a certain way? That you should be making a certain amount of money? That you should have a certain type of living situation? I have. There have been times in my life when I thought that I should be doing something because everyone else is doing it. If Bob, Mary, and Peter are doing it then I should be too. Comparing myself to other people gets me nowhere. It only brings me a sense of frustration and inadequacy. It’s not productive, and it keeps me stuck. There is a way out of the comparison game. The way out is by acknowledging and affirming that you are on a divine mission. This divine mission has been given to you by your Creator. When you recognize that you are on a divine mission...

  I said to my wife this morning, “I could use a hug right about now”. She gave me one. I was grateful. I needed it. We all need hugs right now.   I can’t give you a physical hug, so I’m going to give you a spiritual one.   You are the creation of love. Your life is a blessing to anyone lucky enough to know you. Everything about you is a blessing. You are beautiful. You are smart. When you call a friend, they are always glad to hear from you. Even though you may have made mistakes in your life, you are not a mistake. You are an original blessing. You are here at the right time and in the right place. When you were born, God smiled. You deserve this big spiritual hug today. You deserve the kindness that will come your way today. You are one of God’s favorites. You’re right. We are ALL God’s favorites! You’re right. EVERY human being is God’s favorite! You have a beautiful smile. Your soul displays incredible wisdom. Your sp...

I saw a news story last night that disturbed me. It disturbed me to the point that I needed to write about it. It disturbed me to the point that I believe writing about it could help you. I know you have seen the stories too. The stories about people being evicted from their apartments due to non-payment of rent. This pandemic has hit so many people hard especially regarding their living situation. So many people are living on the edge, literally one paycheck away from being homeless. The problem is real, and it doesn’t seem to be abating. The solution to this is not simple and it’s not easy. There was a time in my life when I was close to these kinds of consequences. I never ended up homeless, but I understand what it’s like to be close to it. It’s not fun. The kind of support that is needed right now is from many different areas. I am not a doctor, and I’m not a therapist. But I am a human being. So are you. You are the kind of person who cares about these people. Anyone who reads my...

  Do I really know what you need? I don’t. I used to think I did. Thinking I knew what other people were supposed to do used to get me into all kinds of trouble. I used to know why my friend was rude to his spouse. I used to know how to fix the economy. I used to know how certain politicians should act. I used to know how my friends should react to me. I used to know how my best friend can improve his marriage. I used to know all kinds of things. What I know now is that other people are the best judge of what is best for them. Most of the time. Allow me to be real here. There are lots of people in the world who do not have the ability to make choices that are for their own good. Therefore, we have medical surrogates, care takers, and other kind people looking out for those who are vulnerable and cannot make their own decisions. We need the care takers in this world who are willing to protect the vulnerable. I’m grateful for those who want the best for those who ca...

Joy. Is it possible to live a joyful life all the time? What would that even look like? Would you even want that? Wouldn’t being in joy mean that I must be in denial about all the trials and difficulties of this world? I contemplate this idea of joyful living as I look out at the panorama of life. I turn on the tv, look at the internet, listen to the pain of friends and family. Where is the joy? Is it possible to feel it during all of this? Yes. Joy is possible. Joy is a choice. It cannot be dependent upon what is happening or not happening around me. The joy I’m talking about is not the kind of joy that we associate with celebrating or taking a Pollyanna view of life, where everything works out perfectly for everyone in the end. The joy I’m talking about is the kind of joy that will carry you through that most difficult and painful of circumstance. This is the joy that doesn’t wait until the storm passes. This is the joy that believes in things unseen. This is the joy that will be abl...

I woke up this morning in a lot of physical pain. I tried walking to the bathroom but could not except with the help of my wife. My ankle was slowly getting sorer every day, but today was the day when I could not walk under my own steam. Thank God for my caring wife. Yes, I went to the podiatrist and got it evaluated. The result is that there is some issue with my tendon, and I need to wear a boot for three weeks. I’m only going to complain for a moment. Lots of people have it far worse than me right now. But I do need to say that it really stinks and that I feel sad about it. Ignoring those feelings or pretending that everything is fine is not good either. Even getting angry at the situation is probably healthy right now. Anger, sadness, and frustration are a part of life. They are normal healthy feelings. I know people who pretend that situations that are awful are not a problem. I don’t think that’s healthy. What I’m trying to convey is that the way through this situation is accepta...

I am here for a reason. So are you. One of the greatest thrills of being alive is discovering why we are here. What is the purpose of all of this? Is there some greater mission that we are fulfilling that gives our life a meaning and purpose? Having a meaning and purpose gives me fuel for pursuing the things in life that matter to me. It gives me something to look forward to. It lifts my spirits and gives me confidence. I didn’t always have that feeling. For many years I had no idea what my purpose in life was. I just kind of meandered through life hoping that something would happen that would get me motivated. It wasn’t until I met my wife ten years ago that I began to find my purpose. When I was divinely led to her, I was given a purpose. I discovered that one of the reasons I am alive is to learn how to love myself and to love another person. For most of my life those two concepts seemed elusive. I was not a kind person to myself, and I certainly was not kind to other people. What l...

  Ten years of joy. This is what this has been. On August 13, 2010 my wife Rachel and I began living together. One of the best decisions I have ever made. I want to take a few moments to tell you why this has been so good for me in hopes that it may inspire you to take this beautiful chance on love someday (if you haven’t already). When we decided to live together it was a decision that was obvious. There was no question about whether it was going to be a good thing or not. Rachel and I had been dating for some time. When it came time to talk about living together, we were both excited. Living together has always been fantastic. The moving process for me was not so great. I tend to hold on to lots of stuff, and her moving in was a great opportunity for me to find out what stuff was important and what was not. Letting go of those “unimportant” things was not easy for me. I have tended to associate some of my self-worth with the amount of stuff I own. This process cha...

  I must turn it all over. Every day. Every moment of every day. We are all living in a time of great uncertainty. The plans you made for this year are probably different from the reality of what is happening. The health of your family, security of your job, and even your living situation may be in doubt. It’s all a big question mark right now. As I contemplate my future, I realize that there are many unknowns. I turn it over. I turn it all over. When I turn over my life, I need to know that there is a loving force in the universe that is taking care of me. Without this loving force in my life I would be in tremendous fear. Throughout the pandemic there have been many moments when I have doubted the security that I have relied on.   Thankfully those moments are short and very fleeting. On a daily and moment to moment basis I have been turning everything over to God. Every cancellation, every disappointment, every fear, every frustration, and every anxiety are...

In a deep meditation I felt the beating of my heart. I was so still that I felt the beautiful vibration in my chest. I heard it. I drank in the beauty of its magnificent power. Sitting in the stillness came a realization that forever changed my life. It might change yours. I didn’t have the power to make my heart keep beating. I couldn’t get into my chest and make it pump not even one beat. I was unable to make it transport the blood from my heart to all the vital organs of my body. I had and still don’t have any power over this. It’s very humbling and awe inspiring to understand the magnitude of this truth. This understanding invites me to ask some questions. Who or what is keeping my heart beating? How long will it keep beating? Will I have any say in keeping it going beyond how long it wants to beat? The most difficult thing for me in all of this is knowing that someday my heart will stop beating. There is no getting around this truth. It’s going to happen. While I’m still here I wi...