Faith in Action

I have three sons and this past weekend my 26 year old son, Keith, took my 13 year old son, Seth, for a four day, three night, hike along the Appalachian Trail. It was my job to drive them to the drop off point on Friday morning. So we traveled a little more then two hours north into New York State and "somewhere" along a dead end, dirt road, I let my two sons and the dog out and drove off waving good bye.

Well, as you can imagine thoughts of them came regularly throughout the weekend but the beauty of where I am in my life right now is that every time a thought came a long that felt a little like worry, I simply affirmed: they are guided, guarded and protected. (Thank you Dr. Karen Kushner for that verbiage) Each time that I returned to being more mindful, my practice of faith became stronger; and I became more confident in the Oneness of this glorious Universe.

Being a mother has been one of the biggest inspirations to date for me to "Be" the practice that I talk about by being in full application at all times. The application that I am referring to is my Faith that life is basically good and always in my favor. Early in motherhood we make the mistake of thinking that we are in charge; but once a level of spiritual maturity sets in we get in touch with the reality that control is an illusion. For those of us who have children that are old enough to move away from home we really get in touch with this illusion of control in a big way. There are numerous opportunities to discover that sometimes all you can do is pray and that my friends is what gets me through this life.

Thank God for my sons and the lessons that motherhood has brought. I am changed forever and this is a good thing.
Blessings,
Michelle

The Awe of Intentionality

There is quite a lot of information these days available regarding the power of intention, setting intentions and living by them. What I don't think has been brought out though about living an Intentional Life is the sense of ease and grace that it translates into in one's life.

Living a life of profound intentionality is not the same as goal setting which it is often confused with. In order to live a life of intentionality, you must begin first with making a good assessment of your life right now and then identify the places where you are not living or acting in accordance with whom you want to be in the world. Sometimes we miss some of the signs that we are out of "accord" or out of "integrity". Through spiritual practices and gentle processes we are able to elevate our way of "being" and in turn become more available to the essence that begins to move through us more freely. When we provide the room and the willingness for this essence to move through us, It simply does. This process for some is long and arduous, for others it is gentle, remember you can choose gentle.

Now we are ready to live an Intentional Life, one where we live from our character, from whom we want to be in the world and the effect that we want to have on the world around us. Life in this fashion begins to flow with such ease and grace and it is here that you get to experience the awe. The awe grows in the soil of gratitude so the more we notice the more it multiplies. Enjoy the awe of intentional living.

Freedom Reigns

This is my Center's monthly affirmation.
Enjoy!

As I unify with Spirit I utilize my spiritual practices for the purpose of healing and being revealed. I claim more freedom each and every day because of my mindfulness practices. Every day that I pray and every day that I sit in silence and meditation I rise above the human element of upset, strife and limitation. With God as my partner, the path to greater freedom is open and available. I celebrate my freedom by sharing who I am. Yes, freedom reigns.

Memorial Day

Today I am steeped in thoughts of my brother Carl Wadleigh who left us young in the Viet Nam War. He was misidentified and buried in the wrong man's grave for twenty-five years. When discovered the Army did the right thing by bringing him home and giving him a full military burial with all the dressings in Arlington Cemetery in Washington.

Now his name is on the wall and on the Viet Nam memorial in Jersey City.

I have three sons. May I never know the pain of them having to pick up a gun and point it at another human being. When will we WAKE UP and realize that what we've been doing doesn't work and the only thing that can create peace is Peace itself. Why is this such a mystery to those in charge. Let's do within our government what we would do for ourselves - make amends, say I'm sorry, clean up the problem and communication and have set an intention to lay down all arms, cease the creation of new destructive products and make nice.

I declare that it is possible for us to know Global Peace in this lifetime NOW.