How do you measure a year?

As we come to the end of 2010, it is hard not to remark about how quickly it has passed. Indeed, how quickly this decade has gone by. 


525,600 minutes - How do we measure the passing of a year? Cups of coffee, miles driven, thoughts thought, money earned? 


For me personally:  funeral services officiated, counseling appointments, meetings attended, weddings performed, sermons preached? How about measuring the increase in Love on the planet? Or in how many people I have loved? How many people have I allowed to love me?  How many people are enjoying a real, dynamic, life changing experience of God? 


I love this song because it brings up such a strong emotional response from the very depths of my soul.

Who is that man behind the curtain/mask/insulation?

Many speakers, preachers & teachers (including me) say, "I always teach what I most need to learn."  During last Sunday's sermon, when I shared the plans for the upcoming class I'm leading on Marianne Williamson's newest book A Course in Weight Loss, I knew that it would touch others though I underestimated just how many. I am encouraged and humbled by the number of people who want to travel this path with me.


As I prepare the class outline,  I notice how many of the questions in the book take me directly to the process of inquiry known as The Work of Byron Katie. I notice the many stories I have created or adopted (from other folk) about my body and my weight. Who am I without the stories?


My ego is screaming at me, "I can't believe you dumped it all out in public during a sermon. Why are you doing this to us? Don't you see that everyone knows now. They are all laughing at us now. Who do you think you are? You are not smart/serious/grown up/ enough to pull this off. How will you explain it away when you fail miserably? How are you going to lead a group of people into a place you have only visited, and never for very long?" My ego is trying to drag me into The Hole:

So I say to my ego, Peace - Be still. Now is the time. I am not relying solely on myself for I have surrendered this deep stuck place to the Holy Spirit, a power greater that I am which does for me what I have not been able to accomplish. I am not afraid of my own darkness for it is merely the absence of light and not real. 


I am not alone and neither are you! Make this an awesome day in some way.


Only Love,


Ric

Farewell Miss Jeannie

I attended the memorial service for a giant of a woman this afternoon. Rest In peace Jeanne Frazier, thou good and faithful servant. Miss Jeannie as we called her at church, was an amazing woman. Her faith was enormous and her word was impeccable. She would often call you, "my love" in a way that made you know she meant it.

Miss Jeanie was grateful for every moment and rooted in the present in a powerful way. Thank you for sharing your gifts and faith with so many of us.

Otherwise, this has been a slow down take it easy day off. A bit of a cold is trying to settle in so a great day for some reading in " A Course in Weight Loss" in order to finalize our upcoming class. Many people expressed interest in being part of this journey. Come Holy Spirit and take us to the core of the issue.

The Beginning of the Beginning

Two weeks ago, I announced from the platform on Sunday, that I was forming a class/group to study/experience Marianne Williamson's book, A Course in Weight Loss because it is my journey to me

I was very touched by how people responded. Some thought I had a new diet to share, or wanted to share a new diet with me. This is not about diets or food or exercise. There is no magic pill, potion, lotion or drink. No perfect melt away the pounds exercise machine, video, system or wand. To lose weight eat fewer calories than you burn.

This is about transforming consciousness at the deepest level. This is about discovering the stuck story of me and healing it, releasing the story so that it releases me.This is about living the abundant life, a journey toward life in it's fullness. It is the story of my life.In a couple of hours I am going to share this beginning with a coup[le thousand people. Am I nuts? Maybe, but it is the thing that I am guided to do.

Hold onto your hats, this could be an interesting ride.

Only Love!

Ric

Happy Birthday to Me

Hey God,

It's been another year already. Fifty five years ago in the early morning hours, I entered this experience of the Journey. I have come to understand that You are the Life that lives me. Life, Your life, the One life expressed in, through and as me.

As I begin this new year, my heart is very full. This song by Jami Lula, speaks to my heart. Into Your  "hands" I surrender. Maybe into You as Your hands but those are not the words that Jami wrote. Into Your will, your plan, Your divine design I yield myself once again.

My birthday is an interesting day in that it is both not a big deal and I like people to remember.

No time to be weighed down

Have you ever experienced having an idea float into your consciousness over and over in a short period of time from many different places and angels? Almost as if the idea is trying to get your conscious attention.

One of my great challenges in life has been maintaining a reasonable and healthful weight. Twice in my life I have released (not lost because I tend to find what I lose, like duh I found it again, over in the corner) more than 100 pounds. I am now embarking on that journey again.

Life/Spirit/God has been nudging me in the pesky way It does for a while and over the past few weeks, the pace has definitely quickened. This video below floated up in my face recently and as I watched it I laughed and cried. I know the story all too well. Now, I do not think I will be running anytime soon--the knees and hips of a 54 year old are not designed to run with the amount of weight that I am currently carrying which I am so not comfortable to post at this point.

Nudges and subtle pushes have come recently in a variety of ways:

• Really paying attention to the way I feel when I exert myself
• Watching a DVD of myself preaching, great sermon but who is that man?
• Intentionally standing naked in front of a full length mirror
• Trying to date someone recently (who pursued me) and having it bring up so many insecurities that I have never experienced before. I have been out of the dating scene for a few years, but there was a time, a long time, where fat or not I was a busy dating dude. Not now it seems.
• I am a spiritual teacher, a pastor. To teach is to demonstrate and it is time for me to demonstrate leadership over my self, in this area. I know that the outer world is a reflection of consciousness. To change my life, my body starts with changing my mind and I know how to do that.
• Desire to reduce or eliminate some of the medications I take for diabetes and my heart, hence part of My Heart's Journey
• I will turn 55 in November and I am so not ready to sit down and be an old man, there is more Life to experience and express.
• If Ben Davis (video dude) can do this, I can too! Thanks Ben for the push! Ben has also inspired me with his blog about his journey: http://bendoeslife.tumblr.com/

Five Freeing Ideas

Originally a sermon, these ideas are my personal signposts.

Five Freeing Ideas

1. It is what it is. No matter how much we might try to convince ourselves that a situation is different; no matter how hard we “push”, things are just the way they are. We accept what is at this moment. No rose colored glasses, no drama, no denial, no aggrandizement. We realize that accepting what is does not mean we cannot change; it simply means that we stop deceiving ourselves and we stop fighting with the current reality.
2. It's not about me (or you). No one is out to get me; in fact "they" are not nearly as concerned about me or focused on me as my ego would like me to believe. I am not the center of the known universe nor am I a target of ridicule. I am an intrinsic part of the whole.
3. I forgive and I am forgiven. True forgiveness is coming to realize that every experience I have ever had-- every condition or circumstance in my life--is a perfectly designed opportunity for the unfoldment of my soul. I release the past and open myself fully to the opportunities I am presented with in this moment to evolve spiritually. I let go of my "story." I let go of the trauma and drama that I thought was who I was. I consciously shift from victim to victor.
4. God Is. I am. We Are. One. Who and what I am, in reality, is so different from and so much greater than I dared to think or dream until now. God is everywhere present in my life. The universe is wired in my favor. I am an emanation or expression of the pattern of energy that some call God. God is another name for the life that lives me. Wherever I am, God Is!
5. Freedom is Surrender. Surrendering to the moment-by-moment guidance of Spirit is the ultimate freedom. We do not have to try to figure it out! As we listen with our hearts, get honest with ourselves, and release what we think we know we will be led through any and every circumstance.

Five Freeing Ideas, copyright © 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010

by Richard L. Beattie all rights reserved

Magnificent You

In this moment, right where you are, know that you are Loved. The world is waiting for you to be who you are here to be.

So be It!

(c) 09/27/2010 by Richard L. Beattie

A Prayer for Healing of the Gulf of Mexico

Loving Spirit,

We join in prayer for the healing of all creatures, people, plants and waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
We have long known that we are connected to all life.
Now, more than ever before, our hearts are also aware of this truth.
There is only One Life, One Presence, One Power.
This One Life is shared by all living things.
We recognize that there is no them only us.
We know that all things are working together for our good.
Divine wisdom and guidance are now directing the efforts to stop the oil spill and restore the balance.
May this tragedy become a point of awakening and transformation.
We are willing to become better stewards of this beautiful Earth.
We are willing to change the way we live.
Teach us Your peaceful way to be a harmonious part of the whole.
We pray in the name and nature of our Way-shower, Jesus Christ.
Thank You.
Amen

Copyright © 06/23/2010 by Richard L. Beattie

Avatar is amazing

I went to see the movie Avatar this evening with a dear friend. I left the theater with tears in my eyes, a smile in my heart and feeling more deeply connected to life.

I love movies that touch & inspire me. Avatar does both, extremely well. There is so much I want to say but this is a new movie and I certainly do not want to ruin the experience for you.

Below are a few general thoughts. I'll preach several of the themes the film explores in the near future and I will definitely see the movie again, soon and I will buy the DVD as soon as it is released.

In my collection, I place this movie next to Star Wars, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Wizard of Oz and Dune, among other movies, that use a fantasy (at the time) setting to communicate universal spiritual themes.

I marvel at the many people, forms, formats and methods that Spirit is using to help us awaken. A shift is happening in our consciousness. The old paradigm of the few taking what ever they want by force, consumer driven greediness and duty as a method for control are giving way to deep heart connections, life as a unified field and Love being real. This movie is another of those channels for a universal message that now is the time to arise.

I have added Eywa to my list of words that refer to that presence and power some people call God. Thank You, Eywa for this stunning reminder that we are all connected in You.

By all means, go see the movie (in 3D) and lets chat.

Copyright (c) 2010 by Richard L. Beattie. All rights reserved.

Welcoming 2010

It has been an oddly quiet New Years Day. Perhaps that is in comparison to the extremely busy December that has just passed. At any rate, I am guided to share more of my own journey via this blog.

My Intention/Prayer for this morning (which I set as my Facebook Status) is:

Holy Spirit: I invite You to move in and through me as peace, strength, faith, wisdom, courage, hope, guidance, joy and Love. I dedicate this New Year to increasing my experience and expression of Your presence. Speak, write, witness, dance, walk and live me, as You will. Thank You!

One of the recurring messages for me has been that the "work" before me is to get out of God's way and allow that which Is to express. Not exactly sure how this happens, but I am open and inviting the process.

Happy New Year & New Decade.

Copyright (c) 2010 by Richard L. Beattie. All rights reserved.