DEAR FRIENDS-

Joyous New Year to you and yours. May the days be FUNtabulistic and meaningful to you. That's each and every day of this year. It can be with just a little discipline each morning. We must take the time to set our day in motion... taking five minutes in the morning to say our affirmations could mean the difference between getting in our vehicle and heading for work only to be way-laid by an automobile accident or to drive to work with clear sailing and beautiful music.

I have come to the conclusion that one of the most powerful things I do each morning is the 'Release of Karma Statement'. Imagine... heck, why imagine when we can live it. If we release all old karma each morning, then we start fresh each day creating a life that is living in the 'now'. We literally create our day rather than the past creating our day. True... we still have some habits that probably need tweaked or refined. But, our day is not made up of old karma needing to be balanced. Then, we can really look at each day with that child like feeling of a free spirit.

Something new... For Christmas I got a tape recorder that downloads '.wav' files to my computer. An added bonus is that it also takes pictures. But once I have it working correctly, you will get to see... or rather hear... the true Ravings. Here, you get to see the edited versions. What happens in the car when I am driving is another story. Well... you will get to find out how crazy my mind really works.

"Show Me Spirit... what I need to pay attention too. Show me what I must think or see to improve my life. Show me what I need to let go of in order to be more at peace. And, show me what I need in my life to further my abundance. Show me what I should share that may assist others in their growth. Show me how we may grow more in harmony with ourselves... ego and spirit. Yes... Show Me! Thank you Mother-Father Spirit."

"...regardless of all outer evidence to the contrary." Ooopss... this will trip most of us up. It can be difficult to see a rose garden when one is chest deep in a hole filled with manure. It can be hard... notice my play of words with 'can be' instead of 'is'... difficult to picture a harmonious working environment when one has a supervisor that is nasty all the time. It can be difficult when craving a fabulous dinner of lobster when all you can afford is McDonald's. I am sure there are a million plus things that we can look at this way. But, they would do us no good. It is not our Truth unless we accept it.

I would rather accept what others might refer to as a 'fantasy world'. I can look at myself in a hole filled with manure... recognize it for what it is... and then see the rose garden. It may be faint in the beginning. But, as I focus more it becomes clearer. And, I am moving to it. Then, I am standing near it. Then, I am bending down and smelling its fragrance. And, it is interesting... but, I am standing there in clean clothes... no residue from the manure. And, those that know me, can visualize me doing it just this way.

In some senses, I do live in a 'fantasy world' compared to others. But, I make that fantasy world real. It may not be in the stream of how others live; but, I haven't seen too many people whose lives I desire. Few have the faith to know they can reach the rose garden. I have experienced many who can faintly see the rose garden. I have experienced many who can actually get it into focus. But, as they start moving to it, something wraps them up and they find themselves staying in the manure.

It can be difficult having faith... to see beyond. Today we wake in the morning and our child is in a crappy mood. Grrr... the beginning of the day. We are not satisfied with the clothes that are clean. We go down to start the car and the battery is dead. When we finally get to work, our supervisor had to pick up our slack for being late and is grouchy. We get a cup of coffee and spill it down the front of ourselves. We are sitting there totally unhappy and believing the world is against us. All because we either did not have faith or the discipline to work our faith. We did not believe in the One Power enough to start our morning with our affirmations. Which means we did not have enough faith in "Self"... because it does take a faith in self as well as Spirit... the One Power.

Okay... what proof do we have that these affirmations we say are going to have any bearing. Well... I can share many experiences that provide proof for me, but would be meaningless for you. I know for you to be reading this, that you already have some idea so let's not get too heavy into this. Let's discuss the need to do our affirmations more than we are doing them.

We get up in the morning... we say our affirmations... and go about our business. Within the first ten people we meet we hear: "I am not feeling well.", "I am tired.", "I can't stand so and so.", or better yet, "I am pissed at what you did.", "It is all your fault because you did such and such." and other negative statements. Oooppss... that's enough to wear anyone down. But, the key here is what do we do about it. Do we take five minutes and go to the bathroom... do we take five minutes on the side of the road in our car... do we take five minutes anywhere we are and re-enforce our faith by doing another set of affirmations to negate the things we have been listening too. Or, have we let the fast pace of going here or there... of living life in a hectic pace... keep us from slowing down and taking care of ourselves... creating a life that we desire... instead of a life that seems like we are led around being responsible to everyone but the person that we need to be responsible too. Some might say that we cannot take the time to do the affirmations throughout the day.

I have found, that when I stay consistent with my affirmations I have all the time in the world. Interestingly... when I do not stay consistent, I run out of time. I guess what I am really saying here is that by taking the time to take myself into peace and harmony... everything else seems to flow to my betterment. And, I think that is a better life style.

I have watched a person that is a close friend. In the beginning, she was aware but not necessarily practicing. A couple years have gone by and she definitely has my admiration. She is committed to making her life the way she wants it. It is my understanding that she and her mate get up every morning and do some spiritual reading and affirmations. Now, her life is not necessarily a bed of roses by most people's standards. She has challenges on a daily basis like the rest of us. But, a couple days ago I saw her again and her energy is fantastic. She definite has moved into the light. She is one of the most positive people I know. And, she smiles for she knows that anything that is not right in her life she can change through her belief... her thoughts... her spoken word. Bless you Lady! It is working... at least by my opinion.

It is your choice. If life does not seem to be working for you... or... if life seems to only work part of the time... I suggest you concentrate more effort with your affirmations. Have faith in the One Power. Have faith in yourself. Do not be confused by what is seen... most of what is seen is the reality of others and I have found few of them smiling and enjoying themselves. Create your "fantasy world" and live in it. If it displeases you one day, create a new one. I create a new one each day.

NAMASTE'...

Divine Love, Rev DEACON