Fly! Be. Free!

Freedom. A concept that we tend to profess as near and dear to our hearts. I believe that most people value their freedom to some degree. And then the value is increased as we feel our freedom is being infringed upon in some way. In other words we take our freedom for granted much of the time. And we get away with it, or so it seems.
Recently in my life that I have had to release several people and some places. I found myself at a crossroads. Not deciding whether or not to let them go, that was done. But the way in which I would "break-up".

Now, as many of us I have had some break-ups in the past. Break-ups with men, landlords, sister-friends, even clients. Many of those separations were ugly by any standard. I have endured a great amount of discomfort because of the choices I have made about who I would be on my way out. I realize that it doesn't have to be that way. But I recall impulses that I sometimes still feel however faintly. Impulses to retaliate for some perceived or even imagined injustice that has led to our pending or present separation or to avoid the entire situation and exit by default (really exit by da'fool.lol).

Truth is...

We come into this world alone. The space through which we enter only has room for one at a time.(That's a whole 'nother conversation.lol) And when we leave our bodies, we will do so alone. Our only accompanying Presence is that of God. When separation is upon us and another or a situation it is a completely natural progression of events. It is absolutely the most likely occurrence that circumstances betwixt ourselves and another will change. And if that change is separation, our reaction will tell us the story of what freedom means to us. Is it a violent tearing, a gentle release with laughter and or tears, a solemn dismissal, or maybe a complete withdrawal of emotion displayed as callous disregard for the moment.
We choose how we will express in each moment. But our real power lies in our willingness to choose our freedom. It is that freedom that brings us to the place of our greatest possibility for full expression. Another way to say that is we recognize that we are free to be any way we wish at any moment. Then go on to the business of being that which we wish. Regardless of the circumstances that surround us.
The reason that birds are always associated with freedom is because they fly above the earth. The view from above the circumstance is always broader and encompasses more of the possibility, less of the problem. There is a time where navigation of the space just ahead is appropriate from a logistical standpoint. And there is also the time to stand in the place of God and see the impossible dream the divine vision, that would be most of the time. After all we are called to move forward in our lives through every experience with the expectation that what will occur is for our highest good. Even if we get scared we have the freedom to choose to be courageous. So GO HARD!

Who Knows?

I believe children are amazing. Especially the ones that are still honest enough to say "I don't know." as an answer to questions like "Why did you do that?"

As adults we often stand there looking at them with our mouths open and a puzzled look in our eyes and depending on the amount of patience available to us at that moment, anger rising in our chest and throat. The truth is we are probably reacting to our own ambivalence. When someone asks me why I did or do something that is, first of all, questionable, I often wish I had the courage to not only say I don't know but then take the time to investigate it. Imagine that.

One of my dearest friends often tells me, while helping me to investigate things such as this, that the question is far more important than the answer. I believe her. And here is a perfect example. What do we ask ourselves when trying to uncover the hidden meaning behind our own actions. Actions that we feel warrant questioning. I make this distinction because there are many things we do that we will never question mainly because they are clearly lined up with our values or they are lined up with what makes us look good. In the case of the latter we may not be present to any lack of integrity that exists because our mask has not cracked, so to speak.

But in the cases where we and the whole world is like WTF! The questions become very important. We can take these experiences in as a practice. A practice in uncovering the unseen. Nobody can see the thoughts and impulses that drive and action. And if the action is your own then you should at least have the option of being honest with yourself. There are people who are able in real time and complete integrity tell you exactly why they did anything that you can point to in their lives past or present. Self-awareness has allowed them to see clearly and choose what has and will move them through life. I am a work in progress and a chick in practice in this regard. My commitment to self realization has brought me to many a mirror and made me open my eyes to the truth about me. Although it has been very painful at times I am grateful for the practice.

In the spirit of Resurrection I must say that those that know don't die like those that don't know. So I challenge you to know yourself. Even if you choose to keep the knowledge a secret for some time, give yourself the option. In reality, no matter how we try, everybody can see that which we believe is true, especially about ourselves. And most of all, love yourself. There will be things about ourselves that we will lay to rest. It is love that resurrects the higher truth in its place. We must enter into knowledge of self with the humility of knowing God created that which we are investigating. We are looking inward for the truth of our being. Letting that which is unlike our true selves, made in the image and likeness of God, fall away. We no longer have any use for it.

If you have ever prayed the prayer of Jabez asking to enlarge your territory; you have asked for a new frontier in you life, uncharted, unknown. When we ask for what we don't know anything about how often do we examine how we react to the unknown. Hope , awe, and wonder? or Criticism, judgement, and fear? A good test to see where we are right now is how we react when we ask someone why they did something, and they say"I don't know?"