3. Day 28: Verzeiung (Forgiveness) & Communion
The amazing book “The Book Thief” (by Markus Zusak) came to me during this month of extending love to guilt. Surely this is no accident and indeed a novel of the tenacity of loving in all conditions, especially with the incarcerating power of guilt. The story is narrated by Death and told through the eyes of a young girl in Nazi Germany. It is powerful in every way. I must share these definitions that leapt out at me: “Verzeiung–Forgiveness: to stop feeling anger, animosity or resentment. Related words: absolution, acquittal, mercy” —p. 368...
Read More3. Day 27: Guilt, The Greatest Call For Love
Me: Holy Spirit, what IS the purpose of guilt? HS: Precious One, The purpose of guilt is threefold: to close your eyes to grace to dampen your spirit to forget the truth Guilt uses all thinking to accomplish this; everything you have ever thought, done, not thought or not done. Guilt is the great God covering, making it appear you are separate from God. You don’t question it because you can see its’ effects in the world; even though there is great beauty so much is left undone, so much unfairness, so much pain and hurt. Guilt is NOT TRUE. Guilt is NOT TRUTH. Guilt is...
Read More3. Day 26: Love Meets Guilt Where It Is
My walk with extending love to guilt this month (in my Twelvemonth project) continues with spending each morning with Holy Spirit; sometimes asking difficult questions, other times just listening. Today, I feel like I am not making any inroads into understanding or lessening guilt. I am not as afraid of the guilt yet I still feel it easily and completely. Me: How can I ween myself from reliance on the framework of guilt? HS: Dearest One, You believe guilt is a giant structure upon which your life is built. Guilt is but a single thought in any given moment that prevents you from...
Read More3. Day 25: Gratitude Is Good For What Ails You
I am feeling low, like I want to stay in bed for a week. The last few weeks have been incredibly hectic with nearly every moment scheduled. Time to extend love. I extend absolution to this thought. Interestingly I feel guilty both for wanting to stay in bed AND for the week being so full. (why do I always do that?). I also feel guilty for the thought of canceling everything (or anything really). Finally I remember to ask. Me: What is it I really need/want to do? HS (gave me this list which will guide me over the next days): bath, water, cleansing tea, nap, one day at a time, make a list,...
Read More3. Day 24: No Room At The Gym
I am beginning to realize that guilt feels bad because it is a contraction rather than an expansion. It is the contraction or constricting that feels bad, not the fact that guilt is the truth about me (which it isn’t). I had a wonderful guilt opportunity the other day when having tea with a friend. We were at Bella Bru, me sipping green tea, my friend sipping Diet Coke when our conversation got around to “We really should take a yoga class together!” We both have memberships at 24 Hr Fitness which is next door so we decided to go over and see when the yoga classes that...
Read More3. Day 23: Why Meditate?
The other day I ran across a brilliant answer to “Why meditate?” The answer I give most often is “Because it feels good and returns me to peace and wholeness.”, but the answer below gives the “why” behind my feelings of peace, joy and wholeness. “Meditation is how you can consistently pay attention to what is. This inner feeling, this knowingness, this awareness that begins to arise in you, if consistently paid attention to, will tell you directly all that you need to know. Inside the space of your body and inside the space of your psyche, there...
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