Life is a Salad Bar
Last night my best friend and I watched the endearing movie, “Heaven is for Real.” It’s a story about a little boy who has a near-death experience and goes to heaven. At the age of four he teaches those around him about faith. After the movie Bobbie asked if after all these months I can still feel things that I did when I came back into my body in January. I explained to her that I would never be the same prior to that date. I have no fear of dying. I also have no understanding of what others experience. Anything and everything I knew before January 15, 2014, is null and void. My participation, involvement and personal narrative have nothing to do with anyone else. No two people can experience exactly the same thing. Every action and circumstance is different. Our lives are as unique as fingerprints. My faith has been strengthened. My ability to reason has been rewired. And, my knowing of what I knew to be true has disappeared. I can read things from a year ago and I cannot relate to the b.s. I know nothing. I knew even less then. Every rough edge in my being seems to be smoothing out. I returned with a deep compassionate heart for me. Always having been the worrier of everyone else, I realize now it has nothing to do with me.I was once standing at a salad bar. My children were all getting the same toppings, yet every salad was different. We all had the same ingredients but no two salads were identical. That’s life! We can all share the same jobs, family, losses, circumstances, course of events, and so on but no two lives are identical. It is foolish and arrogant to say that “I know exactly how you feel” or “I understand completely.” Impossible! We can empathize and sympathize with one another but our emotions, decision making, processing, and a million other factors make it impossible for anyone to know “exactly” how you are feeling. Besides I truly believe we all have the answers we need at all times. All we have to do is get out of the way and let Spirit guide us. If you are fortunate enough to have someone listening to you as you process an issue you will come to the conclusion on your own.We are here on borrowed time. Even with time being a huge illusion it is still the indicator of our livelihood. Eighty years (if we are lucky to live them) is not that long. In the scope of desires, dreams, and wanting to live fully that seems like a really short lifespan. At the time of death things that mattered in our lives seem insignificant. It’s all about lessons, experiences, and the connections we make while here on this planet. I am often reminded of Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying” and how perception plays a huge role in the way we live. If you knew you had an expiration date what would you do differently? How would you live the rest of your time? Would you consider it a privilege and gift? I bet money wouldn’t be an issue, or the degrees you didn’t get, or even the material life you thought was important. But, you might look back and regret not saying more “I love you’s,” “I am sorry,” “I am proud of you,” and so on.Heaven is for real. You create it every day. Hell is for real as well. You create it every day. You get to choose which mental location to live on. Do you want joy or do you want hatred? Do you want peace or do you want war? Our internal factors are a switch away. You get to decide how you live your life. And, if you believe for one minute that you cannot change the way you are living, then sweetheart, you are definitely living in hell. Let divine wisdom, God, and your faith dictate the way. What others say or think really does not matter. Be aware of the endless possibilities in your dreams! Awake each day to being present and the amazing gift of another day. You came into this world knowing your mission but have forgotten it for a bit. Sit and search for your truth. You got this!