RECOGNITION 2

As I reviewed our gathering of Dec. 21st I found myself at a loss for words. 

The beauty and the power of those two affirmations/prayers p. 101-103 are so simply overwhelming in their scope that it is presumptuous to think there is anything else to add. 

            (but, then again, it's difficult to shut me up)

I would encourage us all to continue praying/saying those  prayers on a daily basis. I would also encourage us to say them out loud, even if it is just a whisper. Saying them outwardly instead of just in our mind offers us the ability to connect with the prayer on a deeper sensory level, and also helps keep us centered in the prayer itself.

Even when I am reading something as majestic as this, I can  notice my mind wandering off. I might still be “reading” the prayer, but my head is a million miles away.

Through these affirmations, we are not only committing to Transformation, we are literally being transformed.

Please do not become attached to what all this is supposed to feel like. All we need to do is to keep focus with our willingness and intention and to be aware of the “part” of us that KNOWS transformation is taking place. We do not need to measure, compare, or look for any other proof than that.

“When you state, “I am Word through this intention (whatever that might be),” you deliver energy to what was intended. You are setting the intention that the Divine Self that you are sends the energy of the Christ to inform the healing (and/or transforming) of that which is needed. ” p. 104

The declaration, “I am Word (followed by) “through my health”, “through my body”, “through my vibration”, “through all I see before me”, “through this pain in my hand….”*

etc. is the invocation of Divine Law. It is probably one of the most powerful things we can state because its power comes from the Divine Creativity that we are a part of.

*when we “Word” something that appears to be negative, such as pain or resistance, we are NOT increasing the negativity, we are raising the sensation or perception to a higher frequency. In the case of pain, for instance, by “wording” it we are no longer holding onto the pain and through our release we are allowing healing to happen. 

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Another way of viewing this whole book is that it is a teaching and an energy which is allowing us to become more and more comfortable with this Truth (that I AM WORD).

“Now we do not tell you that you change who you thought you were. We tell you this: you become who you truly are.” p. 105

I know I have jokingly, but also seriously said that “The Good News (the Gospel) is that you are not who you think you are.” 

Are we being asked to give up our personalities? Well, let’s take a look at what the personality is. (By the way, I’m just making all this up. I’m asking for guidance that I don’t say anything misleading, and I am sharing what I think is true, but I don’t know anymore than anybody else.)

What we call the personality is a construct. It is a construct of what we have been told, what we have learned, what we think we are supposed to be like, what we have rebelled against, what we like, what we don’t like, why we think we like and don’t like stuff, our prejudices, our moral code, and on and on.

I’ve all spent many years refining and defining this thing called Gerry Boylan. Now we come to a very interesting thing about this personality gig—your perception of Gerry Boylan might be very different from my own. In other words my perception personality is limited to me!  See, I’ve created this whole thing to be secure in myself(who I think I am)—and that part works, but I’ve also put this whole thing together so you could know who I am—and that doesn’t work—because you see everything, including my personality, through your own lens.

It’s as if I were to weave a “coat of many colors” and I really liked it. I thought it fit wonderfully, looked good, etc. But now, what about you? You might think it was too garish or “show-offy” You might not like the colors (you don’t think they go well with my eyes, etc. 

I think you get the idea.

Back to the original question: “Are we being asked to give up our personalities?”

I think we are being asked to let go of our attachment to and our identification with that construct we call our personality.

I still have a personality— a unique way of expressing myself, but instead of thinking that is who I am, I recognize my personality construct as being the unique and wonderful way God’s love can be expressed through me.

This release, letting go of my attachment to my personality now takes me into the realm of Transformation or Recognition. (remember:“Now we do not tell you that you change who you thought you were. We tell you this: you become who you truly are.” p. 105)?

As we Transform, recognize who/what we truly are, we also begin to consciously release stuff that is no longer useful, that no longer serves us. (also some stuff drops off and we might not even miss it until much later).

We might find that certain activities are no longer fun; we might find ourselves drawn to different kinds of reading and shows we watch, etc.

This is not about judgment—stuff that no longer serves us is just that( like an item of clothing that just doesn’t suit us anymore, like a Nehru jacket from the Sixties—Now for somebody else, it might be perfect; those thoughts, ideas, activities might serve someone else just fine. 

So again, this is a call to awareness, becoming aware of those thoughts, feelings, behaviors, attitudes, patterns that might be our automatic responses to life situations, and to take a look at whether or not they still fit. Are they truly a reflection of who you are or who you desire to be?

Now you can’t just push something way because you think you are not supposed to have it. That’s the old “I shouldn’t feel that way” in disguise.

When I discover a thought pattern or behavior that no longer serves me, and I am having difficult time letting it go—or having it let go of me—I might need to:

thank it for serving me for so long

grieve its loss

feel the feelings that go with it

prayerfully reinforce my willingness and intention.

I can argue with a three year old (my ego) forever and as long as I am arguing, the ego is winning, but if I just gently let it be, stop resisting the resistance, it will gradually loosen its grip.

We ended Sunday with another powerful declaration and prayer on p. 107, releasing emotional patterns that which no longer serve me and opening myself up to the process of Transformation. 

I do not recall the book using the word “grace” very often, but I believe this is what is happening here. Grace is active in at least two ways: 1) it is the movement of God and God's Love within us; and 2) it is our openness to that movement of God.

There is an awesome responsibility that comes from this section on Recognition, namely, 

“It is time for you to understand that your feelings are an aspect of the self that you actually can control. ”  p. 107

(this blog includes material from the last two Sundays 12/21-28)