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We Have All Knelt At Different Graves

28 Apr

Sometimes you strive to say something, but you cannot articulate it in words as you would like, so you say nothing.

Sometimes, however, you come across other blogs that say it perfectly.  Such is the case for me today.

So I’m re-printing Phil Bolsta’s blog post for today.  If you haven’t yet found Phil’s blog, I highly recommend it.  It can be found at http://bolstablog.wordpress.com

Phil’s post quotes Deepak Chopra as well.  So thanks Phil and thanks Deepak!

While reading Deepak Chopra‘s insightful book, The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, this excerpt on page 183 spoke to me. In this passage lies the reason why one religion or spiritual path is not right for everybody.

We are all born to travel our own path; when we find the right one, it feels like we have come home. What works for me may not necessarily work for you and vice versa. Understanding this removes judgment from the equation. How can we judge another’s destiny? The answer, of course, is that we cannot. All we can do is focus on our own journey.

Intention springs from our deepest desires, and those desires are shaped by karma. You and I don’t have the same karma; therefore we dont have exactly the same desires. We have loved different people, knelt at different graves, prayed at different altars. The specifics of desire are unique to each of us.

Yet if you follow the chain of desire, in the end we are all the same. We want to be happy. We want to be fulfilled. We want meaning and purpose in our lives. We want a sense of connection with God or spirit. We want other people to respect us and love us. And we want to feel safe. These desires are universal. But the route each of us takes to satisfy them is uniquely our own, based on our individual experiences and memories, or karma. Were all heading for the same destination, but we take different roads. We arrive together, having traveled our different paths.

This is quite a wonderful book. It explains in great detail how and why the universe lives in each of us and works through each of us. This knowledge is the key to realizing our full potential as human and spiritual beings. I highly recommend it!


ABOUT PHIL BOLSTA

SiSe_fullcover_final.inddPhil is the author of Sixty Seconds: One Moment Changes Everything, a collection of 45 inspiring, life-changing stories from prominent people he interviewed, including Joan Borysenko, Deepak Chopra, geneticist Dr. Francis Collins, acclaimed sportswriter Frank Deford, Dr. Larry Dossey, Wayne Dyer, Dan Millman, Caroline Myss, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, Dr. Bernie Siegel, James Van Praagh, singer Billy Vera, Doreen Virtue, Neale Donald Walsch, and bassist Victor Wooten.

 Click here to buy Sixty Seconds. Click here to ask Phil to add you to his e-mail list for updates on his blog and books.

Reading this book is like spending a few minutes face to face with each of the contributors and listening to their personal stories. Click here to read unsolicited testimonials from readers. Learn more by visiting the official Sixty Seconds website.

Sixty Seconds was one of three finalists in the General Interest/How-To category at the 12th annual Visionary Awards presented by COVR (Coalition of Visionary Resources) in Denver on June 27, 2009.

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Same Scenario – Different Day

6 Apr

Have you ever noticed that when The Universe is trying to teach us something, if we don’t get it, the same lesson just keeps coming again and again until we do?

Never has that been more apparent to me than in the area of campus fire safety.  When Liz died from a fire in her duplex, I automatically assumed it was just this freak accident that shouldn’t have happened.

However, just this morning I received  notification of another fire fatality in off-campus housing at Eastern Michigan University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ed Comeau, Publisher
Campus Firewatch
www.campus-firewatch.com
413-323-6002 (tel)
413-896-5718 (cell)
ecomeau@campus-firewatch.com
Student from Eastern Michigan University killed in off-campus fire in Ann Arbor, Michigan
BELCHERTOWN, Mass., April 6, 2010 — A student from Eastern Michigan University was killed in an off-campus fire in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

According to the university, 22-year-old Renden LeMasters was killed in the fire.  LeMasters was a senior in the College of Technology.

In an interview with Campus Firewatch, Ann Arbor Fire Marshal Kathleen Chamberlain reported that the fire was reported at approximately 5:30 a.m. and started in the area of the front porch which contained upholstered furniture, trash and other combustibles.  The fire, which was detected by a passerby, then spread into the interior of the building through a front dormer window and two doors which were left open when the occupants escaped from the fire.  The victim was found in front of the building by the first arriving fire department personnel.  The cause of the fire is under investigation and has not been determined at this time.
The building is a two-story, wood-frame, building that had been divided into three units located in the basement, first floor and second floor.  There were interconnected smoke alarms in the building but no residential fire sprinklers.
According to Chamberlain, the Ann Arbor Fire Department had previously attempted to have an ordinance passed that would ban upholstered furniture from front porches but was unsuccessful.  Before this fire occurred, they were in the process of trying again because of the danger that these conditions present.  “These are incredible fire hazards,” said Chamberlain.
Nationwide, this is the fifth campus-related fire fatality to occur in the 2009-2010 academic year, all of which have occurred since January.  According to information compiled by Campus Firewatch, 140 people have died in campus-related fires since January 2000 with over 84% of them occurring in off-campus occupancies where a majority of the students across the nation live.
Campus Firewatch is a social enterprise focusing on campus fire safety. For more information, visit our website at www.campus-firewatch.com.
###

Campus Firewatch ● P.O. Box 1046, Belchertown, MA ● 01007 ● 1-413-323-6002 (tel)
www.campus-firewatch.com ● ecomeau@campus-firewatch.com

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The similarities are stunningly familiar:

fire call comes in 5:30 am

fire starts on a porch in a couch

the building is a wooden two story

How sad that an ordinance outlawing couches on porches was not enacted – perhaps now it will – but does it really take another death of a college-aged student to make it happen?

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A Story That is Meant to be Shared!

13 Mar

Those of you who know me well, know that my greatest passions are sharing my stories of extraordinary connections to my daughter Liz and fire safety prevention.

I came across a story today that combines them both.  It is a wonderful story and for all of you skeptics out there, I hope it will make you stop and think, scratch your head, and wonder … maybe there is more to life than what can be seen?

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/local/hero-boy-honored

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Yesterday – a day of mixed emotions

6 Mar

Yesterday started off as a great day!  I was still on a high after a very successful speaking engagement at a new book club in town.  Over 40 people came out to hear me speak and buy a copy of the book my story is in.

Yesterday was also the day that my blog rolled over 10,000 hits.  I had been waiting and watching for that milestone for a few months now and I was excited and happy to see it happen.

Later in the day my happiness turned to sorrow when I learned of the death of Darcy Pohland, a reporter at WCCO in Minneapolis.  I have done two stories on fire safety with Darcy over the past three years and I could always count on her to make it happen.

Not only was she an outstanding reporter, she was also a very vibrant and bubbly human being.  Her enthusiasm for life was infectious and I loved being able to get to know her alittle bit more each time we did a story.

For those of you who live out of the WCCO viewing area, what you don’t know is that Darcy was also a quadrapalegic.  One of the few, if not the only QP reporters in the country.  At the age of 22 she dove into a pool and broke her neck … changing the course of her life forever.

For many people this type of accident would be devastating and hard to recover from.  I’m sure it was extremely difficult for Darcy as well, but you would never know it.  She never let her limitations stand in her way.  It is said that her favorite word was … perseverence.  That is something she had alot of.

Thank you Darcy … thank you for telling my story … for helping me to get the word out about fire safety … you loved the University of Minnesota just like my daughter did … probably even more.  I’m so glad you got to experience the new Goopher stadium.

I didn’t know until yesterday that you were as passionate about figure skating as I am.  I wish I would have brought my camera when we did our stories so that I could have captured a moment of the two of us together.

I’m sure you are now even more bubbly than you were when you were here … you no longer need your chair.  I would like to think that you and Liz have found each other and are dancing and singing with JOY.

You are one of a kind Darcy and I don’t think there will ever be another reporter who can tell my story and the stories of many others the way that you could.

Job well done my friend … you will be missed.

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Books N Beyond

28 Feb

There is a new book club starting up in town.  The first book selection is True Stories of Messages From Beyond by Julie Aydlott and Friends.

I have been asked to be the kick-off speaker this Thursday night at 7:00 pm at the Hy-Vee Club room.

Our paper did a story about it yesterday.

http://www.owatonna.com/news.php?viewStory=114857

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Take A Soul Step With Me

25 Jan

I will be a guest on the radio program, Take a Soul Step with Me, hosted by Cathryn Taylor on Blog Talk Radio on Wednesday, January 27th at 5:00 pm CST.

Click below to listen to the show.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/healthandharmonynetwork/2010/01/27/take-a-soul-step-with-me-beyond-compassion

If you would like to learn more about Cathryn Taylor and her work please visit her website:

http://joincathryntaylor.com/

EnJOY your day!

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Reality Doesn’t Stop for Christmas

6 Dec

Within the past two weeks I have attended two funerals and one visitation.  It’s been said that people die in three’s … if this is indeed true I should be done with funerals for a while … I sure hope so, but you never know.

Each person’s death was completely different, how I knew them was different, and my response to each was also completely different.

But it brings home the fact that all any of us ever have is TODAY.   Tomorrow is not guaranteed to us.  I’m reminded that I need to live each day as if it were my last.

It also reminds me to hold my loved ones closer and let them know how I feel about them.

Sadly the Christmas season isn’t all happiness and joy … there are many people in intense pain and going through difficult times … this time of year makes it seem especially harsh.

The funeral I attended yesterday was at my church and the burial was in the same cemetery we buried Liz in.  Anna and I commented on our way home how difficult it was and how it felt like a flashback to six years ago.  We returned home completely exhausted and spent.

Be kind to yourself today and do something nice for someone else … and above all, give your loved ones an extra hug … we never know what tomorrow will bring.

Guest Blogger

3 Dec

I’ve been asked to provide some of my writing for two different blogs.  Both of them have been published this week.  Here are the links:

http://lesleehorner.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/kims-click/

http://moniquechapman.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/putting-the-pieces-of-the-puzzle-of-life-back-together/

If I get enough hits on Monique Chapman’s blog, I will be a guest on one of her radio shows!

Enjoy your day!

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Dancing With God

17 Nov

I found this poem over on another wonderful blog site run by Phil Bolsta – Triumph of the Spirit

DANCING WITH GOD

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn’t flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw “G,” I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i.”
“God, ‘u’ and ‘I’ dance.”
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.

Author Unknown

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Poems You Can Relate To

5 Nov

I’ve never been a huge poetry person. But once in a while you come across a poem that really hits home.

That happened to me this week. This poem, written by Andrea Hill, spoke to me deep within the depths of my soul. It speaks about losing a daughter, and having another daughter you hope never has to experience such a loss. I’ve tweaked it just a tad to reflect my life.

I BURIED MY DAUGHTER TODAY
by Andrea Hill

I buried my daughter today, my soul burns red with pain. No longer will I touch her face or caress her skin again.

I buried my daughter today, God what have I done wrong to have her stolen from my arms, when my faith in you was strong?

I buried my daughter today, thank God I have another. I couldn’t walk this path alone, every breath is a struggle.

I buried my daughter today, she was just a bit past twenty. Searing, ripping, tearing ache, my emotions overcome me.

My other will someday be a mother, to God above I pray, these words by her not repeated, I buried my daughter today.

This poem and others can be found at:
http://netpoets.com

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