by Christine Green | Jan 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
A new swimming pool opened in my home town when I was around 10 years old and my parents enrolled me in swimming classes. As I made progress, I was moved into the advanced group at the deep end of the pool. We lined up and one by one had to swim across. When it was my turn and I jumped in and swam about half-way across the pool when I started to panic. I couldn’t breathe and started flailing. The life guard jumped in and brought me back to the side of the pool. Once I was ok, the instructor sent me back to the intermediate swimming lessons. I felt embarrassed and ashamed.
I wish he had taken the time to help me face whatever fear I was feeling and gave me another chance to swim across the pool. Instead I felt like a failure and was punished and sent away.
We come face to face with our fears almost every day. All too often we quit and walk away, never knowing if we were going to reach our goal.
Can we ever really fail? In essence, we try something new and when it doesn’t work the way we want, we have the chance to reorganize and try again. Isn’t that a kinder, gentler way to see it?
We build faith when we take risks and face fears. We discover resources and strengths we didn’t know we had. We learn to trust that we have what we need when we need it.
There is freedom in faith. Faith is knowing that whatever I need will be provided; whether it’s having the strength to face a challenge, courage to speak my truth, or help in times of struggle.
Faith. It does a body good.
by Christine Green | Dec 12, 2012 | Uncategorized
When my husband Laurence was fighting cancer, I prayed that he would outlive my parents. I couldn’t imagine going through losing them without his strong shoulders to lean on. Laurence passed away two years ago. My Mom made her transition this past June. My experience of loss gave me the strength to be there for my Dad, my sister and family members.
I spent many years thinking that if I prayed hard enough I could keep everyone I loved under God’s umbrella of safety and they would be spared sickness and death. If I was good enough, perhaps the angel of death would just keep walking on by.
What I know now is that life is an extraordinary journey where we experience pain and joy, suffering and peace, loss and love. We will grieve those who leave us all too soon. We grieve because we love.
Our experience of life is sacred, amazing, crazy and all too fleeting. Love guides us through life’s challenges and nurtures us along the way.
Hug and kiss your loved ones. Call friends you haven’t heard from. Forgive your enemies. Let go of old hurts. Life is so short…Love while you are here.
Prayers and love go out to all that were affected by yesterday’s shooting at the Clackamas mall in Portland. May the wounds and emotions heal as God’s love pierces the darkness. God Bless.
by Christine Green | Dec 11, 2012 | Uncategorized
For many, gift giving has become conditional and compensatory in our society. Should I give one, how much should it cost, what if I receive a gift and I did not give one in return, what is someone else’s gift is better than mine!! Yikes!
We begin by looking at intention in giving. From The Principles of Financial Freedom workbook, “We graciously give to others because we can perceive the divinity within them, simply, because we love them.” Practice learning to give gifts out of love and not lack. Practice not making the gift conditional by saying “I did not have enough so this is what you get.”
Your gift is a gift of love whether it is a card, something homemade or something purchased, whether it came from the Dollar Store or from Macy’s.
The difference is the attitude of how you give it. Give it as a treasure from your heart. Go within and see the person’s beauty and divinity. But first go within and see your own beauty and divinity and proclaim “I am enough. I am love.”
The reason for the season is love.
by Christine Green | Nov 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
A friend recently told me she left her job because she didn’t like the people she worked with. I remember a time when left a job for the same reason. The funny thing was, when I went to the next job I ran into the same ‘type’ of people. Whatever mannerisms or behavior I didn’t like showed up in other people at the next job.
Through my spiritual practice, I discovered it wasn’t the people that I didn’t like. They pushed a button in me that registered a fear or belief that I didn’t want to look at. It seemed like it was just easier to leave. But it wasn’t. That same pattern in people showed up over and over again until I healed it within myself.
I think I have more compassion now. When I recognize that everyone is dealing with some kind of limiting belief or fear, there is more room for compassion and understanding. As the saying goes: Where ever I go, there I am.
by Christine Green | Oct 9, 2012 | Uncategorized
Have you made decisions about what to do or what not to do based on how you feel? Ever made plans to attend a meeting or a class and then decided you were just too tired, overwhelmed or overworked and just don’t feel like it anymore?
When we make decisions out of how we feel instead of keeping our commitments, we have broken agreements with ourselves or others. Our word becomes powerless. We become ineffective. Our feelings change moment to moment. They are fleeting. Our word is what counts.
We make many choices throughout the day. Our choice becomes our commitment and becomes our word. When we make choices and stand on our word, the Universe rushes forward to help make our word a reality.
I choose Love. I choose Peace. I choose Joy.
What do you choose?
A new swimming pool opened in my home town when I was around 10 years old and my parents enrolled me in swimming classes. As I made progress, I was moved into the advanced group at the deep end of the pool. We lined up and one by one had to swim across. When it was my turn and I jumped in and swam about half-way across the pool when I started to panic. I couldn’t breathe and started flailing. The life guard jumped in and brought me back to the side of the pool. Once I was ok, the instructor sent me back to the intermediate swimming lessons. I felt embarrassed and ashamed.
