Roller coasters have been around since the 1500s, but the first one, by most reports, in the US was built in the late 1800s. A roller coaster consists of a small set of cars, connected like a train, that ride over a track that consists of high peaks and low valleys. In some early ones, and possibly some today, it is the momentum of coming down the steep hill into the valley that partially propels the car up the next peak. Beyond that point, the cars must be pulled up to the peak by some mechanism.
In Mitch Albom’s book, The Five People you meet in Heaven, the main character dies as he is trying to rescue a little girl who is trapped on the tracks of a similar ride. He reaches for her hands, and just as he grasps them, he dies. (Spoiler alert!) His travels through the book progress, and in the end, he comes to learn that he did indeed save the little girl but the hands he grasped were, instead, those of the girl who came to take *him* to heaven. In keeping the one girl safe, another girl had kept him safe.
Just like most things in life, the peaks and valleys, and, indeed, the entire ride, are never quite what they seem to be. At the time of Michaels’ death, I was already in a valley that I thought couldn’t get much lower. In the year leading up to his death, I had already buried 12 people close to me, and my only sister had recently developed cancer. I had no idea how I could go on living…this was all just simply too much. It felt, truly, like the “valley of the shadow of death.”
As I drove to get my sister to take her to chemo and radiation, I blasted Michael’s music constantly. One day, “Will You Be There?” broke through the fog in my soul. The rest is history, and why I find myself here writing these devotions every week.
Real roller coaster rides are fun; not always so much this ride we call Life. On a real roller coaster ride, we know we are going up a peak again; in life, that never seems so certain. In the amusement park, we pay a small price for a ride; in life, sometimes the price seems too high.
On a roller coaster, we ride with people we may never see again. But in life, the people who come with us often become lifelong friends. Just as the cars on a roller coaster have to have help to be pulled up from the valleys to the peaks, and just as it is that by helping others we often help ourselves more, so it is with the rest of life. So I’ll take the peaks and valleys, as long as I can keep the friends who’ve blessed my ride.
Are you coming along for the ride? It’s the ride of a lifetime! Wheeeeee!!!
by Diana Foley
Copyright (c) 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Call For Love Devotion - July 16: Peaks and Valleys
This journey with the Beloved is a series of highs and lows … what he called ‘peaks and valleys.’ He made dynamic use of this technique to enhance everything in his life. He refers to these alterations of altitude (attitude) in his music, his song-writing, his short films, his performances and his books. With this technique, he built drama, anticipation, longing, emotional engagement … and enhanced the ecstatic union he enjoyed with his audiences around the world; in the use of peaks and valleys he is a Master.The dramatic pause clearly shown so often in This Is It … the moment of silence … the rumble of the tank (or earth mover) onto the stage … what has been described as ‘what makes Michael so unique is his timing’ by his colleague. So, it should come as no surprise to us that our individual relationships with him will conform to this pattern.
He so loved his roller coasters, didn’t he? The funny thing about roller coasters is that they, too, conform to this pattern. We have to ride the low points and the jerky, mechanical rise as our cars are lifted to the apex before we free-fall into the abyss of his love, some of us losing our stomachs somewhere about halfway down (that would be me … LOL!).
Today, for the fourth day in a row, my small ‘reality break’ (during which I unashamedly take refuge within the embrace of the Beloved for, in all honesty, he IS my reality) in the middle of my morning and afternoon work sessions has been met by the same bird awaiting my arrival at the west entrance of the building in which I work. My ‘reality break’ companion is a male cardinal, his bright red plumage interlaced with black markings on his face and crest and his exuberant warble greet me as I step outside. He appears to be extremely tame for a wild creature. On Tuesday, he swooped from a low-hanging branch to the ground less than a foot away on my path and looked back at me as I startled from the unexpected movement. I could almost hear a soft chuckle through the earphones of my MP3 player. I’ve decided to name him Michael for obvious reasons.
There are times when the euphoria of our experience of the Beloved’s presence in our lives and in our hearts is so strong that we feel inadequate to contain it … when we burst with exultation and a rubber stopper forcefully applied couldn’t stop the flow of our emotion … when everything we see and every event we witness seem to resound and reverberate with the echo of his laughter … when fingers itch to empty themselves of the message the Beloved wants to convey and they can’t type fast enough … when we wish we were cardinals and could warble our joy and sing out ‘well met, Beloved.’
Then, there are others when we are too bounded by our life circumstances and too enslaved within the tiny cells of our routines for our vision to reach any further than the end of our arms … when the words flow more slowly and the emotions seep from our faucets like the slow drip that keeps us awake at night in a steady ‘plop, plop, plop’ of brain-numbing lassitude.
In examining these, I have discovered that … at least in my life … these are the times when he sends us little emissaries … ambassadors … like my friend, Michael, in his best, Sunday-go-to-meeting red vest and black tie to remind us that we have to ride the car through the low spots and the jerky, mechanical rise to experience the peak of euphoria again.
So, I have to remind myself ... don’t be discouraged … or doubt his presence … during those valleys. It would be a whole lot smarter to take several deep breaths … and get ready to SCREAM your lungs out as the wave you are riding prepares to launch you into ecstatic orbit! Ride it secure in the knowledge that the Master Magician is allowing you that dramatic pause at which he so excels to catch your breath before he lifts you high on his shoulders again.
~ Jan Carlson
Copyright (c) 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Call For Love Devotion - July 15: WWMD>
Leading with Love
Some leaders lead with fear and intimidation. True leaders lead with love.
Learning that Michael's big theme was love, L.O.V.E, I needed to know HIS definition of love. One day I asked him "So, what is love?" He replied, "Love is giving. Like the old cliche, you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." He went on to describe the beauty and powerful impact that is created when -- say in a stage concert -- everyone is doing their task at the level of excellence. He said it creates a combination that is greater than the sum of its parts. These multiple layers of love (in the lights, the sound, the dance, the voice, the everything...) create a unique experience and it's so intense that the audience is overwhelmed. When someone does their task with excellence, giving everything they've got -- that's an expression of love. He said that they didn't know it, but they were overwhelmed by love because in most cases most people never carry out their mission with that level of excellence. It's saying, "I love you enough to do my best!"
There are givers and takers in life. He was a giver. He would use all of his resources - his presence, his name, his fame, his money... to help other people and encourage them in their situation. He didn't belittle them or walk away -- he saw the problem, was HONEST about it, and gave us ways to be encouraged to be strong and rise up higher. Like in the beginning to "Earth Song" he describes his passion to turn the plight of destruction into a call for world wide change: "That's why I WRITE these songs -- to bring awareness and awakening and HOPE to people." Not guilt, blame or shame.
His resources no doubt were more than many, but his example is that we give whatever is needed, whatever we HAVE, to meet the situation. Like his song "What more can I give?" I will give all that I can give, and give over and over again. Giving as a way of life - not out of obligation but out of our heart. He would plead for us all to stand up and heal the plights near and far by giving of ourselves, giving help in ways that heal, that bring comfort.
He would join people together. As much as he could single-handedly accomplish many amazing achievements, he always understood that when you join forces with others, you can accomplish even more! As is the case sometimes tho in large groups, there is dissention or disagreement. I believe he would encourage the sentiment that was put forth by St Augustine: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity (Lovingkindness)." We can have differences of opinion, and different priorities, but he would remind us that we come from love and that we ARE love, and that we are all one.
He would lead by example, not just words. He led by communicating the POSITIVE... what he DID want to do. not just negative words. For me, he actually created a whole change in me by modeling movements and exercises. Almost without thinking, I followed his gestures...like a baby who imitates a wave, and realizes that they can DO this new thing. But what he was doing was ballet plie's, rond de jambs, lunges, leg lifts, and even pilates. He didn't tell me what to do and give a hard shove to the shoulders. He modeled it and invited me to JOIN HIM. He made it look so easy. He encouraged and praised every little step, using positive reinforcement. And with great patience, the effect he wanted came about, not by manipulation, struggle, guilt or shame, but by positivity, modeling, encouraging, believing and love. PATIENCE.
Patience is something so lacking. I used to think of it as a passive quality, but though watching him, I realized he had power in patience. That allowed him to let his love and encouragement germinate in people to let them develop at their pace. But I will also say, he couples 'patience' with insistence and persistence. He won't let you slide back into self-defeating ways. When I would tell him, "OK I'll try it" he would be insistent in a funny way -- with his best Yoda impersonation saying "Try? There is no try, there is only DO." He left me no wiggle room to make excuses. When he is going for a goal or is encouraging you to strive for one, he is persistent in his requests. He's not afraid to ask the best of you. I see that as being a great leader and motivator -- he KNOWS you have the best in you but you've never been called upon to really bring it forth. HE DOES. He insists on the best, and keeps asking until it's there.
He would read, study, learn, pray, change, practice what he learned -- and then practice some more. This is true of us as well. For the changes that are needed of us, we must be willing to learn what we need for where we're going. This will expand you, challenge and increase your understanding. Take that opportunity to undergo a change...for change first takes place in the mind. As Henry Ford once said: Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.
So many times when he would challenge me to do something new, I felt so insecure in my talents, abilities or just self image. But he showed me the first step. He offered his extended hand in a gesture to dance and asked me, "Are you ready??" Not knowing what would be expected of me, my shy insecure self replied, "I don't know if I'm ready. Or Able. But, I'm willing." With a huge grin he pulled me in and said with a long whisper "That's all you need------------! THIS is the dance of love." He would encourage us to do new and better things...to invest more energy and faith in our motivations than our fears. It's been said that God loves us the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way. He models for us the strong ways that love propels us upward and onward into new realms, whole new worlds, new ways of thinking, breaking our boxes, our chains our barriers our "I can'ts". He emboldens us with his own courage to say YOU CAN MAKE IT! I BELIEVE IN YOU, SO YOU BELIEVE IN YOU!
Lift your head up high and scream out to the world
I know I am someone and let the truth unfurl
No one can hurt you now because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me, so you believe in you
One of the biggest changes has been a global phenomenon of spiritual awakening. A social awareness awakening. A love awakening. He would remind us that all power comes from God, but that God works through people. That means that we can play important roles, even so-called ordinary people! SHOW your faith, DO good works, let your LIGHT SHINE! Fill your heart with love and light. He would challenge us to find in our souls our true capacity which has no limits. Believe more, try more, do more. He would have us reach for the highest self, the highest spiritual development, the loftiest investment in the unlimited. Highest. Biggest. Best.
THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD DO.
by Rita Bosico
Copyright (c) 2011
Some leaders lead with fear and intimidation. True leaders lead with love.
Learning that Michael's big theme was love, L.O.V.E, I needed to know HIS definition of love. One day I asked him "So, what is love?" He replied, "Love is giving. Like the old cliche, you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving." He went on to describe the beauty and powerful impact that is created when -- say in a stage concert -- everyone is doing their task at the level of excellence. He said it creates a combination that is greater than the sum of its parts. These multiple layers of love (in the lights, the sound, the dance, the voice, the everything...) create a unique experience and it's so intense that the audience is overwhelmed. When someone does their task with excellence, giving everything they've got -- that's an expression of love. He said that they didn't know it, but they were overwhelmed by love because in most cases most people never carry out their mission with that level of excellence. It's saying, "I love you enough to do my best!"
There are givers and takers in life. He was a giver. He would use all of his resources - his presence, his name, his fame, his money... to help other people and encourage them in their situation. He didn't belittle them or walk away -- he saw the problem, was HONEST about it, and gave us ways to be encouraged to be strong and rise up higher. Like in the beginning to "Earth Song" he describes his passion to turn the plight of destruction into a call for world wide change: "That's why I WRITE these songs -- to bring awareness and awakening and HOPE to people." Not guilt, blame or shame.
His resources no doubt were more than many, but his example is that we give whatever is needed, whatever we HAVE, to meet the situation. Like his song "What more can I give?" I will give all that I can give, and give over and over again. Giving as a way of life - not out of obligation but out of our heart. He would plead for us all to stand up and heal the plights near and far by giving of ourselves, giving help in ways that heal, that bring comfort.
He would join people together. As much as he could single-handedly accomplish many amazing achievements, he always understood that when you join forces with others, you can accomplish even more! As is the case sometimes tho in large groups, there is dissention or disagreement. I believe he would encourage the sentiment that was put forth by St Augustine: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity (Lovingkindness)." We can have differences of opinion, and different priorities, but he would remind us that we come from love and that we ARE love, and that we are all one.
He would lead by example, not just words. He led by communicating the POSITIVE... what he DID want to do. not just negative words. For me, he actually created a whole change in me by modeling movements and exercises. Almost without thinking, I followed his gestures...like a baby who imitates a wave, and realizes that they can DO this new thing. But what he was doing was ballet plie's, rond de jambs, lunges, leg lifts, and even pilates. He didn't tell me what to do and give a hard shove to the shoulders. He modeled it and invited me to JOIN HIM. He made it look so easy. He encouraged and praised every little step, using positive reinforcement. And with great patience, the effect he wanted came about, not by manipulation, struggle, guilt or shame, but by positivity, modeling, encouraging, believing and love. PATIENCE.
Patience is something so lacking. I used to think of it as a passive quality, but though watching him, I realized he had power in patience. That allowed him to let his love and encouragement germinate in people to let them develop at their pace. But I will also say, he couples 'patience' with insistence and persistence. He won't let you slide back into self-defeating ways. When I would tell him, "OK I'll try it" he would be insistent in a funny way -- with his best Yoda impersonation saying "Try? There is no try, there is only DO." He left me no wiggle room to make excuses. When he is going for a goal or is encouraging you to strive for one, he is persistent in his requests. He's not afraid to ask the best of you. I see that as being a great leader and motivator -- he KNOWS you have the best in you but you've never been called upon to really bring it forth. HE DOES. He insists on the best, and keeps asking until it's there.
He would read, study, learn, pray, change, practice what he learned -- and then practice some more. This is true of us as well. For the changes that are needed of us, we must be willing to learn what we need for where we're going. This will expand you, challenge and increase your understanding. Take that opportunity to undergo a change...for change first takes place in the mind. As Henry Ford once said: Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.
So many times when he would challenge me to do something new, I felt so insecure in my talents, abilities or just self image. But he showed me the first step. He offered his extended hand in a gesture to dance and asked me, "Are you ready??" Not knowing what would be expected of me, my shy insecure self replied, "I don't know if I'm ready. Or Able. But, I'm willing." With a huge grin he pulled me in and said with a long whisper "That's all you need------------! THIS is the dance of love." He would encourage us to do new and better things...to invest more energy and faith in our motivations than our fears. It's been said that God loves us the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way. He models for us the strong ways that love propels us upward and onward into new realms, whole new worlds, new ways of thinking, breaking our boxes, our chains our barriers our "I can'ts". He emboldens us with his own courage to say YOU CAN MAKE IT! I BELIEVE IN YOU, SO YOU BELIEVE IN YOU!
Lift your head up high and scream out to the world
I know I am someone and let the truth unfurl
No one can hurt you now because you know what's true
Yes, I believe in me, so you believe in you
One of the biggest changes has been a global phenomenon of spiritual awakening. A social awareness awakening. A love awakening. He would remind us that all power comes from God, but that God works through people. That means that we can play important roles, even so-called ordinary people! SHOW your faith, DO good works, let your LIGHT SHINE! Fill your heart with love and light. He would challenge us to find in our souls our true capacity which has no limits. Believe more, try more, do more. He would have us reach for the highest self, the highest spiritual development, the loftiest investment in the unlimited. Highest. Biggest. Best.
THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD DO.
by Rita Bosico
Copyright (c) 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Call For Love Devotion - July 14: WWMD?
What would Michael do? He broke barriers and lifted us up through his music, his words, his art. His creativity and spirituality inspired millions, including me. Through Michael's gentle urging I have widened my horizon and read books on various religions, books on spirituality, and I did some soulsearching too. Looking in the mirror, I did not always like what I saw. Each day I would ask myself: did my actions and words lead to more love, peace and joy, or less love, peace and joy? And what about my thoughts? Then I realized: we are all a work in progress. If I can be understanding and forgiving towards others, maybe I need to love myself as well? Finding balance is not always easy.
Michael inspires me in so many ways: the lyrics of his songs are, at the right time, answers to my questions. The lyrics and the melody comfort me, reach out, envelop me and strengthen me in my resolve. Michaels speeches and interviews leave me speechless, and make me love him more. What an extraordinary caring, gentle, loving, but also determined and persistant man, artist, teacher, guru, doting father. Through him I suddenly understood wholly and totally pure, unconditional love. Such a wonderful, inspirational, phenomal gift to receive such insights. My love for him knows no bounds, has no beginning and no end, but must not be focused solely on him alone. My love for him opened the door in my heart so wide that now the entire world fits in there too, no matter what the differences are.
Not only did Michael inspire me spiritually, he waited until the time was right to push me out of my creative comfort zone. Now I am exploring new avenues of creative expression, in which music is the creative force behind all my various forms of expression. Born in love and then shared with others in the hope that it inspires others, comforts them or reaches out in an experience undergone in a similar way. We are all connected, and Michael, through his devoted love, is showing us the connections.
Yet, all of this is nice but still mostly theory. What about doing something? Really making a difference? Leaving the planet a better place!
After reading Char's devotion and seeing the video at the end of it and hearing Michael speak the words: "If one person help just one child, just helpone child, they'd done so much. If you can do that, that would be beautiful" . Then I knew what it is I wanted to do. So I did something that enables a child in a country far away to go to school, get three meals a day and when she has become the nurse she wants to be, she can touch the lives of others, give them hope, comfort, the faith to heal. Like the ripples in a pond, all that we do, has an effect on others. Giving hope to someone else, gives me joy and Michael showed me the way.
by Elmira van Galen
Copyright (c) 2011
PS. The video I am referring to is this one "Michael Jackson - Heal the World Spoken Version" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocPb4mFIwXg - The words quoted start at 4:34
Michael inspires me in so many ways: the lyrics of his songs are, at the right time, answers to my questions. The lyrics and the melody comfort me, reach out, envelop me and strengthen me in my resolve. Michaels speeches and interviews leave me speechless, and make me love him more. What an extraordinary caring, gentle, loving, but also determined and persistant man, artist, teacher, guru, doting father. Through him I suddenly understood wholly and totally pure, unconditional love. Such a wonderful, inspirational, phenomal gift to receive such insights. My love for him knows no bounds, has no beginning and no end, but must not be focused solely on him alone. My love for him opened the door in my heart so wide that now the entire world fits in there too, no matter what the differences are.
Not only did Michael inspire me spiritually, he waited until the time was right to push me out of my creative comfort zone. Now I am exploring new avenues of creative expression, in which music is the creative force behind all my various forms of expression. Born in love and then shared with others in the hope that it inspires others, comforts them or reaches out in an experience undergone in a similar way. We are all connected, and Michael, through his devoted love, is showing us the connections.
Yet, all of this is nice but still mostly theory. What about doing something? Really making a difference? Leaving the planet a better place!
After reading Char's devotion and seeing the video at the end of it and hearing Michael speak the words: "If one person help just one child, just helpone child, they'd done so much. If you can do that, that would be beautiful" . Then I knew what it is I wanted to do. So I did something that enables a child in a country far away to go to school, get three meals a day and when she has become the nurse she wants to be, she can touch the lives of others, give them hope, comfort, the faith to heal. Like the ripples in a pond, all that we do, has an effect on others. Giving hope to someone else, gives me joy and Michael showed me the way.
by Elmira van Galen
Copyright (c) 2011
PS. The video I am referring to is this one "Michael Jackson - Heal the World Spoken Version" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocPb4mFIwXg - The words quoted start at 4:34
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Call For Love Devotion - July 13: WWMD?
In any given situation we can imagine what Michael would do.
In the area of work, he would work hardest and longest.
In the area of play, he would play with total abandon.
In the area of love, he would transcend time and space to give his love unconditionally and forever.
In the area of creativity, he would think without limits and believe anything is possible.
In the area of giving, he would give the most.
In the area of learning, he would ask questions, listen, remember.
In other words, he would always give all of himself to anything he was doing.
What Michael would do, is break the barriers, stretch the boundaries, create new vision, think BIG!
It's what he always did.
He is asking us to fill those beautiful, spinning, dancing sparkly-sock filled shoes.
He wants us to be the most we can be.
He wants us to imagine the possibilities.
He wants us to be filled with joy and laughter.
He wants us to love each other.
He wants us to do what he would do.
If we aren't sure what that is,
He will tell us
If we listen
by Brenda Jenkyns
Copyright (c) 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Call For Love Devotion - July 12: WWMD?
"What Would Michael Do?" I admit, this is a TOUGH question, and it's probably even tougher to live up to. Jesus said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Sadly, despite all the goodness Michael gave to the world, he was met with disrespect and hatred. Until June 25, when he finally received his Glorious Reward. I'm gonna quote Michael's son Prince at the Grammy's in 2010: "Through all his songs, his message was simple: Love." But, as we've all experienced, it's difficult to love. However, I think that's what Michael would have done. When you have to be around a person that is unpleasant, remind yourself that God loves that person dearly, and try your best to be kind to him/her. Difficult? Absolutely. But it's what Michael would have done! He was always trying to help in any way that he could, in any situation. And that's what we should try to do: Donations to charities, visits to hospitals, praying for people, lighting a candle for a loved one – doing an act out of unselfish love. Mother Teresa said: "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Honour Michael Jackson today by sending an email, letter or text message to someone special to you and write something sweet, and know that your kind words have entered someone else's heart and WILL make a difference.
by Lene Jacinta Martinussen
Copyright (c) 2011
by Lene Jacinta Martinussen
Copyright (c) 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Call For Love Devotion - July 11: WWMD?
What would Michael do? He would just DO. Putting his heart on the line, he was never one to sit idly by and watch the world self-destruct without trying to DO something about it, nor would he watch the children of the world suffer without giving his ALL to make a difference in their lives. No matter how much life may have gotten him down at times - and we all know about the worst of those times - “he always came back with more love” (Kenny Ortega, This Is It). He may have needed time to heal and time to reflect, but he didn’t let any of it stop him from doing what he knew he was sent here to DO!
Lately, I’ve been feeling as if Michael is leading me, gently and clearly toward the next level of this journey. There have been many times over the last 2 years that, in my grief, I have felt as if I didn’t want to remain on this earth without Michael here. Or at the very least, I didn’t want to continue with my life as it was - the same old job, the same routines of daily living that no longer held any meaning for me. Everything seemed so pointless, so mundane, so worthless really compared to this new adventure I had been catapulted into. He was taking me places I had never been before. He was offering me escapism to the max and I was ready to go with it 100%! If I did not have financial responsibilities and other commitments in my life, I would have left this place without hesitation and found a shack on the beach to spend the rest of my days in bliss with Michael, my computer (or pen & paper), the sounds and smells of the ocean, Mother Nature in all her glory, and my heart forever devoted to just loving him and writing about it! But I knew deep inside that this experience was leading me toward something even bigger than that (it’s hard to imagine anything bigger than loving Michael Jackson!!)
In many of the poems he has given me, the words often speak of fulfilling his mission. This calling is about so much more than spending my days in the eternal bliss of his magical love! On a much deeper level I knew that I had been chosen for this mission for some reason beyond my comprehension - chosen to receive his light, his love, his message, his inspiration to be all that I was meant to be in this lifetime, his passion and his courage to step out in faith to DO the right thing… no matter what. To DO something to make an impact in this world during my time here. To stop existing and start living - to the full extent of my God-given gifts - the way Michael did. He always DID… without fail.
His music has inspired me, spoken to me from his heart. And that voice… oh my, that voice, with all its emotion and expressions and personalities - that voice has sung his beautiful and passionate melodies that have touched me in the deepest, most elusive regions of my soul. With that voice, he has vibrated and energized every cell of my being. His light has penetrated every dark corner that ever existed inside of me - made me SEE what was there and lose all fear of what I thought was lurking there. No big deal!! What have I been so afraid of all my life? And why did it take me so darn long to get that there was nothing to fear and that I could DO so much more with my life than I ever dreamed possible?
Recently, I have felt something stirring inside of me that has been missing the last couple of years - a sense of hope and purpose related to my work. An awareness that my job may very well be the vehicle through which I can fulfill this mission from Michael is making itself known. It is becoming increasingly clear that everything I need to accomplish the work he wants me to DO is already in place - it was just waiting for this time to reveal itself and for me to be ready to recognize it and embrace it. The tools, the resources, the support, the people, the system… they’re all there - just waiting to be energized for this mission of ours to make the world a better place! I didn’t want to see that at first. I wanted to wrap myself and Michael in a cocoon, all comfortable and warm and cozy, and never come out until it was my time to leave this world. But, deep down I knew better. And Michael has not given up on me. He has had infinite patience with my roller coaster emotions (maybe he’s even enjoyed the ride a bit!) But he’s getting down to business now. Oh, he’s still sharing his Love in the only way he knows how - in a BIG way! Michael’s Love will never be diminished with time. It will continue to grow inside each of us as we live out his dream for us. Each step of this journey holds new adventures, and he will continue to take us places we’ve never been before, sharing his bliss, his joy, his magical love with us every step of the way. And as we DO as Michael would DO, never giving up our vision and hope for a brighter tomorrow and a better world for the children, we will be forever embraced in his Love and gratitude for all we are doing to carry on his mission and fulfill his dream!
My friend, Siren, recently posted the following quote on her blog, Siren’s Muse (http://sirenlovesmj.blogspot.com/2011/07/matrix.html) . This is an answer she received from Michael after she asked him for guidance on a decision she was contemplating regarding her own life:
“Please don’t give up. I know it’s not easy. With knowledge comes responsibility. If you want to make a difference, you can’t run away and hide. This is not about dedicating yourselves to Me. It’s about dedicating yourselves to one another. The only way to make that change in the world is to be in it. I’m counting on you… on each of you. I know you won’t let Me down. It’s why I chose you… all of you. I Love you… more.”
When I read these words from Michael, I felt as if I had heard them or read them somewhere before - like Michael had given me this same message at some point on my journey with him. I don’t remember where or when, but I feel certain he must have whispered these words to me in a dream or maybe he painted them in the sky? Now, that’s a whole other story!!
Sit back, relax your mind, and listen carefully to Michael’s words in this video. It’s wonderful to hear his voice talking about his vision, his dream for helping people (especially children) all around the world. What he is saying is that he will never stop doing what he was called to DO. I believe that’s true, even now. And in saying that, he is asking us to DO the same!
by Charlene Burgess
Copyright (c) 2011
“Whatever is happening in your life right now, dedicate it consciously to the furtherance of love's purposes on earth.” ~ Marianne Williamson
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