Leo Tolstoy on God

LEO TOLSTOY ON GOD: "When you look inside yourself, you see what is called 'your own self' or your soul. You cannot touch it or see it or understand it, but you know it is there. And this part of yourself--that which you cannot understand--is what is called God. God is both around us and inside of us--in our souls.

The more you understand that you are at one with God, the more you will understand that you are at one with all His worldly manifestations."

Monday, July 12, 2010

"Shake the Dust Off Your Feet..."

I dedicate this blog to some beautiful people I know: first, the BEST friendship I've had from a stranger: Scott P. I also give a special thank you to: Sereena J, Kiersten S, Santino W, Marina B, Maria T, Armando L, Shawn L, Mario A, Jason S, Russell H, Chris A, Henry F, Joel and Ron B, and especially, especially, Ben B...



Matthew 10:14 +18

..."And whosoever shall not receive you and hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet...


"...Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
"


Sometimes we're given an assignment that just comes from the Soul.

We wonderful WHY here, WHY now???

Over time, it becomes evident that we're being called to a time and place because that's WHERE we belong at that time ...

We follow...we go ...we do.

We're even more thrilled when we begin having FUN on this assignment of the Soul.

When folks, strangers all, begin to hug and love you, just the way you are...



They don't know your history; they don't seem to care.
They don't know your story; they create one with just you and them.

These are the folks that make it so very, very easy to love and be a light and simply to BE HAPPY!


Because this is an assignment of the Soul, you begin to look around to see the others... troubled folks in your midst...

They are evident with their sad or long faces ...or simply a vacuous look that you know came from too many blows to their psyche...

You reach out...in any way you can...

I buy gifts...anything I think would give them HOPE, CONFIDENCE AND PEACE...

You see them smile.

You are happy and settle into their midst.

Then slowly ...

the injuries they'd sustained to their psyche begin
to come forward again.

Whatever had transpired before you were even in their consciousness...suddenly makes YOU their target.

They look around and see...

"Ah...those DARN GIFTS...those DARN GIFTS...she gave me!!!!

They JINXED ME.

I am NOT ABLE...

I CAN'T ...

because of HER!"


The fingers begin to point.

The bruises begin to appear...

The love you'd felt SO STRONG FOR ALL...

simply wanting to love and BE LOVE...

begins to choke you...

as you begin to swallow back...

the hurt and pain...

of gifts returned.

"Yes, they are jinxed." You, too, begin to believe.

You take them to the Thrift Shop, where people trying to build histories, just long to hold something of their own.

They don't know they are jinxed.

You drop them off there...

one...

by ...

one...as you see them ...

abandoned....

left everywhere.

Eventually, though, you begin to see,

it is so MUCH MORE than about the returned gifts...

It's about people attempting to STEAL YOUR ESSENCE...YOUR LIGHT...YOUR LOVE...


FOR PEOPLE...FOR THE WORLD...

As your light grows dim...

You have two choices:

RUN or HIDE!


I refuse to do the latter.

So, as Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 10:14:

"Shake off the Dust of your feet."


The love of those who gave of themselves so freely
will always remain a part of my heritage and personal
history.



You gave love to a stranger in your midst.

You embraced me in kindness.

You came to my aid when you needed to.

You gave me LOVE!

To you, I dedicate these words:

"The Peace Prayer"

"Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

"O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To Be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be Loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

May you all be BLESSED with the Glory of the LORD
in your place and in your life!



Brandon O: You were a light! Continue to walk in your way!
Jon L: Continue to be the "silent" witness.
Ulises: You were BORN A WINNER! Remember that...and you'll never, ever want to compete again!;-)


Namaste',

Che'

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

everyday real you~!............................................................

Anonymous said...

Reposted as it was under the previous blog:

"Che has to be one of the most loving and driven people i know. I feel lucky to have met you. I am looking at all the 'gifts' you gave me right now! You were so talented here and I hate to see you go, but I know there is a lot more in store for you. Keep bringing laughter and joy to everyone that crosses your path... I wish you nothing but the best."

Che' Vyfhuis said...

Thank you, CS Rep, you were THE best that I know...and GREAT THINGS ARE IN STORE FOR YOU!!! Believe that!

Love & Blessings, ALWAYS,
Che'

Personal Authenticity: "To Thine Own Self Be True"...

"To Thine Own Self Be True and it must follow as the night, the day, Thou canst not then be false to ANY man."
William Shakespeare.