Don't Let Your Light Be 'Eclipsed' By Others!

"On this day, God wants you to know
... that you are to trust yourself. If you do not, then you will forever be looking to others to prove your own merit to you, and you will never be satisfied. You will always be asking others what to do and at the same time resenting their help. Trust in yourself starts with being ok with the consequences of your decisions..."

A few years ago a former associate contacted me because he wanted to publicize his efforts in Quantum Physics/Mechanics.

I did not hesitate to help, because I was deeply interested in quantum interpretations of everyday occurrences and also felt it would be good use of my Public Relations background.

At first, it was fun and mutually beneficial: I was able to help out an old friend* while learning about this growing and dynamic area where science fully supports spirituality. But then, within a few months, this person got fully overbearing when he began to suggest that I somehow was "required" by the Universe to provide this help.

So it should come as no surprise to any of you who personally know me..."that," as they say, was "THAT!"


Then in 2010 I had the occasion to remember this person and see so much more, when I looked into how many people are now in the "Spirit" growing business.

I found scores of "spiritual" and holistic-type directories. Therein were hundreds of thousands of people using "spirituality" and "wholeness" to make a living.



From offering workshops to offering energy healing, these folks listed in these directories are intent on helping "guide" people to find God or wholeness.

What becomes obvious from skimming their bios is that each and every one of these people believes that he/she has been called by God to offer these "unique" services.


This is the way of many people, who, while picking their way through on the spiritual path, suddenly believe that the search is a special anointing by God.

Don't get me wrong: there are several talented folks in these fields. But they don't purport to help you reach God or help you find your Soul!


"Many are called...but few are chosen," are wise words for us all to remember!

With these United States being blessedly a capitalist nation, the natural tendency of many who are called, then, is to package their services and try to make a living "serving" God.


One of the things uppermost in my mind when doing my spiritual director's program was that I was doing it for my own personal and spiritual development. Some colleagues in my program truly were surprised when they heard that I did not plan to do anything with my training and that I certainly did not plan to "charge" for spiritual direction, if I did indeed decided to offer this service.


God IS GOD and, thankfully, he's allowed me to honor that part of my calling by leading me to discover blogging. It's not one-on-one spiritual direction. But blogging allows me to share my insights and my growing spiritual awareness without charge. I also do free one-on-one spiritual direction where there is a need, and I feel called to respond.

To be fair, some of my colleagues in the program were already practicing psychologists, so the spiritual portion was to be an addendum to their existing practices.

But then there are those "others."


As Baby Boomers and those a decade or two younger inevitably awaken to the stirrings of their Soul, there is a need for information and people to help them sort through this growing consciousness.

The book publishers first tapped into the growing consciousness of these boomers and others and began to mass market anything spiritual!


Then, Oprah got into the "Spirit" business, and everything began to explode. Out came many boldly forward, offering quick fixes through weekend workshops and other programs.




What many of these folks don't realize is that not everyone is a Joel Osteen or Kenneth Hagin, Jr., who both grew up on the laps of their fathers listening to sermons.

As to books, you can tell the ones that were truly called to dissiminate these messages: Napoleon Hill, Neville Goddard, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Debra Ford, Eckhart Tolle, Louise Hayes, Neale Walsh, Gary Zukav, James Redfield, and many others whose names elude me at this moment. These were the guys who have been around for years, offering their services for next to nothing...at first.

I respect scientists, too, like Dr. Norman Shealey who founded the American Holistic Medical Association.

I also love following the wisdom and ministry of people like Rev. Michael Beckwith of Agape Church and others who have spent years uncovering and discovering the spiritual mysteries within themselves. Many folks, too, have repaid the gift of their lives by developing spiritual muscle and are now sharing their messages. These include the many spiritual leaders I personally know and many other truly sincere people helping others on their path, without thought of serious financial gain.


These people all heard the call and responded. Not just by setting up shop, but by giving up of their time and their lives and their previous ways of "being" in the world, to study and dedicate themselves to become what they needed to "become." These are the true leaders of tomorrow's generation!

"I let my divine light shine," was the message of Unity's Daily Word on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011.

"If shyness, self-criticism or any other personality trait is interfering with my enjoyment of life, it may be that certain characteristics no longer serve me. I am free to adopt a new way of being. To accomplish this, I begin noticing qualities in others what I admire and wish to adopt. I observe another's light and magnetism."

Yes. Observe and model their ways but don't get blinded or lost in it!

The real issue is not these folks we choose to model. Of real concern are the many folks in the limelight who have tremendous marketing and promotional skills, yet do not have the authenticity of "TRUTH." These are the folks of whom we should be wary in our interactions.


"Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therein." Matthew 7:13

It's critically important that we discern and keep hold of our own light when we meet people whose lights are shining so brightly that we may become blinded by it. Discover their "TRUTH," as you seek your own! Do not follow "personalities" led by ego-centered values but spirits centered in their Souls.



Each of us is a child of God.

Each of us has a light to shine.

Each of us has a path to follow.
But some folks would have you believe that because they are in the spotlight and in the limelight, always, they have something to "teach" you!

Not so.

Be careful of following false prophets.



When I saw all those people in the directories "practicing" spirituality, I woke up to the fact that if we don't pay attention, we can become swept up in someone else's dream...celebrating and empowering them...and having our own light recede into dimness and darkness.



I'm talking about even associates of yours and mine who always tend to shine brightly in the spotlight. While it is great to support these people, it is important to realize that the more attention you give to someone or something, the less you can focus on your own development.

It is sometimes true that by helping others you can help yourself. But often what begins to happen is that the more we become focused on our friends' and associates' goals, plans and dreams, the more insignificant ours can seem.


Wake UP!

In your own way, time and space, you can allow your star to shine just as brightly as any other. The thing that you have to do is to make sure that you don't get blinded by the brightness shining forth from someone else's light.

There are many well-intentioned people who can lead you to serve them in that way...brightening their light.

But always remember...there is only "One Presence and One Power" in the Universe. That is God, the Good: The Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent. Serve him first and foremost in all that you do! Let that service guide you as to whom you should follow and what you should do with your life.



That One Presence and Power is in you and me and in President Barack Obama and in Queen Elizabeth of England!
Don't be deterred by how brightly someone else's light is shining.


The same connection is within you...that is within them.

You've just got to believe!

Get out of the shadows of other people's light and off the sidelines! Let your light shine...Let Your Star begin to shine just as brightly as any other on this planet!

You don't have to be in the limelight or in the forefront to do it, either.


Let it shine brightly within your Soul...in your own life...within your own circle of friends and associates. After all, you're just as special...just as worthy and noteworthy...as anyone else!



"Every person should define for himself his attitude to this world and to God."
Leo Tolstoy, my favorite philospher, said.

"You've got a right to be here!" goes Desiderata.

Daniel Hernandez, an intern and a political science major at the University of Arizona, Tucson, was not looking for the limelight nor was he blinded by anyone else's light...he was simply following his own when he helped U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona stay alive. Now, the spotlight has followed him:

[ Above: Daniel Hernandez is honored at the Arizona House of Representatives. Below: President Obama greets Daniel Hernandez at a memorial service in Tucson.]

Remember all these things as you...follow your own light!



Namaste',

Che'
*Note: We'd previously had shared a very close relationship.