Find Your Way Back Home...This Holiday Season!

“If Light Is In Your Heart, You will Find Your Way Back Home."― Rumi

Photo Credit: Sociedad Argentina de Horitcultura

Many of us may have wept when we first heard the story of The Prodigal Son. What we may not know is that in some ways, we also are expressing the same behaviors as the prodigal son. It's this absence from home that makes some of us weep...

We've been absent from "home" for too long! This holiday season, I invite you to find your way back "home," where you'll find your Father anxiously awaiting your return. In fact, he has kept the lights on to help you make your way through the darkness.

Please make an attempt to  go home!

You don't need money for the journey. All you need is to make the decision that you are going to start the return journey home ...this holiday season...this month. 

It's time...it simply is time to go home!!! 

My prayer for all of you, no matter where you are as you read this message, is to heed the call. You know you hear it... just don't delay. 

You see, I know how much delaying can cost you; like you, I was a Prodigal Daughter.

I left my home of Comfort, Warmth, Love and all the security in life, and I headed off "for a far country."

I went searching for years. I walked through many peaks and valleys. I was sure that the more I traveled, the closer I was getting to my destination. I met all sorts of beautiful Souls to accompany me on the road. Their chatter and guidance kept me persevering anytime I thought I was lost.

I met people...many other people...who like me were on a journey away from their home. We huddled together for comfort. We drew close to the brightest fires that beckoned, not necessarily providing the greatest warmth. But we drew close. We wanted to believe in the brightness of the fire.

When we set out from home, there are so many, many, many roads to take on the journey. We can pick our route, the level of terrain, how steep a mountain we want to climb. 

Some people I met along the way found a certain level of comfort at some terrains, and they hunkered down there for a while. In fact, many got so comfortable at some mountain peaks that they refused to go any farther.. They'd found what they needed for comfort. Plus, they were tired. 

Photo Credit: Mentors' Channel.

I personally don't think there are "wrong roads," as I believe that all roads ultimately will lead you home, if you're diligent in your search and stay connected to your Soul. By not listening and discerning its messages, you can delay the good that the "Father" within is waiting to pour out on you.I made that error, and I kept on going. 
I kept going. 
Two years ago this holiday season, I began to think of making my journey back home. See...after all my traveling...I was getting tired. I was really tired. My hands had blisters. Despite buying new pairs of shoes more often, the soles of my shoes were all worn out. The new shoes kept wearing out no matter how sturdy the leather seemed on the outside.

So, I literally started the journey, headed back home. At the time, I didn't know that  this was what I was doing. All I knew was that I was tired of walking and walking, and even though I had seen some really exciting places, and met some awesome folks along the many roads I'd traveled, I desparately wanted to get back home!

The preparations began for my return trip actually because I'd encountered a huge  boulder blocking my way. There was no way around it. I had lost so much strength traveling for so long on distant roads that I knew I didn't have strength to climb over this boulder that was blocking me on the East, West, North and South.  So, like any sensible adult who gets lost: I decided to retrace my steps.

By retracing my steps, I began to see patterns I'd left on my outward journey, and I followed some of those old trails. 

Step by step by step: I was retracing my way...and making my way back home.

Photo Credit: Sociedad Argentina de Horticultura

I wasn't excited...yet. As I didn't know the reception of the "family" from whom I was so long separated. Tentatively, I kept on retracing my steps...finding my way ...back home.

To get back, I also began to look around at each landmark I'd passed before...but hadn't paid attention to... as I quickly hurried by heading to my unknown destination. On the return trip, though, I studied all the landmarks and milestones I'd etched my name on ...possibly intuitively knowing that I'd need them sometime and in someway.

I looked and saw how many good landmarks and milestones I'd pushed away, discarded, without appreciation or respect, and I wondered how I had even made it to go forward. You see, at that time, I was going forward, but not growing forward. There's a huge difference.

As I picked my weary, tired body through familiar, yet unfamiliar terrain, a new thing began to happen. I realized that all the baggage I thought I needed became useless the greater the distance I traveled returning home.

I kept looking at different pieces and asking: "Do I really need this?" "Is it not hindering my progress to make it back home?" "Why do I even need to carry a radio or television, isn't the silence just as comforting? The radio and TV are just noise and extra baggage. Even so, if you need to hear something, or you really miss them, stop in at an inn along the way and just listen for a day or two to what's going on. You'll see you aren't missing that much. The world is still going on, and it's still making noise and trying to tell you to go East, instead of West."

The more baggage I dumped, the lighter my load and the easier it was to travel, especially on the roads that were brightly lit with a light that perhaps only I could see. 

In places where the road got narrow. I'd found ways to turn my body around to fit with the passageway. I'd learned by then how not to get stuck in a narrow roadway.

It was after I'd pushed myself through a very, very dry and long roadway, that a curious thing happened.

Photo Credit: My Story

The light became brighter and brighter. As I felt myself becoming intoxicated with the beauty of the light, it suddenly faded into becoming part of my horizon. As I took a step to settle myself in the dirt that had made a comforting cradle to hold me for the night: I saw in the distance an old familiar building.

"Yes. In the morning, I will be home."

The question I now ask: Was it worth it to leave home? Would it not have been better to stay in the comfort of my Father's home all the years I had been wandering? 

My answer? A resounding NO! 

I met a lot of people. I gained so much insight. I learned how to to navigate the tricky terrain. I learned what is good and bad for the journey... at least my journey. I learned about the narrow passageways that can keep people trapped and locked in for life. 

I learned how to say "Thank you" for the smallest gifts (and also for all experiences, i.e. the good and seemingly bad.)  I learned how to identify where I was strong, weak, or can be led astray. I learned about the other Souls traveling and which to avoid.

Regrets?

None.

Photo Credit: Sociedad Argentina de Horticultura

But I am so grateful to be back home!

If you choose to embark on your journey this holiday season, I urge you to: Never stray too far from the center lane, no matter how inviting the peripheries may seem. Most of all, I invite you to discard ANY THING (including people) that would destroy your self confidence ...as this sits in Your Father's House. This is the LIGHT, the only Light you will need to navigate your way through the "journeys" you may undertake in life.

Stay connected to your confidence ...it is the connection to your Soul.

Welcome home!

Happy Holidays!

Namaste',

Che'