Story Time

For me, one of the great lessons of the darker winter season is that we are to slow down and find our inner light through self-reflection. It is a great time to uncover the stories in our lives that we can learn from and maybe share them with others.

In my spiritual path, ECKANKAR, we place great emphasis on learning from stories. I believe it is because each soul (you and I) is considered a child of God, an atom of God, a creative spark of God (I especially like that last one). Our teaching suggests that it is of our highest nature to serve all Life. One of the simplest and most profound ways we may serve is by sharing our stories. My story isn't greater than, or less than yours, but on the very deepest level, they are our unique experience. Sure many elements are familiar from story to story. The slightly different perspective and wording will sometimes elicit a new understanding of your journey.

When listening to a good story, I find myself going with the teller to places I’ve never been and learning in ways I couldn’t on my own

I have been collecting stories from others for this magazine for several years now and find that more and more people are recognizing their own stories as the gift that they are. I am learning that by taking some time for healthy self-reflection, I am able to see more of the gems among the stumbling blocks that are in my life. It is a form of spiritual realization, accessible to all to just simply ask “What have I been doing with my time and attention?” “Am I giving attention to things that are important to me and support my spiritual goals?” “Am I too hard on myself- too easy on myself.” “Am I giving too much attention to fears and not enough to love and possibility?”

Another great form of self-reflection is gratitude. Used in the form of a list or simply finding gratitude spontaneously throughout the day. This (I feel) is a great form of prayer/meditation/spiritual exercise. This is where we get to “open the present”. How will we know what the present (moment/gift) has to offer if we haven't unwrapped it?

Have you noticed that we have Thanksgiving (time of gratitude) leading into the Holiday Season of Giving? We get to open ourselves with gratitude so we may better give and receive gifts.

A common element in REALLY hearing a story, feeling gratitude and telling a good story is simple attention. You might call it presence. Attention/Presence is a sincere facet of love. Which is what it is all about - really.

There will be a regional seminar filled with stories of Love, Light, and Sound coming soon in Springfield, MA. see the ad below.