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Keeping It Real
Apr 28, 2012

Religion and its practices can often be viewed as "pie in the sky," impractical, goody-goody, out of touch with today's people, ritualistic, irrelevant, hypocritical and a few other not so positive things. In order for it to be very useful, just like everything else, it needs to "get real."

It's nice to go to church and learn about the way things "should" be, but if we can't apply what we learn to our own lives, which are usually full of things that perhaps "shouldn't" be, but are, then it really doesn't do us much good.

The fact is that individuals and families today are having to cope with many tough issues.  People often hide what's going on in their life, but if you shake the family tree hard enough all kinds of nuts are likely to fall, no offense intended in that little pun!

Hiding a problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist, it means the person with the problem is afraid to reveal the truth of the situation, most likely out of a fear they will be negatively judged.

Judgement and shame...a vicious cycle which blinds us to the perfection in others and in ourselves.

You may think you are the only one with problems as bad as you, but you never know what's happening in the lives of the people next door unless you are a very close friend.  Even then there may be a lot you don't know.  Suffering in silence happens a lot, as does quietly going insane.  Sometimes even the most popular and seemingly well adjusted and happy people can really be the loneliest and most depressed.

Someone next door might have a terminal illness that you don't know about, or living with a debilitating chronic condition.  They may have lost their job, or lost their savings somehow.  They may be facing homelessness.  They may not have proper food.  Someone next door may have a teenager who's pregnant, or a son who wants to be a girl.  Someone might be alcoholic, or running a meth lab, or taking pills to get through the day.  Someone may be prostituting themselves, or embezzling money from work. Someone may be shoplifting or robbing the house down the street.  Someone may be living with an abusive spouse, or living with voices inside their head.  Someone may be desperately trying to have children without any luck, or have a child or a grandchild with severe birth defects. Someone may be leaving their children alone in their beds while they go out at night or leaving them with otherwise inadequate care.  Someone may have incest going on in the home.  Someone may have been raped.  Someone may be dealing with a gambling problem or making themselves throw up when they eat.  Someone may be cutting themselves or saving up pills for their own suicide.  Someone may be cheating on their spouse or having an affair with the spouse of a friend.  Someone could be sniffing chemicals from under the kitchen sink.  Someone might be hoarding or living in filth.  Someone may be sneaking cigarettes and telling little white lies.  You might be very surprised by what you don't know about "the people next door."  The most surprising thing might be that it could be you.  It could be any of us. 

I've known people with all of these problems  Seemingly "normal" people you'd never suspect.  Everyone in life has something to deal with, no matter how much of it shows.  This is the "real" world today.  Funny thing is, it's been the "real" world for a very long time.  These stories can be found in the Bible and other ancient writings, as well.

The tendency is to think we're unique...and we are in our own special way...but in other ways, we're all alike.  In fact, the REALITY is, we are one....we are all connected in Spirit...we are all different expressions of God...of Life...of Love. 

So, in order for church to be meaningful, we must recognize the normalcy of having abnormal things going on in our lives.  We can't deal with these things if we can't accept they exist.  We need to stop judging ourselves and each other and realize that it's all part of the human experience.  There is no reason for shame.  We're told as children when we do something wrong that we "should" be ashamed, but shame is not something we should attach to our identity, which is exactly what occurs when there is shame.  Love of self is often learned through accepting the love that others give.  This is what "should" happen at church!  Love of self is often learned, too, through the act of giving love to others and realizing they're not so different from us. 

That's not to say that some situations do not need to be rectified, it is to say that churches shouldn't be picky about who they help.  Anyone who wants help is worthy of being saved.  If it is a serious problem, then it needs to be dealt with, of course, in a serious manner, but without all the judgement and shame.  For instance, if there is abuse going on, it needs to stop, but don't make the person asking for help, sorry they did.  Be supportive in them getting help!

People have to start from where they are at, not from where anyone thinks they should be.  No matter how bad things are, they can get better, but not if we don't start to change.  Change is much easier with tools, so that's what we try to provide...along with understanding and unconditional love. 

So the first step in solving the problem, whatever it is, is admitting the problem exists.  The secrets we keep can oftentimes keep us quite sick, or stuck in the situation we're in.  Admit to yourself and to at least one person you trust.  Then you can move forward from there.

If you should become aware that someone else has a problem, please resist the temptation to judge.  This is not helpful to them, and in fact makes the problem worse.  (Also, karma has a way of getting even with you for judging others, I've found!)
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."  (Matthew 7:1-2)
Instead, be a friend.  To yourself and to others.  Remember that God loves us all.  I can say this with assurance because God IS love, and love is available to all.  Be a channel for God's healing love.  See the best in yourself and others, and hold the belief that there are positive solutions for all.  In holding this belief you open your mind to receiving the guidance that comes with quietly waiting for answers to come.  There is no problem too big to be solved.

At church, we teach ideals.  These are ideals towards which we can grow, not ideals which are expected to already have been attained.  We are created in the image and likeness of God, meaning that perfection is at our core and in our design, but we are living the human experience, and human beings sometimes falter and fail.  There is absolutely no shame in that, so long as we try our best to do that which we believe is the right thing to do, and strive for eternal progression...rising above our problems and learning and growing closer to becoming the full expression of the perfection implanted within.

This is a church about healing.  Healing physically, mentally, spiritually....all three...for when one aspect of being is affected the entire being is affected, as well.  There are no life issues that are exempt from our teachings.  That's what holistic healing is all about, so feel free to bring your problems here.  Better to leave them here than to leave them at home!

We're looking for real solutions for real people with real problems.  Get real!  It's the natural thing.  We're here to help each other heal in all areas of life...not just the "nice" areas, but the dark little secret spots, too.  That's where most sickness lives, so it's not such a surprise!  Don't get so lost in shame you can't heal.  Shame and blame keep us sick.  Let them go!  Accept wellness for yourself and others right now, and let the healing love and forgiveness energy flow.

Blessings to all,
"Vibraceous, ND"


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Posted: Saturday April 28, 2012, 10:08 pm
Tags: life natural church pets health of healing massage herbs universal reiki organic recovery chemical nutrition holistic addictions naturopath aromatherapy alcoholism dependency trauma enrichment sprituality essentials www.genesis1.org cente [add/edit tags]

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Vibraceous ND
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female, age 57, married, 6 children
Hartville, OH, USA
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