Tonight was our annual Prayer Service for the victims and the families of the Newtown tragedy. Here is my message of inspiration from the evening.
What are you waiting for?
No, really. What are you waiting for?
Are you waiting for something big to happen? Are you waiting for the Universe to provide for you? Are you waiting for permission to live your life?
With all the chaos in the world, we stand frozen as if to be outside of it. Yet, we are in it. We are it. We are the light and we are the darkness. That is why we wait. That dark side of our soul shows us fear and as humans, we tend to not like fear. And so we wait, as if it will go away the longer we do so.
Perhaps someone else will come along and do for us what we don’t have control over.
In this coming political year, we’ll be waiting for the next savior to be elected as President to get us out of all of this chaos. And when they can’t, we complain and look elsewhere for answers.
We gather tonight in community to honor those beautiful souls who lost their life in the Newtown shootings. The Newtown tragedy was the first mass shooting to hit us at home. It’s where we live. If it’s in Colorado or California or South Carolina, we feel sorrow and then move on. But when it hits us where we live, that’s another story. We woke up. Communities came together to help. Charities and Foundations were formed in the names of the children and teachers of Newtown. And then life went on.
But each week, we hear of another tragedy and we remember.
We remember that we are all part of this great big world and we don’t have to wait for someone else to do. We can do something.
Each day, I’m sure the loved ones of those impacted by free will choices of others wish they hadn’t waited. They wish they hadn’t waited to say “I love you” or “I’m proud of you”. They wish they hadn’t waited to take that family vacation or to live more simply. They would give anything to have one more moment with their loved ones in Spirit.
So, I ask you again. What are you waiting for? Is there something you want in your life but you are too afraid to go after it? Are you too attached to the outcome of HOW it will happen that you don’t even take the first step toward it? Are you waiting for Permission to Live?
Your soul is evolving faster and faster as the years go by. Take a look back at where you were five years ago. How much further have you come with just a little bit of effort? Imagine what would happen if you tapped into all of your potential. You would be unstoppable!
Why wait another day to go after what you want? The table is set. The Universe is at the ready for you to take a step. And once you do, the Universe will respond. Then, you will take another step and the Universe will respond. It’s that simple.
You can leave your imprint upon this world we live in. You may not be able to change the free will choices of others but you can certainly use the skills you have been given to shine some light in the world. Be kind. Have fun. See the potential in yourself and others. Do good work. Even a smile for a stranger may be the best thing they receive that day.
Stop waiting to live your life and just embrace it for what it is.
One of my favorite poems is The Dash by Linda Ellis.
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning …to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard:
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash,
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
What are you waiting for? What steps will you take to move you closer to what you desire? Leave me a comment and let me know.