Hi Love,
Is the condition of our soul dependent upon which way we choose to go? Most God-fearing men and women would say with great conviction a resounding yes!
“We are right and they are all so gravely wrong” is the typical attitude that permeates most religious structures.
When I left the church, I left all that I had known. It was like pulling off my right arm and it was one of the scariest times in my life! Yet, I was compelled to leave despite the risk of “going the wrong way.”
I didn’t know where it would lead me. All I knew was a deep shift was happening.
I was shifting… changing.
The illusion and game of it all was being exposed. I couldn’t continue to believe the same as I had always believed. I started to feel uncomfortable in my own skin. The idea of continuing that life began to feel like a prison for my soul. Either I could continue to try to hang on to the security of the familiar or I could jump into the unchartered waters of the unknown.
My heart said jump and there was no guarantee that anything would catch me… but something in me had to find out. Somehow I knew my true happiness depended on it.
Subsequently, a crack began to widen in the wall of fear. As I peered out into the unknown I could see a glimpse of what appeared to be unconditional love, but I couldn’t be certain. At that time, I didn’t know for sure that it actually existed! But one small glimpse of hope was all my soul needed in order to feel the call to discover more.
I felt deep in my bones that choosing love and not fear was the main point that we were all wanting to live.
The fact is, all religions talk about it, but very few decide to take the “risk” and actually do it.
We choose the confinements of fear instead. We decide the safe arms of familiarity is the much easier and comfortable choice.
It’s understandable why we do this. We are driven to make choices for our survival. If letting go, exploring and asking questions means we’ll be sent into eternal damnation, torment and separation from God, than choosing a life with some purpose to it even if enclosed by a wall of fear, doesn’t sound too bad.
At least inside the fear bubble the terrain looks familiar. We understand the language. We know when to say amen and when to be quiet. We know when to pray and how to pray. We know how to act to gain the acceptance and approval from those around us. After all, surely the ones we follow know much more than we do.
Unbeknownst to us, the fear of the unknown and the unfamiliar becomes our captor. It all becomes an accepted part of the landscape and a seemingly necessary stroke upon the canvas of life.
So which way is the “right” way and where can that path be found? Ironically, the answer is the answer that many religions teach, but hardly practice.
The way is unconditional love.
Even biblical scripture talks about Love as being the ultimate truth and state of being. Sadly, it’s overlooked and diluted with endless amounts of do’s and don’ts, conditions and rules for being in good standing with God.
This scripture captures the essence of what the spiritual path is all about. If we could stop right here and not add anything more, we’d have it just about right.
“Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
God is simple, but we make it complex.
The way is not limited to one religion, one culture, one race or one philosophy. The path of love lives within every single being. It’s the way that is at the root of all things. It doesn’t need a set of rules to make it true. It exists beyond rules, beyond dogma, beyond anything that can be defined on this earth. It’s the eternal love that is who we truly are.
It’s the fear, guilt and shame, not the differences in doctrine, that are the common factors of separation, struggle and suffering from which every person truly desires to be freed.
We can stop the torment and struggle now. We can stop being distracted by our dogma and differences. We are much more the same than we allow ourselves to realize. We come from the same unconditionally loving Source and to uncover the love in our eternal soul is the way.
The good news is, it’s right here and now inside your heart. It’s ready to be known, ready to be seen and it is now time for it to be heard. Look… listen… and you will find.
Allow ALL,
Sharla xo
