Spirit Rising Ministries

I just read an article that reminded me of a conversation I had years ago with my teenage son when he was struggling with his self image. It was right after he had an opportunity to join in a basketball game with a group of boys he had never met before. He said how refreshing it was to play with people who didn’t know him because he could just be himself. When I asked what he meant my son told me that he was growing and changing but that he didn’t think he could succeed in presenting a new image of himself to his current schoolmates because their expectations of him were all tied up in how they perceived him in the past and they wouldn’t be able to really see him as he was now.

 A Course in Miracles says, “When you have learned to look on everyone with no reference at all to the past, either his or yours as you perceived it, you will be able to learn from what you see now. For the past can cast no shadow to darken the present, unless you are afraid of light.”

 Now I find myself wondering how often I use my past experience with someone as a reference point from which to judge them in the present. So the next time I find myself expecting a “past performance” from someone who usually troubles me, I’m going to try leaving a space open in my heart to see their light instead. I certainly won’t throw caution to the wind and put myself in harm’s way but I will give someone the gift of a clean slate; a chance to let their beautiful inner light shine through. Who knows? We might both be pleasantly surprised!

Let your spirit soar!
Paula