Address for November 2, 2003
Fifth Spiritualist Church
Presented by Paula Homan
 
 
God gave us the freedom to make choices. How often are these choices the basis of our freedom and how often do they serve to “trap us”—in a stuck state? Consider daily choices regarding the most basic necessities. How many of us think we should be eating better, exercising more, turning off the TV more, spending time with our loved ones more and so on? Everyday we have the opportunity to make choices and express personal freedom. How often do we do something out of habit, because it is comfortable, because it has always been done that way?

When we embark on a spiritual path with awareness, the challenge of making the choices we know are in our own best good, are surprisingly difficult at times. Our expectations of ourselves, and others can set us up for disappointment. We like to be right—can’t they see that they should do it our way? How often do our expectations of others fail to be met? Guess what? We can’t learn their lessons for them. We want the freedom to choose. Guess what? So do they! And it might not be what we would choose for ourselves or for them! But our job is to be concerned with our own choices.

Sometimes we must detach from business that is not ours. Sometimes the bigger lesson is to learn that what we thought was our business is NOT! To detach is to allow another the dignity of exercising their freedom of choice. We do not know what their lesson is. The saying “Unless we have walked a mile in their shoes” expresses the need for compassion and unconditional love for a person’s circumstances, for which we do not necessarily know or understand the whole of their experience.

How many of us practice discipline as part of our spiritual path? Meditating daily is a discipline. Restricting our choices of what to eat is a discipline—one I am not very good at… The daily discipline of arriving for work on time, exercising your physical body, stimulating your mind—these are all disciplines and they are the foundation of our day-to-day existence. It is a common experience that we do not really want to work on some aspect of ourselves, until it has evolved to a point where we can no longer be comfortable with it. Then it seems like we would rather deny our need to address it, than to take steps to challenge the behavior pattern. Only through personal choices and discipline can we begin to make changes we know we need to make. But more importantly, we are motivated to make these changes because we love ourselves and we love those who are closest to us. Improving our lives as we follow our spiritual path is not easy, but well worth the effort. It is through a combination of our freedom to choose, failed expectations or discomfort, applied discipline, detachment and unconditional love that we can make changes and progress through the lessons that are here for us. It is with compassion and unconditional love that we learn to allow others the same freedom to choose, that we claim for ourselves.

As Spiritualists, we believe in communication with our spirit guides and loved ones. They are here for us—to encourage us and guide us to make choices that lead us to our highest and best purpose. I find great comfort knowing that I am supported by spirit guides and loved ones, who are attracted to me—as a unique individual. The Law of Attraction brings guides to me that understand my circumstances. They have walked similar paths and are uniquely suited to encourage me on my path. If you want a stronger connection with your guides, apply the discipline to meditate regularly—for this is a key to ease communication between the physical and those in spirit. Remember that once your communication with guides is strengthened, the responsibility to act for your highest and best good is still yours—they cannot do it for you! I look at how much I have changed in the last few years. I am more centered, less controlling—and I really liked “controlling.” There is a peace within and I am more certain today of who I really am—a spirit in a physical body—learning and sharing and gaining understanding of just how to navigate this path we call life.

I am grateful to God to have found this church and this family. Thank you for accepting me just the way I am and allowing me to make the choices that serve my God.