by Kathy Harwood Long
I am writing from my home in Oxford, Michigan; it is the one-year anniversary of the murders at the high school. I’ve been asking myself what I can do in the midst of this tragedy and the ripple effect throughout the SE Michigan counties’ school systems. Perhaps you also are wondering, confused, and overwhelmed by it all.
When asked where and how to begin addressing poverty, Mother Teresa of Calcutta suggested we could address suffering by starting with our family. I’m convinced that there is a great work we can do together, and it is within our families. I’m equally convinced that our spirituality is directly linked to our potential to live as the whole and healthy self with our family and that this saves lives.
I’m making an appeal to you, the reader: consider showing up for this article each month for one year if you want to address the suffering in our society. I ask you: Do you live with the sadness of estranged family members? Do you struggle with family members who are addicted? Have you despaired and left family members, spouses, bosses, and co-workers because you didn’t know how to make progress with stuck patterns and behaviors? I’ve experienced all this and more.
I’ve also discovered that facing into the challenges with support reveals a way of love that builds, grows, and harmonizes relationships.
Begin by opening to Power greater than self. It is important to get the context of this. Power, as the energy of all life, is the power source from which you and I live. Call this God, Allah, higher power, universal presence, principle, any name, or no name, as long as the context is clear.
We source from Power greater than self. This context reveals spiritual humility and is essential. Saint Francis understood this as he prayed to be made an instrument. The egotistical egocentric self must be worked with and brought into a right relationship to realize the greatest power, which I and many call the power of Divine Love. People here in Oxford have been humbled. We also have realized Power greater than self, and many are now instruments creating care, connection, and change.
Begin to understand love as spiritual power, distinctly unlike the sexual impulse and vastly different from emotionally needy love. Contemplate love as a spiritual power that can only express as nonviolence that works for all that holds all in harmony, rather like the sun– in all, through all, and for all. Know it is already at work in every family member. Create time each day to know each family member as a creation of universal power and light, the power of love itself in the making. Join me and many others in the following prayer daily this month.
Family of Light. I think of us. I pray on behalf of us.
Not in terms of what I think we need or what I think
we should do or be or express. I lift up my thoughts about us.
I see us as we truly are:
a holy family of Divine Light, Love, and Wisdom.
I see us each guided and directed
by an inward spirit that leads us unerringly into paths that are just right for us.
I see us strong and whole.
I see us blessed and prospered.
I see us courageous and confident. I see us capable and successful.
I see us free from all limitations or bondage of any kind.
I see us as the spiritually perfect expression of Divine Love that we are.
Family of Light, I see us as a blessing.
(prayer inspired by Child of Light, written by May Rowland, Director of Silent Unity, 1915-1971.)
Written by Kathy Harwood Long,
mother, minister, www.mentor–friendsofunity.org
