Fred Cavaiani
2019 is here. What do we do? How do we begin each day with a peaceful heart?
At the beginning of each New Year I realize more that life consists of only the present moment in which I can surrender more to God, be grateful, be loving and positive, and speak with kindness. It is only in this moment can I make the effort to see goodness in others and let go of condemnations and judgments of other people. It is in this moment that I can internally stop entering the dangerous neighborhoods of criticism, negative feelings and judgments toward others. It is only in this moment that I can Be Still and realize that God is with me and loving me. And no matter what happens today, everything becomes a stepping stone to this intimate union with the Divine, whoever and however you perceive the Divine. The present moment fully embraced becomes an experience of heaven.
There is internal freedom and joy when I am totally experiencing this present moment with a clear mind free from addictions and attachments and an open and humble heart. Heaven does begin in this very moment even if I am in pain. Each moment becomes a resurrection to a new life when I fully embrace it because it is in this very moment fully embraced where I will experience God.
Whatever your belief might be, I am convinced that there is a God who will renew me and heal me always in this present moment. I need the humility and acknowledgment of how much I need God for each breath. With a humble and open heart, I can become open to God’s healing and compassion. Humility is so important. The word humility comes from the Latin word humus which means ground. Humility means staying low or close to the ground and looking up at life and people instead of looking down on people and life. Everything and everyone are here to teach me something. As Mother Teresa once said: “Some people are blessings and others are lessons.”
With a humble and open heart, I can become open to God’s healing Presence and Strength. “O God, please release me from the bondage of self.” Keep my ego humble and open. Let me be receptive to Your Love, Inspiration and Healing Power. And it all happens in this present moment.
How do I do this? How can I have a humble and positive attitude at all times? If I take time for daily meditation each morning and at other times throughout the day, this peace of God will flow into me and through me it will flow into others. I don’t need to preach. I just need to reach out in love and kindness and lovingly speak the truth which will not be condemning others but only inviting others to follow this same road. It matters not how much I have or how much I say, or how little I have or how little I say.
The only thing that matters is that I am loving toward others and immersed in God. Then all will be well because God is with me and I am choosing to be with God in an open, broken, and humble manner. Only in God is my soul at rest. I will be grateful today for my existence, for the Presence of God which is all around me and I will be grateful for you. Life always the present moment loving others and opening my heart and mind to a loving God who will always be with me and will always be with others. But I must make the decision to turn toward this Loving God, Power, or whomever you may call your God.
After many years on this planet, I have realized that to begin again each year is not to engage in any religion or philosophy or theology that portrays God as condemning or judging. That is a caricature of God. The genuine spiritual gurus of all religions and denominations will only see that there is a God of Love. A life lived well is a life lived in loving others and being totally open to a God of Love. The world is only changed through Love, Sweet Love. “God is Love and he who lives in love, lives in God and God lives in her or him.” So simple. Yet we try to complicate it so much. Oh, what freedom there is when we give up investing in judgments and criticisms of others.
Happiness is always in the present moment. And God is always with us in the present moment. So, we continually begin again, in the present moment.
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Fred Cavaiani is a licensed marriage counselor and psychologist with a private practice in Troy. He is the founder of Marriage Growth Center, a consultant for the Detroit Medical Center, and conducts numerous programs for groups throughout Southeast Michigan. His column in the Legal News runs every other Tuesday. He can be reached at 248-362-3340. His e-mail address is: Fredcavi@yahoo.com and his website is fredthecounselor.com.
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