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Transforming Hope
to Remembered Radiance
“To
continue one’s journey in the darkness with one’s footsteps
guided by the illumination of Remembered Radiance is to know
courage of a peculiar kind – the courage to demand that
light continue to be light in the surrounding darkness.” –
Howard Thurman
In
our lives, when all is going well, it is easy to feel
carefree, to stop and smell the roses, to see beauty in
every living thing. We feel blessed and on top of the world!
Yet when we are faced with challenges we quickly tumble down
our “mountain” and can feel defeated, depressed, alone, and
like there is no more “hope” for us to climb up that
mountain once again.
We
are all facing challenges at this time. The world itself is
facing economic challenges and changes that will in some way
affect us on an individual level. Some are also facing
challenges in relationships, finances, health and security.
Yet the greatest challenges we are facing are not finances,
health or relationships; the greatest challenges we are
facing is the challenge of self realization, to rise up
above the fear and chaos and to “hope” of a new way to
experience life, then transforming that hope to “dream a new
dream” through Remembering our Radiance.
Hope
is to expect, trust, anticipate, wish, or to look forward to
something happening. We have a desire, an aspiration, a
dream or expectation of changing a circumstance. When we
feel hopeless we are despondent, dejected, downhearted,
unhappy and often become pessimistic. Hope can be related to
illumination, knowing that even though in this very moment
you are not sure how, the issue will heal and be
transformed. Hopelessness is being in darkness unaware that
you are still divinely guided and supported and forgetting
your inner light as well as the light in others. Hope is an
illuminated state of being yet it takes action for hope to
be transformed into a meaningful experience.
In
the children’s fable of the Little Engine That Could, the
little engine used hope to make it up the mountain. Unsure
of himself since he was a small engine, and he was told by
the larger engines that he would never make it, he kept
repeating, “I think I can, I think I can”. Those positive
words allowed his “hope” of making it up the mountain
transform into action, a pure engine steam that safely and
steadily powered him up the mountain. Had he not had that
little spark of hope, that led to the desire to over come
his obstacle of being small, he would have remained at the
bottom of the mountain, downhearted and rusting away
defeated and lifeless. This little engine had the courage to
not only hope but to actualize self realization, seeing his
strengths and light instead of sinking into a darkened pit
by listening and believing what others told him he could not
do.
To
transform is to change, alter, convert, renovate or make
over. Transformation is a process and entails taking
responsibility for the issue at hand and be willing to
release our perceived limitations in our life in favor of
owning our “True Self” which has been created through light
and love. It involves self awareness, self love, and the
desire to change or release all that does not serve your
highest good. We must be willing to change our thinking and
behavior patterns, to retrain our ego to function from a
healthy whole state. Albert Einstein once said that the same
thinking that got you into the situation won’t get you out
and he is right. Yet often we are afraid to “think” or “be”
in a different manner.
It
is our fears that block the light of transformation. In
order to transform anything we must be willing to live life
in fearlessness.
Who
are we? In life it seems we get so busy doing one thing or
another, getting from one place to another that we often
forget who we truly are. We are perfect radiant beings of
light, created by God in his own image out of love. Each and
every one of us is filled with that illuminating light that
can pierce through any perceived darkness when we choose to.
Yet often we forget that we hold such brilliant power within
us. We allow our fears to over shadow our joys. We are
equipped with an inner lantern which when held directly in
front of us, dispels any darkness on our path through its
gleam, lighting the way through the darkened periods of our
journey. Through choice, we can choose to let our light
shine radiantly, inspiring our self and others as we
courageously navigate the strange waters of change. This is
our remembered radiance; to have the courage to remember who
we truly are, to release all that we are not, and to command
our own light to shine brighter through what ever perceived
darkness that happens along our journey.
Before you I set two challenges for the next week. The first
challenge is sit quietly, breathing deeply, and remember
your own radiance. Remember that you are a radiant being of
light, created in perfection by God, are one with God and
the Universe and are full of love, joy and harmony. Every
need that you currently have has already been met.
Quietly allow that light to shine on any perceived issue you
may be struggling with seeing this issue dissolve, and the
outcome in a positive manner. The second challenge is how
can you empower another to remember their radiance? Perhaps
it is the power of your smile directed at a stranger, or the
spoken word of encouragement, an honest compliment, or just
opening your heart and beaming out love and light to
another. Watch how they will shift a little, perhaps you can
even see them brighten! Allow this to be your mission for
the next week.
Through out this year I will be giving lectures & classes on
Transforming Hope to Remembered Radiance. Each one will be
unique and will hold powerful tools that will assist you on
your journey. I will be available to talk at events,
churches and support groups as well as giving my own
individual classes. I look forward to meeting with you and
sharing my message of hope, peace, love and oneness.
May
you always remember your radiance! With love, gratitude and
illuminating light, Vickie |
