As children, we didn't realize that the people and events that came into our lives back then helped to mold our viewpoints and eventually made the crucial difference in the choices we made a long the way. Then there were those special circumstances and those extra special persons that sparked an inner recognition of our uniqueness.
For sure, we were born with certain inclinations that were already an intrinsic part of our nature. Each one of us was born unique. And in spite of other factors that existed while growing up that may have critically thwarted our uniqueness, certain circumstances and certain people appeared to all of us at varying times throughout the years as triggers to jog our awareness of our true nature.
However, if these were characteristics that were not apparent in other family members, such traits were often discouraged or ignored.
When these triggering events appeared, we sometimes responded strongly, enthusiastically and acted on them: while at other triggering events we may have missed the mark completely and forgot all about it, negated the importance of it or believed it to be an idea far beyond our reach . . . until another circumstance or person came later to once again trigger our awareness.
Some folks broke through the restraints of old conditioning and ignorance to become more true to their nature while others didn't. What makes the difference?
Our life journey is all about becoming. We become, unfold and grow into our true nature which has been called Self-Realization, the return to the Divine Self or the Authentic Self. It has also been called the Return to Innocence.
It's interesting to note that the ancient root word of "innocence" has as one of its meanings "to be free from sin" ---- and that the ancient root word of "sin" means "to miss the mark". And when we have lost touch with our true nature - which is intimately, essentially and eternally united with the Divine - we have missed the mark --- which I believe is the real meaning of "sin".
The unfoldment of our nature lasts a life time. It's a process of development that can be delayed, stifled or squashed - or it can be supported, enhanced and boosted. Over all, the rate at which we reach our naturalness largely depends upon the amount of awareness we have as well as the amount of available supportive climate when these special circumstances and special people come into our lives.
Special people - by their very presence, words or actions - trigger a memory within us that ignites some recognition of its relevance. After that, we either move towards our true nature by making different choices - or we don't move towards our true nature out of fear, uncertainty, disbelief or lack of encouragement and support.
Recognition comes by way of an instance of inspiration or enthusiasm. It lights up something within us that we often remember for a life time. These experiences are large or small, short or long and are countless: we could never keep track of them all. But sometimes the memory of these past events will suddenly rush to the surface of our awareness ... as if to say "Remember this? It was one of many events that made a crucial difference in your life and helped set you on the path to become who you really are."
Although I now have my own theories and ideas as to where my soul originally came from, I had long wondered why I ended up being very different from the rest of my family. Even though there are still some similarities with family, the major thrust of my life became - and continues to be - propelled by factors that seem to present itself only to me and became the driving force which helped to mold my maverick views and lifestyle.
I was attracted to and passionately drawn to certain ideas that no one in my family ever spoke about nor showed any interest in. And yet, when I was exposed to these ideas as a child, I lit up inside with a blaze of lucid wakefulness that grabbed my attention and would not let go.
These were the moments that would forever leave their imprints on my heart, mind and soul. Though I may not have been able to act on those ideas as a child, the ideas - like planted seeds - remained as latent possibilities in waiting --- for a time in my future in which my longing for truth would be so strong as to germinate those ideas, wake them from their dormant state and provide the impetus to put them into action.
Recently, I was reminded of just such a set of inspirational circumstances that captivated me as a child: circumstances which greatly influenced my adulthood in miraculous ways.
At the time, however, who would have thought that a famous television personality would become one of the most important catalysts for the ideas that would later help me achieve healing from a number of chronic health conditions present in my infancy: conditions severe enough to be considered life-threatening and which continued to restrict me in many ways for more than thirty years.
Many of you will remember the ultimate fitness icon, Jack LaLanne. Back in the 50's and 60's he had a popular television show which was live and came on in the mornings. I don't remember how often I turned it on, I only remember that I loved to watch Jack LaLanne ... his bubbling enthusiasm, joy in healthy living, his strong faith in God and his awesome vitality captivated me even as a child. He was a true pioneer back then, speaking on the virtues of eating healthy foods, vegetarianism, juicing, faith and proper exercise.
I was not a strong child due to my illness and so I didn't really do the exercises he demonstrated. What I really enjoyed was his vibrancy and enthusiasm while listening intently to his viewpoints about health and fitness. He always had loads of fun doing his show and his energy was greatly uplifting. I didn't know it then, but the uplifting feeling I experienced after watching his program was inspiration: I was inspired!
Although there were other circumstances that came later on in my young adulthood which further nudged me toward changing my eating habits and lifestyle, I am certain that what I gleaned from Jack LaLanne way back then was an important seed planted in my young fertile mind: he triggered an awareness of something in my being that was already there ... but had not yet surfaced to express itself.
Now, decades later, I am once again inspired by Jack LaLanne. He is 84 and still vibrant, healthy and enthused about life! I came across an article about him - an interview conducted by Andrew Cohen (one of the world's leading evolutionary spiritual teachers and founder of the acclaimed What Is Enlightenment? magazine).
I was so pleased to find that Jack LaLanne has not wavered from his healthy lifestyle and obviously had reaped the rewards from a lifetime of service and contributing to humanity in a healthy, positive way.
Jack LaLanne's life is a perfect example of how it can be for all of us .... not that we're supposed go out and be famous, inspire millions of people, build a fitness empire and make a lot money. Nor is it about aggressively getting what we want. Its about BEING true to who we really are: because when we are true to who we really are, then everything else we need to support our true nature will follow. The appropriate circumstances, motivation and the right people will always appear to help us remember and motivate us.
When those opportunities show up in our lives, how they come and in what form they come may be a surprise or a mystery. Nevertheless, whatever shows up will be unique for each of us. After that, its our choice.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . . . ."He took clothes and meals," said Washington
County, Mo., Sheriff Brian Rahn. "Whatever he was finding in those
refrigerators, he was filling up on it." He was speaking about a
burglar who likes to make himself meals, take showers, and pick out
changes of clothes from homes he breaks into. But they have a fresh
lead on the burglar's identity: he also helps himself to home
computers, where he surfs the Internet and checks his e-mail. On one
recent caper, Rahn said, "He never logged out." Detectives say that
helped them discover his identity, and his arrest is pending.
...(But it'll take awhile, since the cops
are still on dial-up).
Deseret Morning News . . . . "Even the dumb criminals are generally smarter
than this," said Orem, Utah, police Lt. Doug Edwards. He was referring
to an unidentified 18-year-old man who called the police to report that
his home had been burgled. Anything missing? Yes, he said: the quarter-
pound of marijuana he had for sale. Police arrested a suspect and
recovered the drugs. And the victim? "He actually came and identified
[the drugs] as his," Edwards said, so they arrested him, too, on
charges of possession of marijuana in a drug-free zone with intent to
distribute. ...(Though it's unlikely prosecutors
will be able to prove "intent" since that implies some sort of thinking
ability).
Fargo Forum . . . . The police dispatcher in West Fargo, N.D., thought it was a joke
when someone called at 3:15 a.m. and asked where to buy marijuana. The
dispatcher told the woman that marijuana is illegal, but the woman
insisted. Fine, the dispatcher said: they had some in the evidence
locker and if she stopped by, he could "hook her up." Sure enough, "the
dispatcher got on the intercom and said, 'You know what? She's here.
She just handed me $3 for marijuana'," said an amazed officer, Ken
Zeeb. He stepped to the station lobby and arrested Grace Sium, 20, a
junior at North Dakota State University. Zeeb says Sium didn't appear
high or drunk, and didn't seem surprised to be arrested. "This is
something that you couldn't even make up," he said.
...(Truth is stranger than fiction because fiction has to make sense).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funny photos
"Stick with me, kid. When Planet of the Apes turns real, I'll make you my favorite human slave."
LIVE LONG AND PROSPER
