“Within ourselves, there are voices that provide us with all the answers that we need to heal our deepest wounds, to transcend our limitations, to overcome our obstacles or challenges, and to see where our soul is longing to go.” — Debbie Ford

Today is Easter and not a Holiday I normally celebrate as I was raised by my Jewish mother and my grandparents. However, this particular Easter turned out to be a surprisingly wonderful awakening.

I had the pleasure to attend a service at a Science of Mind community in Southern California. It was such a high vibrational message and one that I would love to share with you, as it opened up my eyes to a message of “Christ consciousness,” which is based on love rather than fear…. a message that is empowering rather than based on unworthiness and self-judgment.

“In the Christian religion, it has been taught that Christ died for our sins, and was raised to life (resurrection) for our justification (Romans 4:25). Justification means to “to be put right with.” Some believe that as “objects of wrath,” God has to exert his wrath to those who break his laws (Ephesians 2:3) Without someone stepping in to correct this situation, we cannot have the relationship with God that he intended. In the death of Jesus on the Cross, God put our punishment on Christ so that we could be justified before him and be forgiven.”

This interpretation assumes that “God” is vengeful, and condemning…that we must atone for our sins. I have a big problem with the following…# 1… We do things that are in fact “sinful”, and #2 that God punishes us for those sins and demands atonement/sacrifice or we remain in separation. This is oppositional to everything I embrace as the truth of love, and how I understand our relationship to the divine.

This day is about becoming conscious, and awakening to a deep knowing that we are bigger than the struggles in our life. We are greater than the challenges and difficulties we face, and we can rise above them by never giving up! We can choose to recognize that we are always connected and part of the Divine Spirit, Universe, God,…whatever term you wish to use. (all mean the same)…When we forget who we are, we feel unworthy, believing ourselves to be “sinners.” This is nothing more than a case of mistaken identity. What else could it be?

The spiritual truth of this story is that we can regain the strength to accept the truth of our being and be born again. We can be “wiped out” and not remain down. We can rise and be willing to live our dharma and our passion, can there be any other way to live? We can “ascend” through the obstacles we experience, and meet the challenges, not give up, by remembering who we really are….spiritual beings, loved dearly just as we are… part of the divine life essence. We do stumble through this human experience, but we don’t have to give up. Don’t we want to look back at our lives knowing that we “went for it” with all we had? I believe that is what our soul’s desires.

Love transcends time and space, give it to yourself…..rise and rise again through the disappointments, and pain in your life. giving your all…living with purpose and intention even during the worst of times…by simply remembering. Easier said than done, I know.

I love you dearly and it is my greatest pleasure to know that I can touch your heart offering strength in your healing process. I invite you to share the intimate details of my life struggles through my book “Hugging Trees in the Dark…Finding the Courage to Free the Heart” In Gratitude, RJ