Freedom

While I like summer, July holds some tough days for me as well as joyous ones. I have friends who celebrate their birthday in July and several years ago my family and I celebrated my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary with a 2-week trip to Alaska and Seattle. July also holds some sad days for me. 18 years ago I got married and unfortunately the marriage didn’t last. I was heartbroken. A few years after my divorce I met someone who became incredibly special to me very quickly and we started thinking about a future together when he died suddenly just 10 days before his 43rd birthday. Another change that occurred in the month of July for me was a change in jobs. I started with a wonderful non-profit called Pathways as an intern when I was a Human Services student at Cypress College. I worked with children and teens who were grieving. After my internship ended I was invited to stay with Pathways as a volunteer. I loved my time with Pathways. Over the course of many years I worked with Pathways as a volunteer and then as paid staff serving as their volunteer and client coordinator. Once I became a chaplain I was hired by a hospice, Haven as a chaplain and bereavement counselor. I left Pathways in July of 2008 after having been with them in some capacity for almost 10 years. Pathways remains near and dear to my heart to this day- they gave me my start on this amazing, transformative journey that I continue to travel. All of these events happened in the month of July – different years but all in the month of July. Some of these changes were for happy reasons and others sad. So for me, July is a month of transformation, choice, and freedom. I invite you to look at the changes and experiences in your life and maybe see them in a new light, from a new perspective.

I share all of this because I am reminded that what happens to me is not as important as how I respond to what happened. I am free to decide how I will respond in any given situation. Metaphysics teaches that we are empowered to choose our thoughts and how we respond to events in our lives. I trust and know that the Divine is always in the midst of my life experiences. Being active in spiritual practices strengthens my deep connection with the Divine within. I am free to be me. I am free to practice that which I believe, teach, and love- metaphysical principles as taught by the Science of Mind. What I have experienced in my life has reminded me of the importance of being compassionate, grateful, and loving. I look for the good in the world, have an expectancy of loving experiences, and remember to create moments of laughter and joy.
With love and appreciation,
Rev Donna