There is an excellent column in today's local newspaper....
Intuition is a gift of the spirit
By Ellin Dize, Religion Columnist
Saturday, July 11, 2009
"Intuition is the voice of the spirit. The Bible says God can be found in “a still, small voice within” (1 Kings 19:12), so the Bible validates intuition. The spirit will help us to achieve our goals and protect us from danger (John 14:26), but few of us know how to connect with the Holy Spirit in a lasting, accessible way. A deeper connection to the soul level of our existence will bring a new understanding to our daily lives.
The healthiest and most balanced way to live is to be in touch with all of our emotions and to know how and when to express them appropriately. Any emotion that we deny and disown tends to remain inside us as blocked energy. These energies can build up over years and cause emotional and physical problems. While our intuition is not the same as our emotions, they are intimately connected.If we are out of balance in our emotional lives, generally we need some help to understand our feelings. Truly it is a mark of strength to admit that we have things to learn. Once we are aware of our emotional feelings, it is not too difficult to distinguish them from our intuitive feelings. Each emotion has its own particular energy, and our intuition has a unique energetic vibration. You might say that we are hearing from God.
Tuned in, we can feel a yearning to go in a certain direction in life. Or we may feel intuitively uncomfortable about something and just know that it is not right for us. Or, when the phone rings, we just know who is calling. And we can know we are on the right track when we feel peaceful, content and calm. Once we are aware of these sensations, we can follow the intuitive impulses we receive through our bodies quite easily. Philosopher J.P. Moreland has pointed out that if you can’t know some things without knowing why you know them, you can’t know anything at all.We need to get more in touch with our physical body to get in touch with our intuition.We spend a lot of time in our intellect, trying to figure everything out and ignoring our body’s messages. Our bodies guide us in subtle and not- so-subtle ways. That gut feeling, those goose bumps are examples of our intuition working. When we get sick, it is our body’s way of telling us to slow down and take better care of ourselves.Some would call intuition “letting go and letting God.” Our Founding Fathers called it “self-evident” truth.
This kind of truth isn’t a result of reasoning to a conclusion. Aristotle said some things can’t be proved, but without them you can’t prove anything.Intuition is a gift of the spirit. It is through intuition that we can find out about God through the Bible. Without intuition, there would be no Bible. Intuition is the basis for all divine inspiration."
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Not My Last Day Part II
I knew I was not alone in my house...I left off at the point where the heat had turned on and the sound covered any other sounds I was trying to hear. I didn't know what else was going on outside the bathroom.I stayed firmly in place.
I stayed in the bathroom a long time. Hours. I know that sounds silly, but I did not want to open that door for anything but a familiar voice. I felt it all the way to my bones that the locked door kept me safe. I didn't want to be the cliche idiot who opens the door and gets hurt because they thought the coast was clear. In those few hours I did learn some things about myself though.
At several points in these events I contemplated the concept of this being my last day. My last moments in mortality. I didn't want it to be my last day. In the hours that felt like years in which I was afraid and alone in the bathroom, I talked with God. I'm so grateful that I've learned in this life that God is not a cosmic Santa Claus. That one of mortality's greatest gifts is agency - the ability to make choices for oneself, as well as the ability to learn the difference between right and wrong and to make ethical and moral decisions. The gift to make one's own decisions to choose between right and wrong, good or evil. That God does not take agency away from one person to suit the wants, desires, or needs of another - no matter the outcome.
So often people rail against God for the bad or evil choices of others. I myself have fallen into that trap in the past. If God took away the choice of one, He would have to take away the choice of all. He is a just God. No matter what name you put to God, Heavenly Father, Jehovah, Bhagavan, Allah, Ek Onkar, or Yahweh there is the facet of justice in one form or another.
I personally do not want my agency removed from me. Blaming the poor choices of others on God is short sighted. It reminds me of the idiom, "Cut off my nose to spite my face." If all humans were just puppets, only allowed to choose good, what kind of life would we lead? Would we learn anything? Not much. Mortality, life, would hold no value. When you are sick, you learn the value of health. When you taste something bitter, you value the sweet. When you age, you learn the value of youth.
In this state of mind I prayed. I knew that the person on the other side of the door had made bad choices. Maybe a lot of them. Maybe even evil to the point of wanting to hurt me in ways that are the stuff nightmares are made of. But, this is not God's fault. I would not curse God and ask why this was happening to me. Been there, done that. Made those mistakes. I now had the opportunity to "repent" -for lack of a better word- in that I had grown up and could see more clearly my life and my choices. I prayed and let God know that no matter what happened today, even if it was my last day, that I was grateful. I was grateful for my life. I have not lived a life of wealth, prosperity, easy days, and endless joys, but that I was grateful nonetheless.
Grateful for so many things. For my family and mentioned them all by name and what they meant to me. For my friends and mentioned them by name. For my faith and all of its facets, especially my beliefs in Jesus Christ. For my many opportunities to learn and grow in many directions. For the safety and protection of my family and friends. For the strength to face whatever may be on the other side of the door. Not to remove me from the situation, but to give me what I needed to deal with it. This is a HUGE paradigm shift for me in my life. To accept that I don't escape hardship by virtue of faithfulness to God or my religious beliefs. That God and my religious beliefs give me resources to garner strength, but not a free pass from pain and suffering.
I promised myself and God that I would be more grateful. Show more gratitude. Hold a better perspective on positivity versus negativity. Tell the people around me how much they mean to me. That I thought of them during this time and what I wanted to say to them on my last day.
After several hours, I knew that no one was going to come and get me out or to let me know from the other side if it was safe. I had to garner a lot of courage and threw the door open, ran down the hallway to my bedroom to the phone. I dialed 911. Relief that I was safe and that Friday was not my last day so filled me I was almost hysterical with it. The 911 operator had to ask me several times to calm down because he could not understand what I was saying. When the cops came to the house I was just sitting at the top of the stairs with the phone in one hand and funny enough - my blowdryer in the other. What the blowdryer was good for, your guess is as good as mine. It made sense at the time.
They took pictures of my purse which was roughly emptied all over the floor, two credit cards and my cash were taken. They made phone calls to my parents and my work. Every time I tried to tell the story I just broke down in tears and sobs. My Dad came home from work early to be with me that day. As weird as this sounds, it was a good day, it was not my last.
I stayed in the bathroom a long time. Hours. I know that sounds silly, but I did not want to open that door for anything but a familiar voice. I felt it all the way to my bones that the locked door kept me safe. I didn't want to be the cliche idiot who opens the door and gets hurt because they thought the coast was clear. In those few hours I did learn some things about myself though.
At several points in these events I contemplated the concept of this being my last day. My last moments in mortality. I didn't want it to be my last day. In the hours that felt like years in which I was afraid and alone in the bathroom, I talked with God. I'm so grateful that I've learned in this life that God is not a cosmic Santa Claus. That one of mortality's greatest gifts is agency - the ability to make choices for oneself, as well as the ability to learn the difference between right and wrong and to make ethical and moral decisions. The gift to make one's own decisions to choose between right and wrong, good or evil. That God does not take agency away from one person to suit the wants, desires, or needs of another - no matter the outcome.
So often people rail against God for the bad or evil choices of others. I myself have fallen into that trap in the past. If God took away the choice of one, He would have to take away the choice of all. He is a just God. No matter what name you put to God, Heavenly Father, Jehovah, Bhagavan, Allah, Ek Onkar, or Yahweh there is the facet of justice in one form or another.
I personally do not want my agency removed from me. Blaming the poor choices of others on God is short sighted. It reminds me of the idiom, "Cut off my nose to spite my face." If all humans were just puppets, only allowed to choose good, what kind of life would we lead? Would we learn anything? Not much. Mortality, life, would hold no value. When you are sick, you learn the value of health. When you taste something bitter, you value the sweet. When you age, you learn the value of youth.
In this state of mind I prayed. I knew that the person on the other side of the door had made bad choices. Maybe a lot of them. Maybe even evil to the point of wanting to hurt me in ways that are the stuff nightmares are made of. But, this is not God's fault. I would not curse God and ask why this was happening to me. Been there, done that. Made those mistakes. I now had the opportunity to "repent" -for lack of a better word- in that I had grown up and could see more clearly my life and my choices. I prayed and let God know that no matter what happened today, even if it was my last day, that I was grateful. I was grateful for my life. I have not lived a life of wealth, prosperity, easy days, and endless joys, but that I was grateful nonetheless.
Grateful for so many things. For my family and mentioned them all by name and what they meant to me. For my friends and mentioned them by name. For my faith and all of its facets, especially my beliefs in Jesus Christ. For my many opportunities to learn and grow in many directions. For the safety and protection of my family and friends. For the strength to face whatever may be on the other side of the door. Not to remove me from the situation, but to give me what I needed to deal with it. This is a HUGE paradigm shift for me in my life. To accept that I don't escape hardship by virtue of faithfulness to God or my religious beliefs. That God and my religious beliefs give me resources to garner strength, but not a free pass from pain and suffering.
I promised myself and God that I would be more grateful. Show more gratitude. Hold a better perspective on positivity versus negativity. Tell the people around me how much they mean to me. That I thought of them during this time and what I wanted to say to them on my last day.
After several hours, I knew that no one was going to come and get me out or to let me know from the other side if it was safe. I had to garner a lot of courage and threw the door open, ran down the hallway to my bedroom to the phone. I dialed 911. Relief that I was safe and that Friday was not my last day so filled me I was almost hysterical with it. The 911 operator had to ask me several times to calm down because he could not understand what I was saying. When the cops came to the house I was just sitting at the top of the stairs with the phone in one hand and funny enough - my blowdryer in the other. What the blowdryer was good for, your guess is as good as mine. It made sense at the time.
They took pictures of my purse which was roughly emptied all over the floor, two credit cards and my cash were taken. They made phone calls to my parents and my work. Every time I tried to tell the story I just broke down in tears and sobs. My Dad came home from work early to be with me that day. As weird as this sounds, it was a good day, it was not my last.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Life Is Eternal
In my other blog at http://shaunabere.blogspot.com/ I talk about the events leading to the recent death of my Grandma Bere. I feel so much gratitude for my beliefs. Death is not a scary uncertain monster for me. To me death is no more unnatural than birth. It is a stepping stone in an eternal existence. We existed as a being of spirit, intelligence, and emotion long before we came to Earth and received physical bodies via birth and we will exist as a being of spirit, intelligence, and emotion long after we lose our physical bodies via death.
One of my favorite quotes and a powerful statement by the French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."
Although I will mourn the loss of my time and temporal connection with my Grandma, I do not mourn her loss as she is not lost. Neither are any of the other members of my family who have gone before her. When I lost my other grandmother to the exact same disease, under the most startling similar circumstances, her journey from this part of her existence to another was a very sacred experience. I sat with her as she passed. I felt closer to God for having been with her at this time. Words don't describe it any better than that.
There is a lovely article written by Ezra Taft Benson the Prophet, and leader of my church in August 1991. The article in entitled, “Life Is Eternal.”
Life is eternal. We are eternal beings. We lived as intelligent spirits before this mortal life. We are now living part of eternity. Our mortal birth was not the beginning. Death, which faces all of us, is not the end.
As we travel through this topsy-turvy world filled with temptations and problems, we are humbled by the expectancy of death, the uncertainty of life, and the power and love of God. Sadness comes to all of us in the loss of loved ones. But there is gratitude also—gratitude for the assurance we have that life is eternal; gratitude for the great gospel plan given freely to all of us; gratitude for the life, teachings, and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, life is eternal. This is but a place of temporary duration. There is the ever-present expectancy of death, but in reality there is no death—no permanent parting. The resurrection is a reality. The scriptures are replete with evidence. Almost immediately after the glorious resurrection of the Lord, Matthew records: “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matt. 27:52–53)
The spirit world is not far away. Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin. Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us. Yes, life is eternal. Death is not the end. To the sorrowful, inquiring women at the tomb of Christ, the angels proclaimed: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24:5–6) Nothing in history equals that dramatic announcement: “He is not here, but is risen.”
One of my favorite quotes and a powerful statement by the French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."
Although I will mourn the loss of my time and temporal connection with my Grandma, I do not mourn her loss as she is not lost. Neither are any of the other members of my family who have gone before her. When I lost my other grandmother to the exact same disease, under the most startling similar circumstances, her journey from this part of her existence to another was a very sacred experience. I sat with her as she passed. I felt closer to God for having been with her at this time. Words don't describe it any better than that.
There is a lovely article written by Ezra Taft Benson the Prophet, and leader of my church in August 1991. The article in entitled, “Life Is Eternal.”
Life is eternal. We are eternal beings. We lived as intelligent spirits before this mortal life. We are now living part of eternity. Our mortal birth was not the beginning. Death, which faces all of us, is not the end.
As we travel through this topsy-turvy world filled with temptations and problems, we are humbled by the expectancy of death, the uncertainty of life, and the power and love of God. Sadness comes to all of us in the loss of loved ones. But there is gratitude also—gratitude for the assurance we have that life is eternal; gratitude for the great gospel plan given freely to all of us; gratitude for the life, teachings, and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yes, life is eternal. This is but a place of temporary duration. There is the ever-present expectancy of death, but in reality there is no death—no permanent parting. The resurrection is a reality. The scriptures are replete with evidence. Almost immediately after the glorious resurrection of the Lord, Matthew records: “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matt. 27:52–53)
The spirit world is not far away. Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin. Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us. Yes, life is eternal. Death is not the end. To the sorrowful, inquiring women at the tomb of Christ, the angels proclaimed: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24:5–6) Nothing in history equals that dramatic announcement: “He is not here, but is risen.”
Sunday, August 31, 2008
My Sunday School Class
About 10 months ago I was asked to serve as the Sunday School teacher to the 10-11 year old children in my ward (congregation). I was terrified to accept this responsibility. I had not dealt with children on a consistent basis for almost a decade. I spent a few short months with one group of children.
At the beginning of the new year, I was assigned a new group of children in the 10-11 year range. I have been teaching the same eight children since January 1, 2008. There are four boys and four girls. I teach kids who excel at sports, music, academics, and any combination of those things. I have one kid who is terrified to talk and at least three who seem to be terrified to be quiet. I have a kid who is kind and quiet and a kid who is rough around the edges. I have two kids who like to be right and two kids who want everyone to get along. They are amazing.
Early on I learned that they are like lawyers, English professors, and tape recorders rolled into one. Like lawyers who could argue the finest details about anything, English professors who critique how well I speak or write on the board, and tape recorders that can repeat back any sentence I have spoken. They keep me in line that is for certain.
I feel my obligation to them and take it seriously. God asked me to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. To be an example to them. I will, in the end, have to report back to Him about what I did to fulfill these responsibilities. In some small measure I feel like they are "my" kids. I care deeply for them, their welfare, their happiness, and their spirituality. Each of those children have been blessed with excellent families. Families who want to see their children be as successful spiritually as temporally. They try to install good values in their kids.
Last year we studied the New Testament. We have a class manual and we are studying the Book of Mormon for this year's curriculum. Although we have a schedule and follow the curriculum closely twice this year I have felt extremely impressed to address an issue that was affecting the class. Recently (as in today) I taught a lesson on eliminating contention. I will share in the next post the content of today's lesson.
At the beginning of the new year, I was assigned a new group of children in the 10-11 year range. I have been teaching the same eight children since January 1, 2008. There are four boys and four girls. I teach kids who excel at sports, music, academics, and any combination of those things. I have one kid who is terrified to talk and at least three who seem to be terrified to be quiet. I have a kid who is kind and quiet and a kid who is rough around the edges. I have two kids who like to be right and two kids who want everyone to get along. They are amazing.
Early on I learned that they are like lawyers, English professors, and tape recorders rolled into one. Like lawyers who could argue the finest details about anything, English professors who critique how well I speak or write on the board, and tape recorders that can repeat back any sentence I have spoken. They keep me in line that is for certain.
I feel my obligation to them and take it seriously. God asked me to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. To be an example to them. I will, in the end, have to report back to Him about what I did to fulfill these responsibilities. In some small measure I feel like they are "my" kids. I care deeply for them, their welfare, their happiness, and their spirituality. Each of those children have been blessed with excellent families. Families who want to see their children be as successful spiritually as temporally. They try to install good values in their kids.
Last year we studied the New Testament. We have a class manual and we are studying the Book of Mormon for this year's curriculum. Although we have a schedule and follow the curriculum closely twice this year I have felt extremely impressed to address an issue that was affecting the class. Recently (as in today) I taught a lesson on eliminating contention. I will share in the next post the content of today's lesson.
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