Investments … I don’t know too many people that have this one figured out.   We all have some “good” ones along the way, probably outweighed by some “bad” ones.  I can’t count any longer the number of “tips” I’ve gotten along the way … some I’ve taken and regretted, and some I’ve let pass and wished I had not.

So how does one get a better return?

The key is in the “spirit” with which we circulate our money – not just in what we deem as our investments, but in all of our dealings with money.  We each have a unique spirit with which we handle money and its flow in our lives. 

When we spend, save or invest money, we have lots of expectations and hopes, and truth be told, probably lots of hidden agendas.  I can save money with a spirit of believing that I’ll only be safe when I have “enough”, or I can save money with a spirit of creating opportunity for myself or others.  I can spend money believing that the more material goods I have, the greater my self-esteem will be. Or, I can spend money with a spirit of appreciation and gratitude already knowing my self-worth and wholeness.  Can you feel the difference? 

I believe that the spirit we bring to what we circulate determines the return we receive .. not the investment itself.   In fact, the spirit with which we investigate potential investments has great influence on being guided to those “good” investments in life.

Think of it this way.  Spiritual teachers have suggested that there are two fundamental ways in which we give .. two fundamental spirits of giving.  The first is called Compensatory Giving – Placing our money in circulation with an expectation of the method and timing of it’s return to us, and with expectation of exactly what that money will be doing in the mean time.   The second has been called Gracious Giving – Placing our money in circulation as an expression of our gratitude for what has already been received and desire to express that gratitude.  By definition, gracious giving has to come from a spirit of abundance, or gratitude, of wholeness, while compensatory giving can sometimes mask something else.

Here is what I’ve observed:  Gracious Giving will always out-return compensatory giving.  Perhaps it is time to re-balance our portfolios in all the ways we invest in life.

You are Precious. You are Awesome.

Rev. Kristin

We are stirred … our world.   I am stirred.

I don’t think there is anyone on our planet without some kind of emotion stirred, the result of this weeks news that Osama Bin Laden has been killed.  In fact, we probably have had several emotions and thoughts on the subject.  A colleague of mine, Dr. Petra Weldes summarized a few when she wrote that she had felt, “grateful he’s been found and “taken care of”; horrified that we are celebrating a killing; proud of our service people and glad they are back safely; fearful of retaliation; wondering when will it end; patriotic toward our country; angry at the seemingly endless amount of twisting that can be done around any piece of political news; and a yearning for us to remember Unity and Oneness, Liberty and Justice.”  Could not have said it better myself 🙂 

The question  –  how do I resolve things when I have seemingly contradictory emotional reactions to them.  How do I resolve things when I am surrounded by even a broader array of emotions in my community, and in my world.  Which of the many emotions do I act upon, if any?  How do I find a place of peace, of resolution?

I believe everything in life is a call to anchor more fully in Spiritual Truth.  Every time emotions are in conflict, whirling around vying for position in my being, I’ve come to learn to use those moments to call forth a greater commitment to my values, and a greater congruence with the greater Truth of our being.

Today, I’m reminded that there is only One Life, the Life of God, living Itself through each of us.  I am called to see the One Life in all things.  I am reminded that Love heals, and I am called to allow it to heal me.  I am reminded that forgiveness restores Divine Givingness, and I am called to learn to forgive.  I am reminded to engage in life, and to take a stand for Freedom, Love, Forgiveness, and Peace.  I am called to notice where I have allowed, condoned, or participated in anything unlike these principles, and to strengthen my stand for Truth.

As I am stirred, I am called … until there is nothing to stir us any longer.

You are Precious, You are Awesome

Rev. Kristin

Some of the sagest advice we ever get is only sage when WE get it.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been given many gems of wisdom over the years, and much of it went unnoticed at the time.  But someplace down the road, that particular phrase or word or idea pops back into my mind, just at the moment that I am ready, willing, and able to use it.  At those times I say, “Ohhhhhh, that is what they were trying to tell me!”.

So today I am feeling grateful for all of the teachers in my life that I was not ready for, but none-the-less gifted me with their wisdom.  Grateful for those that saw a higher possibility for my life and that saw the Truth of my being.  Know that your efforts were not futile!  I’m “getting” it, slowly but surely. And you have made a difference in my life.

And, today, I’m knowing that every hand I have ever extended, every prayer I’ve spoken, every moment that my heart has opened to another, these gifts of my soul have been received, as well.  Mine is not to worry about the evidence, or the timing, but to rest in the assurance that I too am precious, and I make a difference. 

So how about you?  Perhaps today is a good day to thank someone whose gifts you have now been able to receive.  Perhaps today is a good day to know that you make a difference in others lives, and thank yourself for the blessing of you.

You are Precious, You are Awesome,

Rev. Kristin

This past weekend I had the honor of spending time at the Ahava Center for Spiritual Living, in Lexington, Kentucky.  The Reverend Soni Cantrell-Smith was being Ordained and Installed at this beautiful new church that Rev. Soni was called to create with the folks of Lexington two years ago.  Rev. Soni was my partner in creating Namaste 12 years ago, and was with our community up until the time she honored her inner call to return to Kentucky.

I was reminded this weekend, how difficult it was for Rev. Soni to say “yes” to this inner nudge to move … inner sledge hammer she might say. But it would not be denied. And, I was reminded how hard it was for me to say goodbye to her as we had co-created for so long, and she is so much a part of the fabric of Namaste and of my life.  And, we both were reminded how RIGHT all of Life is.  How right it is for her to be where she is, in this incredible new place of healing, growth, enlivenment.  And how right it is where I am, and how right it is that Namaste is writing its next chapter.

Sometime during the weekend, Rev. Soni teased me about how when she finally made her decision to leave, I was mad at her for a week!  Now I don’t think a week is too bad, after 10 years together :).     We joked about it, but I sure remembered the feelings well.   It took a week to crack the façade of “you go and do what you are called to do, I’ll be ok”.   I was not OK at that moment, and truth be told, I was not mad .. I was scared.  I was scared about how I would move on without my partner in ministry that had been all I had known.  I was scared that I would have no one to lean on.  I was scared to make a change.  And, I was scared to tell the truth about my fear.

Have you ever been scared to tell the truth about your fear?  Have you ever been scared and masked it as anger?

The TRUTH is … life is uncertain and ever changing.  And the TRUTH is that we are always supported and guided into the next evolution of our Being.  The TRUTH is we are designed to ever change, and grow, and experience more of God living Itself through us.  Life will not allow us to stay put!  And, with every movement forward, there is loss.  Honoring the loss so that we can fully move forward and accept the richness of what Spirit has in store for us, continues to be my work in life.  How about you?

There is so much in this universe, and in our lives, that is “Unwritten”.  Sometimes, we have to move on, inorder to fulfill it.

You Are Precious, You are Awesome,

Rev. Kristin

P.S.  Look at some video of Rev. Soni’s Ordination and Sunday service!

Welcome to a new blog!  I’d love to hear what you want to hear about .. ideas for Sunday Talks, questions on your hearts, things to explore!   Look for new messages each week .. and let’s discover our greater Spiritual Truth together.