Father of All Creation: Our Father Who Art in Heaven

As I breath in the cool, damp air on this Father's Day morning I reflect back on my once earthly view of Our Heavenly Father and a small smile comes to my lips.  For over 15 years I had everything all wrong.  I am amazed that I survived, though, I admit the journey was an arduous one.  When we put earthly things or people first in our lives there is no hope for love, happiness and balance as the physical world is merely a pebble in our path along the way to our final destination.

When blinded by others with materialism, greed and desire we lose sight of the divine purpose.  Our divine purpose.

For you are my offspring (Acts 17:28)

I knew you even before you were conceived (Jer. 1:4-5)

I chose you when I planned creation (Eph. 1:11-12)

When spiritual purpose is blurry we tend to reach to comfort and understanding in the physical world because it makes more sense.  Addictions become saviors and we find solace in manmade deities.  Taking that leap of faith (believing in the unseen) is far more difficult than supporting what we can touch, hear, and feel each day.

Living a life with God second or third or even last limits any room for spiritual growth including happiness and balance in an imbalanced world.  I was blessed to see this misrepresentation through the help of earth angels and family, but mainly through making many, many mistakes along the way.  I used to be a pessimist and now I am an optimist about time healing all wounds, second chances and the so-called light at the end of the tunnel.

Today, I am happy to share that Our Heavenly Father is first in my life and everything seems to fit into place with more ease.  Nothing comes without pain and suffering, however, but the grace that is available to us appears more readily as we make the shift to our divine purpose. 

So on this Father's Day I give most humble thanks to my heavenly father; for blessing me with the gift of life and for a loving earthly father. My prayers continue to those who have not found a relationship with Him for they could experience more joy, love and happiness and their families could be much more unified and fruitful. 

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Colossians 1:16

Seven: Lucky or Not in Recovery and Healing?

This year I cam upon the anniversary of my divorce, a monumental life event, seven years ago in fact.  Some get the "seven year itch" or some just call seven lucky (or unlucky in craps depending on your betting strategy), but as I explored the numeral I found a plethora of startling facts. According to an article by Dawn Young Lang, Upsilon Lambda/Hanover College entitled The Body's Seven Year Renewal, there is a cyclical renewal process that biologists have determined occurs over a seven-year period. The billions of cells in our body are replaced by billions of new cells. It is believed that every seven years we grow a new body and the choices we make impact our cell renewal. For this reason I am thankful for a new chance at life.

Some say it is worse than death, divorce.  At least in death the person is gone;  it is black and white without any shade of grey. Divorce, on the other hand, lingers for a lifetime whether you think it is resolved or not.  It can create positive change, bring new opportunity, hurt many lives, bring financial ruin/chaos, and leave wounds so deep that even time could not heal them.  I know I have permanent scars and there are spaces in my heart that will never be replaced, but I know there is room for more and I look forward to the journey.

As I chaperoned my son's eighth grade party I was warmly asked by another mother to join her at lunch.  She introduced herself and immediately I recognized her name.  It was my next door neighbor pre-divorce.  I actually wasn't divorced then, but the reason we moved was the beginning of the end. (reference: www.selfgrowth.com: Maintaining Relationships with Incarcerated Parents)  What matters most is the fact that seven years after my divorce was final I can happily say that life is leveling out and it took my reunion with Pam to prove it.  I am blessed.  About five years ago I began a humbled life of simplicity with a special person after years of turmoil and my children are adjusted and happy, which is what matters most (to me).  I know some people (continue to) put themselves first and the effects of divorce unfortunately weigh heavy on our youth because of it. 

Let me tell you about my neighbor...I'll call her Pam, and her son and my son were best buddies at the very young age of three.  They went to different elementary schools, but were in the same middle school and have reconnected again after many years. She sat down with me and we caught up quickly the eleven years that had passed. Truly amazing how the decade drifted by! It was full of change for me including divorce and remarriage.

We both built our homes in 2001 and I had to put mine up for sale in 2002 when my husband lost his job.  I was forced back to work and had to drive to Troy from Northville every day or I was traveling to Baltimore, MD.  Pam shared a memory I did not recall simply because I was working and she was fortunate to remain at home.  She told me my son called her "Mommy" when I was not around.  I almost cried.  In the past I cried easily at the memories of those arduous years and the pain we all went through, but I surprised myself and recovered quickly this time.  My strength has been building each day and though I come to tears often in church (my daughter calls me out all the time) I can speak of the past with melancholy reflection knowing the wisdom we have all gained and the adversity that we overcame to rebuild our lives.

We found that we had friends in common mainly through our children, but that's what life is about right?  Enjoying and sharing with those whom you have things in common with.  I don't understand those who choose to live a life of solitude devoid of relationships that could enhance your own life and create wonderful memories.  I could feel the past coming full circle in a peaceful way. Odd how many years can seem like only days.

Our conversation sadly came to a close when the event concluded and we shared a warm embrace.  It felt so comforting and reassured me that all was well and anything that happened in the past was certainly the past.  As in yoga, the words "present moment" come to mind, i.e., to let go of the past and not worry about the future focusing only on the moment at hand.    Savor the things in front of you in the here and now for today could be your last. Heed the mantra:

I am Present in this Beautiful Moment.

I am Here.

I am Now.

I am the Awareness.

I am the Breath.

So, I suppose those seven years post-divorce allowed me to grow in not only faith, but in love.  The seven-year cycle is most aligned with traditional Chinese medicine dating to 1500 BC, which believes that natural and normal health changes occur at regular seven-year intervals. In my own seven year cycle I acquired the ability to love after pain and love through pain, which can still exist in daily life unfortunately. I realize the love I left, a love that may never be found again, but am open to new love in many forms. One thing remains, what I made out of love - my children.  For their faces, smiles and laughter bring new growth to my heart in healing and recovery.  Without them, I would be lost and weak. Thank you, God.