"Remember who you are!" was a phrase I heard countless times before heading out when I was young. My mom's intentions were for me to remember my goodness, my heart and what I'd been taught so far in life, but the truth is that statement stirred me in far deeper ways than intended and I wonder if it may have been stirrin' in me even before she spoke the words.
I spent a good majority of my time as a child daydreaming, but now understand I was contemplative even then and loved being alone with my thoughts and God even when I didn't know exactly what it meant. I still do. I have always been drawn to nature and the solitude of creation and find vast inspiration in all things. Usually the inspiration plays out as movie shorts in my mind or pull themselves together as paintings and they always have a spiritual context. Ordinary encounters become beautiful paintings in my mind and I'm flooded with ideas and scenes. For me, it's never been about “What to paint?” but despair I'll never have the time to create all I want to create. My brain and imagination are like a weird spiritual circus with God/LOVE showing up in every breath to teach me something new about all the wonderful and wacky things we do. I don't have much reprieve from this life nor would I want any.
My lifelong contemplative practices have finally brought me to a place where I can say with assurance, I REMEMBER WHO I AM! and I've found no greater peace in life than in that deep knowing. I am good. I remember who I am and that I came straight from the mind and heart of God/LOVE itself and that I shouldn't complain too much about any of it. Instead, I should be filled with desire to know God. The God outside of me. The God inside others and all things and, the God in me. That desire fuels a spiritual life and ushers in what I believe will be The Kingdom of Heaven. If we all behave in such a manner, that's exactly what we'd get- a Kingdom of humans who remembered who the are. We'd remember that God/LOVE made us so that we could enjoy one another and all creation and we none would hurt even a fly. Instead, like children, we'd run throughout all creation enjoying every nook and cranny for one reason alone, we'd know WE ARE GOOD and God loves us so.
I know who I am today and nothing has ever made me happier. Though the countless books I've read on spiritual things have always been a joy and light to me, knowledge matters little without a desire to deeply know God. I spent years “knowing” too damn much and missing out on the simple life of desiring to know God in every single moment of life. That's a spiritual life and one that pleases God. He's only ever wanted our attention and none of the good stuff you do even matters if your eyes/heart/mind aren't His. That is a life lived in vain deceit and we are made for so much more, but first we must remember WHO WE ARE and it starts with remembering that God made you and YOU are GOOD.
We are ALL good.
For fun and because I love my body (our bodies) I did a boudoir session this past weekend with Kim C. Williams owner of The Boudoir Loft and Clarkston Zen where I teach yoga. The pictures are just beautiful and the experience fun and challenging. Collectively, our body image issues are profound and I pray all my work in the world works to rid the world of such nonsense. God made us and we are so, so good. Just look at those legs of mine and, yes…that nice size hand too! My dad's hands! God love him and me and these hands!
I love you so, friend.
Tammy
ps- Kim is running an awesome April deal for yoga- 20 CLASSES FOR $20!!!! Great deal and time to check us out! 