Chaplain’s Corner

It is only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are without any self deception or illusion that a light will develop out of events by which the path to success may be recognized.
I-ching

Happy summer to all,

The latest news from the Prayer Chaplains is that we have just returned from our annual renewal retreat at Manasota Beach Club. We gathered from June 24th - 26th to celebrate each other, to rest and play, and yes, to do some deep inner work. The theme of this year’s retreat was “Embracing the Shadow Self.” It focused on parts of Debbie Ford’s powerful work from her book The Shadow Effect. We remembered that every quality that we see in another exists in us. The outcome for all of us was a greater love and acceptance for ALL parts of who we are.

A wise teacher once said…. “your shadow is light waiting to be revealed.” How many of us masquerade as someone else because we think who we really are may not be acceptable? Do we not believe what we say each Sunday that we are God’s magnificent creation? And don’t we know that God doesn’t create junk? Yes and no is probably what most of us would answer. Let’s truly embrace, for this moment, that those are truths and truths that we are willing to live by. What would be different for us? Would we awake each day and live in the light of our authentic self? Certainly, we would make different choices than perhaps we are making now.

Consider the energy it takes to keep those thoughts and feelings we reject below the surface of our consciousness. Thoughts and behaviors like “selfish”, “angry”, “not enough”, “jealousy”, “fear”, all hidden under water like beach balls that keep popping up, take work to control. We then find ourselves becoming more and more challenged to manage the shadow self and what often results is destructive behaviors or projections we place on others. And our true nature, our God self, is never given the opportunity to rise and shine!

I invite you to dance lovingly with those pieces of your SELF that may be rejected or hidden. It takes both light and dark to make us whole. It takes a loving acceptance of what is to keep us connected to God. God is everything and everything is God. Stay connected to your TRUE SELF, your GOD SELF and send the frequent message “you are loved….you are loved just as you are.” Have a wonderful, bliss-filled summer.

Lovingly written,

Bonnie and Prayer Chaplains…. Ann, Susan, Steven, Jewell, Chris, Anne, Jane, and Billie.

Every Goal not accomplished, every dream unfulfilled, is a result of your shadow. Debbie Ford