Friday, September 14, 2012

Live From The Heart: Humility In Action





What I love about this speech is that Robert Kennedy is basically saying that each of us have a choice. We can choose to be humble to our pain and loss or to retaliate in hate and revenge, in avoidance of that pain.

I believe that humble hearts are the foundations of true and lasting peace on this planet.

Frankly though a problem I see at times is this:

People hear us say that humility involves an openness to every emotion within them.

People try to focus on their emotions without a clear desire to change themselves, see their errors or their embrace their lives. This creates self-absorption. This is not humble.

In fact these people are overlooking the fact that humility also involves openness to every situation and person they encounter. Someone who is self- centered, self-absorbed is the opposite of this. They are actually self-interested. They resist life and those around them in favour of focus on their own emotions.

A humble person allows their own emotional experience without resistance, and without valuing it over another person's experience.

Humility also involves honouring the truth that each of us are of equal value, as brother and sister, all children of God. A person spending all of their time and energy trying to manufacture humility is valuing their own pointless endeavour over the feelings and experiences of others. 

The fact that a person must try to embody humility means that they are resistive to simply putting it into action. When we want a thing, we engage it. When we can't, we find out why and take steps to change these blocks. But we never have to push or force ourselves into it. 

Trying, as I have often said before, is lying*.

Sad Fact: By trying to focus solely on their emotions people often miss the point. They become less humble and more self-involved. 

Often people try to be humble in order to gain approval, to feel they are 'living the path' the 'right' way. These people miss the point that 'The Way' is a journey, undertaken with the Father. He sees us and knows us but even the attempt to manufacture a facade of humility distances His Heart from our own. It is better to be honest about who we are and where we are at, than to push ourselves towards tears or to create 'paralysis through intellectual analysis'** of our 'issues'. 

Indeed, being real and open about who we are, without expectation or demand for approval or reward, these are the beginnings of walking in humility.

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While people focus totally on their own emotions and try to access them (thinking that this is what we mean is the basis of a relationship with God) they miss out on understanding true humility. Ironically, I have seen people living in emotional addiction, avoiding the deepest truths about themselves, and hiding it all behind the banner of 'humility'. 

Such people become isolated and separated. They use a 'spiritual term' to justify pushing their emotions onto others. In this, they not only distance themselves from God but they damage others' understanding of what it means to live humbly.

In contrast, true humility automatically creates connection, not only with self, but with others.  

The qualities of service, leadership, the willingness to confront error and bring about change, all flow from this magic quality humility.

To be humble we must stop trying, and begin allowing what God is truly telling us through our life and our feelings.

Recently I completed a series of interviews (no less than five) with Jesus surrounding the quality of true humility. I am inspired, as always, by the simplicity and power of what he spoke of.

I feel though that we all must be careful that simply hearing these truths does not lead us the arrogance of believing that we live them. That endeavor will take more of our time. The process of truly becoming humble is far more engaging, and beautiful.

Humility is the gift that we would offer our Heavenly Father in order that we would come to know Him and receive His Love and Truth.

It is the vital key to our homecoming.

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* This saying was told to me many years ago by a workshop leader. As the years go by, I see again and again, how true this is.

**The saying 'paralysis from analysis' comes from one of our dear friends, Susan.

10 comments:

  1. This is a great post, Mary, thank you.

    You may probably hear the terms 'perfect timing' more often than not, but I can't help but feel that almost always is the case in terms of what you post...and how it helps so many of us.

    Recently I discovered, possibly for the first time, that if I am to TRULY follow this path of learning to know God, being open to trusting that everything really is perfect, and wanting to share the gift of knowledge that has been given courtesy of AJ/Yeshua and your beautiful soul, there is really no other way than 'practice what you preach'. Our programming really does dictate how we function in our day-to-day lives.

    I recently attracted a job working at the 9/11 Memorial site, exactly the area where the terrible attacks took place 11 years ago. Although I do Art Sculpture Restoration, I discovered the real reason I attracted this job was to share my gift of what I have learned about God and this narrow path to those who have passed that know little or nothing about the Universe, let alone some their own passing. This alone has turned my previous arrogance and facade into smithereens, in knowing that my desire to be of service must be purified, for the potentiality of helping even one person is but a noble cause. To be able to answer even the most random 'stranger' in the street with love and humility, to really feel what I've been taught is the truth, because it is implemented into my life.

    A little before this job came into my life I prayed to God that if He is real, to show me He's real, and help show me who I really am, and why I really haven't wanted to.

    Since then, other aspects of my life and myself have been confronted immensely. It feels that my life is sometimes like the Matrix movie; the info 'downloaded' is awesomely amazing and at other times scary. But best of all, when I grow towards and get to know this amazing Being in the sky, who is also in the flowers, in all colors, in my paint and in electricity, in a kiss and heart throb, I bring my whole soul back into my life. Sometimes it feels so much bigger than who I am, and I am so little to my other half, I'd rather live in addiction. But the truth is, it is only in surrender to all of my emotions regarding my recent endeavour; to eliminate the voices of my parent's fear and degredation about who I am, how strange, weird, and incapable of making an impact by displaying who I really am- A sensitive and intuitive woman, who as a child preferred to live among the stars and sleep rather than stand tall in Love and courage as I was meant to.

    I truly feel this is how we can change other's lives. By our own example.

    And for myself, the amazing part is...sometimes, we don't have to say a single word, or try to control or convince, at all.

    I'm still working on that one. :)

    I am grateful for you, Mary, God, AJ, and those who serve by example of their love for people and thirst for life, prosperity, and the pursuit of happy-ness. In the truest sense of the word.

    With Love,

    Marina



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    2. Marina, how wonderful to hear about your new job. What an opportunity to live humility and extend love, compassion and assistance!

      Thank-you for your kind comments and praying for your success and growth in the job,

      M xo

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  2. That's great Mary. you write it beautiful. I completely Agree

    Love to you both
    Fabio

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  3. Mary

    It's been my experience that as soon as someone tells me that it's "good" to have a certain quality, like being humble or more loving, I sort of manufacture a persona from the ideas I have about how a person with that quality would look, think and act, as well as beating myself up for not already having this quality.

    It's all a crock of you know what, when you really look at it, but seems so hard to stop doing. How much harder it feels to see that we want to dupe ourselves about who we are and that it's going to take time, patience and sincerity to see what we really feel about ourselves, others and God rather than what we think we feel. I know I'm only beginning to grasp that there is a difference and that it matters. One of the main consequences of listening to Marie's story in Book group is this growing awareness in me that our damage which we refuse to deal with, does have repercussions in our every day interactions with people and terrible consequences for ourselves. Her story terrified me. I'm sort of afraid to do anything in case I hurt someone but to be honest I feel I'm more afraid of the consequences on myself than what I do to them. I suppose all this "stuff" has to be seen and worked through and there are definitely times when I wish I'd never heard of these teachings.

    Also I continue to want to go it alone, not realising that beneath this are some huge issues that I need to adress about why I don't trust God to help me.

    This sentence is very beautiful

    "Humility is the gift that we would offer our Heavenly Father in order that we would come to know Him and receive His Love and Truth."

    Amanda

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    1. Amanda, thank-you for this very honest and beautiful comment.

      I believe that God is full of patience and compassion for us as we commence and continue on this journey (He seems to have far more than we often have for ourselves). And also that we can't underestimate the power He has to assist us in our swift and complete healing if only our hearts would turn over to Him in humility.

      These days I am praying for this one quality - of true humility.

      Lots of Love
      Mary

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  4. WOW !! I feel this may be the most profound thing I have ever read ... just trying to relate how much this relates to me now & where i am at & how i have had to admit how humble i am not, how i am not who i think i am & how i don't actually desire the things i say i desire ... as they aren't in my life .. this is painful to admit & scary to think .. well then who am I ? This pretty much sums up what I have learned by pretending to be on this path for the past 3 years or so ...

    Trying is lying ... I needed to hear that ... I want to stop pretending .. but it is an automatic response .. as the pain is too great .. to admit that even tho i recognize what you & Yeshua are offering is so beautiful .. I don't want it .. or at least that my desire is insufficient to overcome my fear ... at least being honest with God about that is a good start ... now i am standing in a place where God can help me yes ? Whereas b4 I could not be helped ... & i at least know why now ... my prayers were sincere ... i was doing what i always accuse the religious ones of doing .. i was pretending to be good ...

    Thank you Mary for all you share with us ... when i allow myself to cry someday I know I will cry long & hard for what you have given me ...

    P.S. I feel like such a jerk for correcting you ... but why would u know about American history ? I know nothing of Australian history ... that is actually RFK - Robert f. Kennedy .. they almost look like twins & talk the same ... JFK was assassinated 5 years b4 in 1963 ... this video was from 1968 when MLK was killed .. sadly, 3 months after giving this speech ... RFK was assassinated also ... adding weight to his words ...


    Enrique (Zapatista44)

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  5. WOW !! I feel this may be the most profound thing I have ever read ... just trying to relate how much this relates to me now & where i am at & how i have had to admit how humble i am not, how i am not who i think i am & how i don't actually desire the things i say i desire ... as they aren't in my life .. this is painful to admit & scary to think .. well then who am I ? This pretty much sums up what I have learned by pretending to be on this path for the past 3 years or so ...

    Trying is lying ... I needed to hear that ... I want to stop pretending .. but it is an automatic response .. as the pain is too great .. to admit that even tho i recognize what you & Yeshua are offering is so beautiful .. I don't want it .. or at least that my desire is insufficient to overcome my fear ... at least being honest with God about that is a good start ... now i am standing in a place where God can help me yes ? Whereas b4 I could not be helped ... & i at least know why now ... my prayers were sincere ... i was doing what i always accuse the religious ones of doing .. i was pretending to be good ...

    Thank you Mary for all you share with us ... when i allow myself to cry someday I know I will cry long & hard for what you have given me ...

    P.S. I feel like such a jerk for correcting you ... but why would u know about American history ? I know nothing of Australian history ... that is actually RFK - Robert f. Kennedy .. they almost look like twins & talk the same ... JFK was assassinated 5 years b4 in 1963 ... this video was from 1968 when MLK was killed .. sadly, 3 months after giving this speech ... RFK was assassinated also ... adding weight to his words ...


    Enrique (Zapatista44)

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    1. Enrique, thank-you so much for correcting me!! Lazy mistake of mine. I'm going to correct it above now, just to be respectful to Robert!

      Cheers for the comment. I agree honesty is the best and only place to start.

      Mary

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  6. Hey Mary, I've been doing singing lessons and they're really great, I'm really getting so much from it! Anyway, one of the things my teacher said that really struck me and is related to what you're saying was something like this (from memory): "A lot of people sing and try to give it emotion, what they don't realise is that you cant put emotion in your voice, and if you're trying to do that, it's not a real emotion, it's not your real voice, but an embellished version of it. Emotion comes out of you, you can't put it in." We'll to say that simply blew me away was an understatement. Thanks again, David

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