How we react to the stresses

[CJB]

I've been reading a number of posts on this board, many having to do with the hurricane and the staggering price of gasoline. I have, of course, tuned into the news casts to track the plight of those people who have been devastated by the hurricane. I, like most everyone I've spoken to, is frustrated, hurt, and angered by our government's bungling of this situation.

I stayed up late one night to watch the late news (I think Tuesday) and became so agitated by a news anchor's closing comments. He went from commenting on the death, destruction, and devastation of the hurricane to linking that to a possible terrorist attack! I wanted to throw the TV through the window! As if there isn't enough fear in people already!!!!

Then I stopped...and I'm sure you already know why. I was adding to that fear...and anger...and hostility. Do you remember how fearful we all were after 9/11? We wondered if our lives would be forever changed and if the way of life that we knew would be altered forever. Remember how everyone was practically frozen with fear. And yet life did go on. I don't know about all of you, but while my life was certainly impacted by that event I have continued to survive and thrive. And do you remember that it was the fear generated by that event that led to horrible subsequent consequences...the patriot act and our going to war in Iraq, to name just a few. The American public was so polarized by fear that we gave away our rights and entered into a war of aggression. Do you think that the same potential exists in this situation? Our responses are so very important.

I think that it is in times of stress that we really have the opportunity to live our beliefs. We also have the opportunity to look at our responses to the situation and examine what beliefs we must hold to react in the ways that we do. The negative situations will always be there. If it's not 9/11, then it's Katrina, then it's the price of gas...etc, etc, etc. Regardless of what will or won't happen to us, we always have the choice of how we as individuals choose to experience the events. And it is in those choices that we change ourselves. And it is in changing ourselves that we change the world.

Thankfully my limits are not currently being tested to the extreme that my fellow human beings are experiencing in New Orleans, Mississippi, etc. It's relatively easy for me to maintain my cool in my present state. But when I found myself so angry at the television, I realized that if I didn't alter my response now I would not be prepared for other things that life could bring. I need to flex my muscle of personal belief in the (relatively) smaller events in order to gain strength, faith, and love in all things.

I'm saddened to read posts here on this board that have some of us throwing such anger, frustration, and judgment at each other. We are supremely capable, creative beings with a whole universe of support...if we choose to remember. There are always solutions. We can help each other. Yes...there are problems. Yes...there are challenges. There's no denying that. But we each choose to react in love or in fear.

With so much in the media focusing on the fear factor, I would just like to send out a soft reminder for us to look to the loving response every time we can.

(Sorry for such a long post.)

[RawTruth]

Don't worry about it being a long post. Every word of it is beautiful ... and timely.

Love is the only answer. We are all one. Understanding that, internalizing it, and living it are the only things that give us true freedom. Then, the loving response is the only response possible.

Thanks, CJB.

[dahgluvr]

Yes a very heartfelt and important reminder. Thanks, I needed that!

[Sweet lips]

I too was appalled at the situation and how things have been handled, but I wasn't so much angry (oh yea, I did when they started calling the people refuges), but I ache for this situation, I hurt deep in my soul, as I watched babies suffer and then I could not watch anymore.

A soft answer will turn a hard head and a hard heart. Your post describes the action that needs to happen, and knowing that the results will yield a higher price of positive life both for those we are praying for and assisting, and ourselves.

Frankly though, people react to how they have been programmed and the sadest thing is that we haven't all been taught to care about people who are so different from us. If we remove the skin, the body is the same underneath.

I have friends who have hope because they still haven't heard from their loved ones in New Orleans. I had to rethink somethings this week because I observed their strength and although none of them know one another, they all reacted the same with hope and love and selflessness.

Bless you for your thoughts

[CJB]

Thank you Sweetlips...I will say a prayer for your friends and hope that they hear good news.

It certainly tests our beliefs in times like this. I think waking up from the "programming" is a big part of the gift that comes from eating the way we do. When we raise the energy fields of our bodies, we can also raise the energy fields of our beliefs and spirituality. It's really a lovely, lovely blessing. Because my body isn't so busy fighting the toxins I was putting into it, I actually have the available energy to transmute the "negatives" into something higher. Not always easy, but so worth the effort.

Sometimes the hard things are the backdrop against which we can demonstrate wonderful qualities...like those you described in your friends. They must be wonderful people, as you are.

[sweetgoddess]

Very beautiful post and so very true. It really all comes down to love or fear.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I especially loved "I need to flex my muscle of personal belief in the (relatively) smaller events in order to gain strength, faith, and love in all things. "

I am grateful that you are a loving Soul.