Chapter 1 Verse #4 :Zip- Lining to Freedom

Almost one year ago I turned down the opportunity of a lifetime, as most would classify it. I received a six figure job offer to work in Hawaii being the general manager of a zip lining company. To sweeten the deal, I had a 2500 square foot house to rent from my good friends/brother & sister Dave and Liz. Their home was on a golf course in Kona. I remember sitting contemplating if this was one of God's tests to see if I could remain faithful to my vision I was creating for myself. Sitting here almost a year later I have learned that there are no tests. We create every situation in our life as an awesome gift of free will. I started today's entry from a place of discouragement because I sit here in my cozy apartment in Santa Monica not knowing how I'm going to pay rent for the month. My mind started whirling about how did I get here? What is the purpose of this creation. Regrets from not taking the job in Hawaii are pounding in my brain. For the past 2 hours I've been thinking I could be having the time of my life working in Havi'i, and driving home tonight to my fabulous house right on the water. I realize I was afraid to let go. Maybe somewhere deep within I thought if I could create this surely my heart's vision will manifest. Funny thing is when that opportunity presented itself I had no conscious recollection of creating it. I could not have scripted that effortless scenario even on my most relaxed day. I look back on it and all I can say was that it was powerfully effortless. All I had to do was say yes. In more retrospect, fear was at the core of that decision as I hate to admit it. I was fearful of making a 2 year commitment. Fearful of being lonely in paradise, looking at the dating options were slim to slimmer there. Havi and Kona, are very slow, remote, sleepy towns and I thought my chances for dating or finding a husband would be non-existent. I was also fearful of starting over AGAIN. Fearful of not liking living there and giving up my beach apartment in Santa Monica terrified me. Fearful of not having a social life, having to make new friends at the age of 39. And to boot, fearful of leaving a job that had me completely stressed out and not even being paid to do. Fearful of leaving discomfort out of some idiotic notion that my loyalty would be questioned for not staying in the sinking ship. Fear Fear and Fear. I talked myself right out of what I now see would have been a wonderful opportunity for me to quiet myself and grow. As life would have it, I had never gone zip lining before. Didn't really know what it was but when I learned it was about sliding across the jungle rooftops on a cable wire every part of me was like, "HELL NO!" As part of my interview, I went on the course accompanied by one of the owners. I did all 9 lines. The final line being some 3000 feet above the jungle floor and going about 35 mph over the most gorgeous waterfalls and trees I had ever laid my eyes on. It's amazing how I can trust the two human beings (our guides) with my LIFE on a harness and cable wire in the deep jungle but could not trust God enough for me to take a leap of faith that everything would be alright.

When I turned down the job after agonizing for a couple of weeks, I wrote some poetic email about being inspired to pursue my own dreams and wanting to stay focused on my heart's desire. While that is true, I now believe it was about #10 on the list of reasons why not to take the job. Fear, pride, ego kept me from experiencing what I think would have been the ride of my life.
As I sit here now in this moment, I must fully engage my will and that "walk-on-water" faith, silence the negative thoughts and create the reality that I say I want. I can not fail. I've sacrificed enough of me to turn back now.

Chapter 1 Verse 3: Just Like The Water

Today I had to stop and get away. In the middle of my own personal spiral of panic and anxiety, that small still voice told me to drive to Lake Shrine- just to meditate and be one with God in this amazing garden. Just 6 miles up the road in Pacific Palisades, the great Guru and Master, Paramahansa Yogananda created this lush peaceful sanctuary tucked in the hills of Malibu. I'm so glad I listened. Right at the very beginning of the path is a statue of St. Francis followed by the shrine that houses some of the ashes of Mahatma Ghandi. I decided to sit on the bench directly across from this shrine that faces the entire lake.

As I called to the Supreme and the angels to get centered and to restore peace in my mind and body, I opened my eyes to discover two turtles floating at the surface of the water with their faces poked out just above the water. It looked as if they were sun bathing while afloat. I watched them both as they gracefully moved all four of their legs to paddle around the water with an occasional coasting in between strokes. I started to imagine what they would be saying to each other. My mind wisked away like a child's imagination. The smaller turtle was trying to rest its head and top part of its body on the slightly larger turtle. The larger turtle immediately swam harder to get away. It was as if he was saying " you're already floating on your own why are you on my back!?" At that moment, I thought of myself as the larger turtle. In a very large lake, beautifully manicured and well stocked with food, it has everything it needs for a very peaceful and abundant life. When I thought of myself as that turtle, I felt a sense of ease come over me. It was like God showed up and gave me the perfect conversation while I was watching the turtles interact. All I had to do was sit still and observe. I thought about the smaller turtle trying to relax on the back of the larger turtle. I compared this to the many individuals I consciously and unconsciously carry around with me. In essence, we all have the ability to float in the lake of the abundance of God if we just do a little paddling on our own. Our needs are taken care of if we can just trust that the lake will provide everything necessary for a happy and abundant life. It's not our job to carry one another when we all have the same God-given abilities to float. I do believe we sometimes have to remind each other that all we have to do is paddle and everything is just fine. The big turtle pushed off and paddled right in front of the smaller turtle. I thought, I too must push off and float and by my example I hope that the others will remember that they can do the same. By the time I was finished saying my prayers the two turtles were joined by a third and all were blissfully floating, with their head poked out towards the sun and gently paddling by me. And to top off the moment, as soon as I said my final decree of gratitude a hawk flew directly above me, soaring gracefully overhead into the sun punctuated by a loud call. It was awesome and surreal.