A Time For Courage and Kindness: The Road to Freedom Lies Within

November 7, 2024

The recent election has inflamed the emotions of people everywhere, causing deepening division, confusion and uncertainty. The impact will be felt for some time as the current reality unfolds. Personally and collectively the world is facing major crises and we all play a role that contributes to the outcome. If we are to play a meaningful and healing role we must work to free ourselves from the fear, anger and violence that is being perpetuated. We can fortify ourselves with courage and kindness, finding comfort and strength in embracing the truth of who we really are. The road to freedom lies within.

Perilous times compel us to dig deeper – to embrace the goodness that is our own higher nature and mirror that good into the world. To get beyond the distractions outside of us or in our sometimes rambling minds, we can take precious moments to bring our focus inside. As we let go of the outside world we are able to move deeper into the quiet stillness within. It is here that we touch that spark of the divine that is always with us, our own higher nature.

There are many ways to come to that state of inner connection. We might walk mindfully in the beauty of nature, noticing perhaps how we begin breathing into our hearts – expanding our chest – feeling our connection to the earth, the trees, the ocean, the beauty around us.

We can learn to focus our awareness on the capacity within us to disseminate love to an object of our focus – a child, an animal, a stranger carrying the weight of loneliness – and experience a genuine connection as the object of our focus responds – with a spontaneous smile, a wiggle, or a flash of gratitude at being seen and acknowledged. We can send loving energy anywhere, to anyone, with our mind – where it is received whether consciously or not.

When we feel challenged by our own circumstances or emotions we can reach out to those around us with a kind act or greet those we pass with a cheery hello. We can feel the transformation within ourselves as our heart expands and we realize our capacity to raise ourselves up through connecting with loving kindness.

This practice can be taken further in a quiet time before bed or when waking up in the morning, heartfully sending love and light to people or world situations that need it. Closing your eyes down, center yourself in the stillness. Let everything go and imagine a golden light shining down. As you settle into that inner sanctuary, you can send love and light to wherever it’s needed. Be inspired to be inspired – become aware of your special calling whatever that is – and how to use your calling to be an instrument of love, kindness and peace in the world. When enough of us have found peace within the world will be transformed.

We face many challenges in life and are blessed with the gifts that come when we face our challenges and learn from them. The following is a note from Sister Paul Marie, my prayer partner in France for many years and one of the gifts in my life. We never met in person but our hearts are forever connected. In 2005, at the age of 77, health issues led her to leave her beloved hermitage of 34 years to enter a home for aging nuns. The following was perhaps her last message to me:

My place in God’s plan is to be a Pilgrim of Love because our world is dying for lack of love. God is Love, of course. I have known this for a long time or I wouldn’t be where I am. But it has taken on a new life, new light and for the years to come (it doesn’t matter how many) I must reach out in love, instant by instant, to all who come my way, as well as to all my brothers and sisters wherever they may be. A smile of Love, a touch of Love, a gift of Love. My prayer that is love. Pray that I will live it.

Love continues to connect me to cherished ones who have passed on and reminds me to cherish the gift of those still with us – our families, chosen family, and “all our brothers and sisters wherever they may be.”

Life’s many challenges bring us the opportunity to learn and grow. When we open ourselves to inspiration and act on the inspiration that comes, the gifts that follow are often more than we can imagine. After an inspiring and deep inner experience in a forest one day, I was compelled to leave my life of worldly goals and possessions to find a path of service. Within a few months I was led to my spiritual mentor and beloved friend, Peace Pilgrim. She gifted my life and the world with her inspiration and grace. She left us with a simple message that exemplified her life and calling:

Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth and hatred with love.

May Love and Peace prevail in our hearts and in our world. For this let us hope and work and pray.

Cheryl Canfield

Love is expressed throughout the beauty and peace of nature.